Our Scheme, Not Lillard's Absence, is Responsible For the Recent defensive success

First off, here's an article talking about the scheme changes.

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/i...ers_finding_comfort_success_with_new_def.html

This is exactly what I've wanted with this group of guys for the past season and a half. I even made a thread a little over a month ago saying that we need to start switching up schemes and throwing different looks at offenses. (http://www.sportstwo.com/threads/how-do-you-prefer-we-guard-the-pick-n-roll.306653/)

But now that Stotts has finally realized he should be more unpredictable and innovative guarding the pick n roll, we've had good to great defense in 3 of the last 4 games. We've held:

Toronto to 95 points (They average 111ppg)
Sacramento to 89 points (They average 102ppg)
Minnesota to 89 points (They average 104ppg)

Now, the easiest difference to point out is Damian Lillard is hurt, but the stats suggest that the scheme is much more responsible for the turnaround. However, with Damian Lillard off the court, teams still have an Offensive Rating of 107, which is pretty high. That takes into account the recent games as well.

Looking at the 3 recent defensive outings, we've held teams to more than 10 points less than we were previously with Lillard off the court.

Toronto (12.26.16)
ORtg: 96.6
Avg ORtg: 116.2
Dif: 19.6
Sacremento:
ORtg: 96.3
Avg ORtg: 106.9
Dif: 10.6
Minnesota:
ORtg: 93.8
Avg ORtg: 109.2
Dif: 15.4

So essentially, in these 3 games we're holding teams 15.2 points below their average Offensive Rating. That is great defense, not just good. And Lillards absence can't be the reason, as our defensive had a still mediocre DRtg of 107 when he was off the court. Theirs about a 12 point change in offensive rating due to our scheme with Lillard off the court.

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Our scheme change will also help Lillard, who struggles mostly with getting through picks. If we has a big man trapping and forcing his man away from the basket after the pick n roll, it not only gives Lillard more time to get through the pick, it also gives him in easier angle to get through. The other thing I've noticed Lillard struggle with a lot is off-ball defense, especially when the defense gets broken down. However, with us blitzing and hedging pick n rolls, as well as double teaming good post players, it makes cross-court passes harder to make, and the pressure makes these passes more lofty and passers are able to put much less zip on them. This gives Lillard more time to recover to his man or get to the right spot defensively when off the ball.

So not only is our defensive scheme responsible for the defensive success lately, but it also minimizes Lillard's defensive weaknesses for when he does return.

 

Agreed, I don't know how people proposing to trade Lillard wanna put the blame on Lillard just because he is out. Makes no sense. The sporadic big man doubling implemented while Lillard has been out has helped quite a bit. Don't know why it took this long for Stotts to put something in but better late than never I guess.

 

We've finally started doing what every other team in the league does. Halle-fucking-lujah.

 

I do not think anyone has blamed Lillard. As you said, it is the two together that are questionable defensively. Would love to see it work but am highly doubtful.

 

I agree 100% with the article. I made that comment when all the Crabbe should be starting/trade Dame or C.J, nonsense started after the SAC game when people were raving about how great the defense was without Dame and C.J. starting together in the back court. I pointed out that the change was not due to Dame being out, but due to the changes Stotts made, plus the fact that SAC was missing both Gay and Afflalo.

We played above average defense, with that exact same starting back court, the second half of last season. No reason we can't again this year. With out current personnel, we will never be an elite defensive team, but there is absolutely no reason why we need to be dead last.

BNM

 

Good post. 82-0 is back on the table boys. Lets get it!

 

The venn diagram of these people and the ones that set defensive play calling to AUTO on 2k is one circle.

 

I see no downside to CJ improving defensively whether Dame is with him or not....addition by addition

 

Nice touch with the BONESJONES at the end there. BNM would be proud.

 

I think we're a little early on this topic. Why don't we wait to see if Damian and CJ can execute this new scheme together before we claim success?

 

For Stotts system to work, the defense has to be a string no matter who you plug in.....want Spurs success, you follow the blue print...it's purely choreography...synchronized swimming doesn't work when they bump heads

 

Once again, this is the same team as last year, people only freak out when we are bad. Nobody was saying a thing about trading CJ or Dame when we were winning last year. It was "lets find another piece to put with Dame and CJ!"
It's the fact that Terry doesn't seem to work on any defensive strategy at all up until recently and then oh shit, we had some success. They didn't score as much! wow much job Terry, very defense!

 

Why wouldn't they be able to? The change is with the bigs, designed to make it easier on the guards.

 

Mic Drop.

 

Haha exactly.

Schemes that compliment a teams defensive skill sets and hides their weaknesses can make at least a top 20 defense out of any NBA group that gives effort.

 

Mods can you add "defensive success"to the end of the title

 

Unscouted looks also eventually get scouted. It's early, we don't know if this is all going to hold up (e.g. see: Spurs, San Antonio).

 

This is factually incorrect. A minority for sure, but there have been some.