Seemed like a lot of one-on-one last night, no team offense, or defense for that matter, I only saw Webster come off of one curl-pick-and shoot. Our offense is so damn predictable that our defense hurts because of it. If it's not a one-on-one drive play (with an occasional kick out to the corner), it'll be a post play with an LMA turn around jump-shot.
I know, I've heard the same ol' song and dance. It's just that I am not a damn basketball aficionado, and I can now tell what the hell is going on, almost every play! To me it look's as if the defense can just 'lie and wait' while we do our same-ol-song-and-dance routine and then capitalize on it at the right time. sometimes we win b/c of it, and sometimes we lose. just posting my observations..
Our offense always looks like when the defense is bad. When we have to take the ball out of the net and walk it up all night . . . ugh, it's never pretty.
I don't see it as an issue so much with the offense as I do with not having a 3rd player step up and score. Our problems in the playoffs was getting contribution from two players, instead of 3 or more. I know some will say the offense doesn't create easy baskets for others, but I don't see it as an easy basket issue, but as another player creating offense for themselves when things break down. The issue is we're easy to handle because you can double the ball out of Roy's hands. Problem is when you double it out of his hands, and it goes to someone like Blake, or a big up near the perimiter. Or Batum/Webster. Getting it out of his hands, and getting it in Miller or Bayless' hands helps, because it gets it right back into the hands of someone who can attack and create. Some people have off nights. If Bayless started hitting those early shots, they would have came out on him more, and he might have been that third scorer we needed. As it is, he was off, so was LMA most of the night it seemed, and there really wasn't anyone else to pick up the slack.
Yet and still, Philly shot 55% and had 60 points in the paint (according to Ian Furness) Our offense wasn't pretty last night, but the defense was worse. I agree with what you are saying, but I'm more concerned with defense than I am guys having off shooting nights - that's just going to happen sometimes. You can still win those games you shoot 42% if you dig in defensively, rebound the basketball, and don't turn the ball over.
I agree. Sorry, wasn't necessarily responding specifically to your post. I agree the defense was a much bigger issue than the offense was. Just referencing our offense in general. Our defense was awful last night. There were multiple times I noticed a defender near the basket having no clue what was going on. Backs turned to everything, etc. A big issue is, while Juwan is nice in spots, and will be solid for us in stretches, he's also going to have poor nights like last night. The biggest issue being defense. Guys on the perimiter get beat on the dribble, and there's nobody in the lane to do anything about it. Hell, I wouldn' tmind starting Pendergraph, and see what happens. He had some poor moments as well, but he's at least a big body, and he'd put someone on their ass if they came in against him too often.
This isn't a mystery. Since the Joel injury, Portland has won every quarter they outrebounded their opponent. Philly put in the effort last night, and the results match the effort.
I am pretty sure this was true before the Joel injury. Probably even before the Oden injury. The way Portland plays, they have to out rebound their opponent to win games. When they don't they get stomped.
