So far, during the season and in this playoffs, we haven't found a single thing to exploit against Memphis. They have a counter for anything we throw at them. We need something to keep them on their toes. So what is it? This will be a sweep unless we solve this immediately! What I haven't seen is using double picks. I don't know why we haven't tried this yet already. I've seen this used on Memphis before and it worked really well. Basically, you use the PF or center to set the high pick, then use the SF or SG to set the secondary pick and roll. In fact, have both the big and SF share a pop and roll. Make them guess which will have them a half step slower.
Okay Captain Obvious... But we need to have "easy shots" so we can make more of them. We are working so hard to get any shot off, so making them becomes much harder. Maybe try and find something that we can do to exploit them, you know, like so the Blazers can have easy shot opportunities.
You need to make contested shots against a good defensive team. They did that. We didn't. It was our worst shooting performance of the year and we even bricked free throws. Might be obvious but our offense has to make them work harder on defense.
How to beat Memphis: - Push the tempo. This starts at the defensive end: force a miss, grab the rebound, and GO before they can set up their defense - Force turnovers. Trap their guards, pressure the ballhandler, and get easy buckets in transition off of turnovers. - No more iso-ball. This plays right into Memphis' hands. We must have the offense moving at all times ... think of the Toronto game in March as a blueprint.
Zach Randolph's defense. I posted it in the series thread before Game 1 and just posted it again in the Game 2 Adjustments thread. He is their weak spot on defense and we have the personnel (Aldridge, Kaman and Leonard) to exploit that weakness. When Zach is in the game, we should have two of the above on the floor together as much as possible. Gasol can only guard one of them at a time. So, force Zach to guard the other. All of Aldridge, Kaman and Leonard should be able to score at will if we draw Gasol out of the paint and force Zach to guard any one of these three on the low block (or anywhere else, for that matter). All three can post up Zach and all three can shoot over him. And, in general (also mentioned in the Game 2 Adjustments thread), push the tempo EVERY time we get a defensive rebound. Don't let Gasol get back and get set up in the paint on defense. We're a faster team all around than MEM. Their bigs are especially slow and plodding. We need to exploit that and stop playing to their strengths. Getting outscored 15-6 in fast break points against MEM should NEVER happen. Those numbers should be flip flopped - and then some. BNM
It's easier said than done though. We need to find a way to exploit it, not force the exploit. Something that could come naturally and is really something Memphis struggles with. Definitely like the exploiting Zach on the half court idea. The problem with pushing the ball is our wings aren't that good at running the break. It's so frustrating!!!!
I'd say make them run but we aren't good at a transition style of basketball. Truly the only things we can do are actually set screens to open up lanes/shooters and move the ball quickly.
Perhaps not great at running a multi-player, 3-man weave style break, but Dame and C.J. are both good at taking their man off the dribble and finishing at the rim. And they are MUCH better at it when Marc Gasol isn't camping under the rim waiting for them. We don't need to beat the entire MEM team down the court, just Gasol. We'll get much better looks before MEM sets their half court defense than after they do. Pushing the tempo will also result in more open 3-pointers for the trailers as a secondary option on the break. Again, we don't have to be the Showtime Lakers here to exploit MEM's slow footed, plodding bigs. Just push the tempo enough to get a good, high percentage shot up before Gasol and company get set up in their half court defensive set. Forcing the MEM bigs to hustle back more on defense will also tire them out and and they'll have less energy on the offensive end. Look at our roster and theirs and tell my how the fuck they outscored us 15-6 on fast break points in Game 1. BNM
I think Afflalo is good as well. If we have a starting line-up of Dame, Afflalo, Batum, Aldridge and Lopez, then you use Batum to go after the board, Afflalo and Dame leak, Aldridge is the trailer. I think that would be cool.
I would like to point out to you that Z'bo was guarding Aldridge every single time they were in the game at the same time. He plays excellent no foul defense since he doesnt jump. The only defensive hole the grizzlies have is at the 2 guard (When Tony is playing the 3 or on bench), and without Afflalo last game Portland couldnt exploit that. Easiest way to beat the grizzlies is to move the ball and find open shooters, that is why the Spurs destroy the Grizz..
Maybe we can goat quick to write an article that says Zach Randolph is the best PF in this series. Say things like "Aldridge can't even post up Zach, who is considered a poor defender"
