Dwight Howard says he'll guard Aldridge for "most of the game" tomorrow.

Well this keeps LA outside way more than he was...no rolling to the middle if they do put Asik in as well on Lopez. I dont see Dwight banging LA out there and should give up some wide open shots (3 or otherwise). It will be Robin on Dwight on the defensive end and that's where the elbows will happen. LA can guard Asik he's not much of a threat. If our outside shooting game is on then I expect we walk away with another win. Dwight on LA = win if he's hitting shots, and if doubles come (I expect a LOT of doubles with Bev or Jones or Parson coming over to help, we need to rotate FAST and hit either Dame or Wes for Tre or a cutting Nic to the hoop for a throwdown.

 

Basically, Houston wants to stop Aldridge's low post game and rebounding. They want to force him to take the 'inefficient' mid range shot. Some of the posters here should agree with that strategy.

 

That would be the smart way to defend us. Luckily McHale doesn't appear to be too smart.
But if Howard is on LMA that just means other guys are going to have to score in the paint and LMA is going to have to stick some 3s.

 

That's the greatest news ever!

 

I think Aldridge should showcase his 3 point shooting.

 

I think Aldridge will shoot 3s more. So he will actually advance FG% of a high 50%

 

I'd like to see Aldridge take it right to Dwights chin and get some fouls on him.

 

Aldridge looked better defending howard than lopez did in game 1. I think they are tryi g to tame an untameable beast. We just need to exploit their shitty defense I.e. if howard on aldridge take some 3s. And continue to post up and cut behind harden, because he just plain fucking sucks.

 

FTFY

 

We don't want LaMarcus tired though.

 

This is the fun part of the playoffs. All of the moves and counter-moves from game to game, quarter to quarter, and play to play. Hopefully LaMarcus (with Stotts) will have a good counter if Houston throws Howard at LMA all game.

 

LaMarcus is the best player in this series, and more than a match for Howard inside and out, physically and mentally.

 

My thoughts exactly.

 

Why wasn't Dwight guarding LMA in game 1?

 

No, but I did watch game one and I saw Howard foul out while spending most of his time guarding Robin Lopez. Your conspiracy theories are quaint, but based on the way game one was officiated, don't hold any water. There were multiple horrible calls that went against both teams. If the NBA REALLY wanted Houston to win that game, they would have.

I look forward to watching game 2. Hope you enjoy it. Don't forget to wear your tin foil hat!

BNM

 

I'd really like to re-watch the 4th quarter and OT. At the time it seemed like there were at least 5 calls made in HOU's favor to try to make sure they won. Maybe I'm mis-remembering, but I have a feeling late-game calls were definitely made in HOU's favor - they just couldn't pull out the win.

 

He was... It was only 20% of the possessions though.

 

Game one was proof positive that if you take care of business then the calls don't matter... End of the night what that came down to was Blazers hitting shots when it was needed and Houston missing Shots they needed to make. Lamarcus Tip in, 3 to beat the Shot Clock, heck even Freeland hitting the FT. On the FLip side Harden missing the 3 at the end of regulation, then getting stuck on the block and freezing.

 

I agree with your skepticism of the conspiracy theory.

However, I do fully expect the Blazers to get shafted in Game 2 (at least for the first half of the game). After the league comes out & states the refs messed up, whom ever is reffing the next game (either consciously or unconsciously) make sure that they are not giving the Blazers ANY advantage (either real or perceived). This has the potential to take the Blazers completely out of their game. If it is close at half time, then the Blazers have a serious chance at winning. But there is a good chance that they will be down 20+ points by half.

 

I don't believe there is a conspiracy in the NBA... I do believe that Portland fans have an unnatural victims mentality though.