Game 2 adjustments

Anything that limits Aminu's time on the floor is a good thing. The only thing he's good for are flying elbows.

 

Perfect the art of the moving screen.

 

agree, have to wonder how Vonleh would do against him, worth a try IMO

 

This, they had 11 ORBs in the first half. Not only does that lead to a shit ton of second chance points (especially for a team that shoots as well as the Warriors, you just cant give them multiple tries every time down the court, they will make you pay), it also slows the game down and prevents the Blazers from pushing the ball the other way.

And, that's when the Blazers were, by far, their most effective on offense. When they pushed the ball and got open shots before the Warriors could get their defense set. If you walk the ball up against them and let them all get camped out on defense, you're just not going to get many open looks. Pushing the ball prevents that. Even if it's not a fast break, even if it doesn't result in a quick, uncontested shot. When you push the ball, it forces the defense to react. That means the first guys back on D have to pick up anyone that's a scoring threat. That leads to mismatches, especially with our more mobile bigs against Bogut and Varejao. If you take your time and let Bogut or Varejao get set up in the paint before you even initiate your offense, you're going to get pressured on the perimeter, because their wing players know they have someone back protecting the rim. So, no open 3s and no layups.

It all starts with rebounding. We need to control the boards if we expect to compete in this series.

BNM

 

The biggest adjustment I'd make as coach would be to attach electrodes to the Blazers' nipples and testicles, flip the switch at the start of the first and 3rd quarters, and yell, "THE GAME STARTS NOW!"

 

The biggest thing ive noticed is something we will not be able to do anything about. Thier mid range guys. NOt shooting, but height. Thier 6'7"-6'10" guys are twice as wide as ours. They make Hark and AMinu look like toothpicks.

We need these two to put on some beef in the next year or so. Id say the same about Davis too.

We will not be able to compete with guys like D.Green unless we can push him back.

We need some beef.

 

The two major weaknesses that the Clippers found and the Warriors are continuing to exploit:

1. We only have two guys in the starting lineup that are actually a threat if you leave them wide open.

2. CJ is too short to defend a guy like Redick or Thompson when you run them off screens.

Our entire offense is built around Lillard and McCollum, so when the other team dedicates all their defensive energy into stopping those two guys, and they literally leave guys like Harkless and Aminu wide open, we have been struggling mightily. We need another guy in the starting lineup who can make shots. We need to move Crabbe into the starting lineup. We simply can't have three guys that they don't have to defend. This needs to be fixed in the offseason. We can't have the same starting rotation next season.

So here's my adjustments:

1. Move CJ to point guard, have Lillard run off screens. We did this a little bit, but we need to find ways to get Dame open looks, and I think this is the best option.

2. Start Crabbe over Aminu. This would give us a little more scoring punch and one less person they can leave open.

Those would be my two big adjustments for game two. Defensively, I'm fine with Dame on Livingston, I would put Crabbe on Thompson, CJ on Barnes, etc etc.

 

Bench Aminu perhaps. Not CJ. We need as many offensive threats on the floor as possible to start the game.

We were bad on D to start, but our O looked far worse.

 

Vonleh should not play at all, but Crabbe should start over Aminu or Harkless, probably Harkless since Aminu is a better shooter.

 

Harkless makes less bonehead plays. I would rather start Harkless.

 

By the way, Crabbe is the most modern and essential player to bring back this offseason. Still shaking my head at the guys who wanted to let him go after his no show in the first three games of the Clippers series. Yeah he went through a slump like any other player, but here is a 24 year old player in his first season of major playing time, with good size and all the skills you want out of a modern day shooting guard. Plus he's thrived and improved every year under the Blazers OWN player development staff.

I put Crabbe 1st by far out of all our free agents we are trying to resign this offseason.

 

Aminu is also a better defender, and if we can space the floor better maybe we can get CJ and Dame going quicker. Can always sub out Aminu for Harkless later if Aminu starts doing his LeBron James impressions.

 

Aminu is only a better defender at the 4 spot. At the 3 2 and 1 spot Harkless is the better defender.

 

Well it's a good thing he's playing the 4 then.

Also I would argue he's better at 3 and 4. Harkless better at 1 and 2. Aminu also a better help defender.

 

Yup, Aminu has a bit more beef on his frame and can handle PFs better. I don't understand why Stotts had Harkless on Griffin to start the first series. If we're starting Harkless/Aminu, then Harkless is the SF and Aminu is the PF. Harkless is okay defending PFs, but he's much better guarding PG/SG/SF.

 

Tunchi has kinda ruined the "feast or famine" phrase around here, but Aminu really is feast or famine. It's either a swish or an airball. I really wish Harkless was a better outside shooter because it would really make the choice an easier one.

 

Aminu's defense in the LAC series was pretty good. Yesterday it was awful. He's an okay defender, but by no means a great defender.

 

Has anyone airballed more 3-pointers (or any shots) in the Playoffs? I think he probably already owns the record after 7 games.