That's because there's no such thing as over the back. There simply is no such call. You can go over someone's back as much as you want. The questions a ref has to ask are: 1. Is the defender boxing out? 2. Did he get pushed in the back while doing so? if you don't get an affirmative answer to the first question it must be a serious push. If you do get an answer that's affirmative to #1, then the push does not have to be so serious. If you get affirmative answers to both questions it's an easy call. The problem is that the layman does not know the rule. You can athletically go over the back with marginal contact and it is not a foul. In closing, they call pushes in the back all the time. It happens 4 or 5 times a game. Maybe even more.
I like the fact that the Blazers have bench players the other team has to prepare for and think about... Last year vs the Spurs one of the issues was the Blazers had no one off the bench that really made the Spurs pause. With Rolo/Afflalo/Blake/Kaman. You have to honor those players and have them in your scouting report. If you don't... They could kill you. I think it's a nightly biases and you go by who's hot. Or having more of an impact on the game. Tonight Rolo had very little impact. I agree vs Memphis/Dallas it's difficult to go small.
No, you are right. For some reason I was thinking they still had Asik which they don't. I would agree that is fine the only thing I worry about is potential foul problems for Aldridge against Dwight. Never know how the refs are feeling on any given night.
Its a tough match up but Aldridge usually stays straight up. At the same time, Dwight can shut down Aldridge. Overall id rather have Lopez on Dwight. But the way Aldridge tore up jones last year, Dwight (if Healthy) will be guarding lma in the playoffs IMo Thank god asik is gone to New Orleans
Dwight can shut LMA down? When had that ever happened? Dwights still a great defender but even when be was amazing and in orlando he had trouble with LMA
No he can't, and if they put Howard on Aldridge that's a win for portland because then they have no rim protection vs Lillard/Blake/Afflalo/Batum/Wes. + they have no one to guard Rolo... Rolo would eat all of their small players alive. D-Mo will be on Aldridge and they'll double team him, if they'd meet in the playoffs.
He does usually play straight up, but we all know how LMA does like to take swipes at the ball. Generally he isn't called for a foul, but again, any given night with refs is what would worry me.
I'd personally rather have Rolo on Howard. Switching to Aldridge later in the 4th when winning time happens. Aldridge is the better post defender... but I'd rather Aldridge light them up offensively than have to waste energy during non-winning times.
I posted this in the game thread but it should really go here: I can't even begin to express my happiness with Afflalo and what he brings to this team and our bench. He is going to give at least 10 points, ON A BAD NIGHT. And tonight he was AAAmazing!
I do. I loved that energy. That being said, he had some big plays at big moments. The better your roster, the less you need to count on the type of plays he made for this team.
Isn't part of our salary cap also playing Brandon Roy from his old contract? We have to deal with the amount of $$ that we have left.
No. Brandon Roy was amnestied. The blazers still have to pay him, but it doesn't count against the salary cap. His contract is up after this season.
That swiping thing is a bad habit. Last night there was a play in the first quarter where Aldridge had good position and he could have easily stood his ground, played defense, and affected or potentially blocked the shot. Instead, he swiped, missed, and gave up an uncontested layup. SMH
Afflalo slacked a bit on D in Denver (losing will probably do that to you) but he was known as a good D player in his early NBA years and is proving it again.
I love this move. And he is as Fent and Jaynes alluded to on Talkin Ball very tenacious and competitive. And prob a lot more than what you would have got out of Wilson Chandler. His defense is underrated. And if this team can get themselves RIGHT, which I'm sorry I don't feel they are...yet. He will really help.
I've noticed that Afflalo gets a lot of respect from the refs. Both on offense and on defense. He got away with some contact last night that, historically, we would not have gotten away with.
