Game Thread PLAYOFFS: ROUND 1, GAME 3: BLAZERS @ PELICANS - APRIL 19, 2018, THURSDAY, 6PM PDT, NBATV & NBCSNW

That's the attitude.

 

That's what happens when you get double and triple teamed.

 

...and you play for a coach who doesn't know how to exploit it.

 

In that case, I wonder why so many teams employ the double and triple team defense of a star offensive player.

 

Couple thoughts through 2 games.

Davis and Mirotic being able to both spread the floor and credibly guard Nurk along with Jrue, Etwuan and (shockingly) Ian Clark's point of attack defense, the Pels have been able to neutralize Portland's two biggest strengths: Rim Protection and backcourt scoring.

The traps are what they are. Dame and to a lesser extent CJ need to be sharper/quicker with their decision making in these situations but that's only half the battle. We just don't have enough finishing/shooting/decision making talent to take advantage of it consistently. It's also why we are seeing a lot of one on one from CJ and Dame. They know a screen = double team every time. We'd all like to see less of it, but when you've got elite scorers trying to get themselves going, it's going to happen.

Lastly, Dame has let the double teaming, cold shooting and inability to get to rim affect other parts of his game. Defensive effort and focus has waned, he's slow and off target in his decision making coming out of the traps, and overall has looked frustrated/disengaged for large portions of both games. Struggling or not, he needs to be that emotional leader we've seen for most of this season.

As far as strategy heading into game 3, I don't think drastic changes are needed, but there is a couple things I'd like to see.

1. Mo start and get a shot at Holiday. Dame/CJ/Turner vs spread floor has been a disaster and M0 might have enough length, strength and foot speed to limit him some.
2. Experiment with Aminu on Rondo. Hiding Dame or CJ here is fine, but with Aminu, you free him up to be a roaming help defender.

As bad as the series has gone so far, I think if the guys come out with the right mindset and get game 3, this series still has a good chance of going 7.

Go Blazers.

 

Just imagine if Cousins is healthy and playing lol. This is a total embrassment for the franchise and our All-Star is nowhere to be found. Sure you get doubled team but you’re the best player out there and should know how to adjust.

 

I think the other half in the trap battle is the fact that nobody is coming to the ball or creating a passing lane. Dame gets doubled, everybody stands and watches until he's able to work himself into a position where he can make a feeble pass to a stationary teammate. I swear Pat was the only one who saw Dame in trouble and ran out to give him someone to pass to.

 

Mirotic has the talent to score over the top and you can't ignore the transition D and rebounding problems those cross matches might present, but I definitely think it's worth trying.

 

This boy speaks the truth!!!!

 

Lucky Calabro, Poor Lamar....

 

Do you try to look that bad in every pictures or are you just a natural ?

 

Somebody gave HCP one of those Cosby pills....that's why they're all smiling!

 

If we start doing that, they'll run Davis on those plays and get our guards switched onto him. That's the only switch we know how to flip.

 

Stotts is not doing enough creatively. The whole system is just an uphill slog to get anything remotely high percentage.

But, it wont matter what Stotts does with Lillard if he continues to defend AD with a Sf/Pf - Aminu.
Stotts needs to address Davis, and take a chance, by starting the rookie Collins on him. He is the only guy equipped, physically, to contest Davis.
Hopefully he doesn't foul too quickly.

Why Stotts continues with this Aminu as a PF caper I don't know. He's camped out at the three line on offense and is outsized on defense most of the time.
Hats off to Aminu though - he really does a good job, defensively, considering the assignments he is given by Tater Totts.

 

I don't know... We got lots of dunks (Ed Davis) and shots right at the rim (Zach, Pat) in the second quarter when we built a lead. It's not all a slog. And Aminu did well against AD who only had 22 points. I don't believe AD even scored in the fourth quarter. People are acting like these games weren't close. We were right there in both games despite not shooting well.

 

It has been a slog - nothing comes easy in the Stottsfense.
Holiday waltzing into the key for an easy floater - that has looked easy.

Aminu has looked totally outmatched against AD (as expected, and hats off to Aminu for containing him as much as he has), but Collins has done admirably with the time he has been given, and is better equipped for the task.
It may be time to give the rookie a baptism of fire. Perhaps we'll see an emergence, much like we did with CJ against the Grizzlies.