Offense and Defense

by 67 on Nov 25, 2008 12:56 PM PST

everyone likes to see offense, but good defense will get you wins

People who generally make comments on players of this team, tend to context them and project their opinions by separating their play from the rest of the team. I suppose it is a natural thing to do when poor play sticks out from certain players and is most noticeable on offense...

examples 1.La is stuggling with his shot and doesn't get into the paint

2. Oden is too far out for an effective pick and role

3. Outlaw jacks up too many jump shots

4. Blake can't guard Parker or Nash or many other point guards

5. Fry is all outside shots, nothing else

and so on.......

But it is a team game and when you rely on individual play, you can't help but isolate them from the team....or the concept of team play...

So everyone will have an off night, and so you just forget about it, and move on...but when players get as many (or more)off nights as they do on, then it becomes more of an issue.....

I see these issues as more of a team problem than individual play...or at least it deserves having an attention to....

So the long/short of it....if your having a bad night shooting, what else could you do to contribute to the party = good hard hustling play, good defense, rebounding, etc.

bottom line ; you should never have a bad night, hustling, being aggressive or playing tough defense....

If the team (and this is a lot coaching) understands that good defense, will make you a team, and can raise offensive efficiency enormously. If they continue keep defense as an afterthought, then poor individual offensive play will always hurt the team. This is done because your offense can play off of good defense, by keeping the opposing teams on their heels....and you can rely on getting defensive stops to hold you through the offensive lapses.....

bottom line for this; although we have been trying to adjust new players into the offense, it shouldn't keep us from demanding that defense will always be what separates winning from losing. Not to mention it could get us away from more doubtful outcomes that may or may not be won at the end of the game....and once again, it is team defense and having a defensive plan for all opposing teams and players.....

It could be there, and not being executed....but it is not showing up for whatever reason......IMO, if you play good defense, the offense will take care of itself

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4. Blake can't guard Parker or Nash or many other point guards

This has nothing to do with the offense. Blake is a stud plain and simple. I have never ever understood the Blake hate.
Name 5 point guards who can guard nash or parker. Name one we could get without blowing up our team. There was nothing wrong with Blake’s defense on Beno last night. The guy just made some amazing plays.

"Brandon Roy is your favorite restaurant" - Dave

by Sabonis4Ever on Nov 25, 2008 12:15 PM PST reply actions

Read the post

it isn’t about Blake nor last nights game…it was one example of what people have said……not what Ive said ….. looks like you are doing a good job of guarding him, but you don’t need to guard him from me

'Liability on defense, is an asset on the bench" a quote from my basketball coach, who believed good defense won games and made the offense a product of it

by 67 on Nov 25, 2008 12:27 PM PST up reply actions

Well when Channing and Travis decided to rebound and play defense, they were

moderatly successfull at it. Also, Batum’s offense needs work, even though he will hit the open , wayyy open three he makes up for it by playing defense. Blake sometimes looks better on defense b/c he has Roy to rotate with and help when he’s caught but overall Blake is not superb defender. He does other things that are pretty important however so I wont write him off.

Travis nees to use that length and vertical hump ability to get more Offensive boards, and because he takes so many weird and bad shots he needs to follow his shot, just like an 8 year old does in CYO hoops.

Sophia

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcreaft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians. [speech at GOP Presidential Convention 1992] Rev. Pat Robertson

by BlazerFan1 on Nov 25, 2008 1:00 PM PST reply actions

What's a vertical hump?

Sounds like new fangled hip hop

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Nov 25, 2008 1:15 PM PST up reply actions

Is that related to the mattress mambo?

"I like blocks," Fernandez said.

by joelor on Nov 25, 2008 1:22 PM PST up reply actions

well that's obviously a typo that im sorely tempted to make some crude comment

sophia

"Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practice witchcreaft, destroy capitalism, and become lesbians. [speech at GOP Presidential Convention 1992] Rev. Pat Robertson

by BlazerFan1 on Nov 25, 2008 1:23 PM PST up reply actions

You would be missing a great ippurtunity if you didn't

Give in

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Nov 25, 2008 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

Yea, there's not much to do with that one

At least you have fun typos

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Nov 25, 2008 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

Yeh Oden is the one who has to do the verticle...well...you know

because he’s too long to lie horizontally in a bed

That is really hideous
--jscot

by prezofdeath on Nov 25, 2008 1:24 PM PST up reply actions

I heard you can't get pregnant doing the vertical hump

by tominhawaii on Nov 26, 2008 6:55 AM PST up reply actions

yes

I would like a player like Batum to be a mainstay on this team and hope he does not get mired on the bench when Web returns…..we need some versatility on this team….he provides some other dimensions that are a compliment to this team…a pleasant surprise, given the original perception of him(not ready yet)
   So, for him, he got a break when Web got hurt, and he was able to prove himself early on….now it soon will come down to a coach’s decision on who gets the playing time ( that has me worried some, because I don’t see a commitment to defense as a signature for this team)….and as you said, players like Blake, (who is not strong alone) defensively can get help from the rest of the team and can fill in with the stronger aspects of his game….
    There are many players in the game that can’t be guarded one on one and need to have help with team defense…there is no argument with that…….but possessing the fundamentals and commitment to a defensive plan can at least, get a direction altered enough to make defense a weapon and not a liability
   side note: It doesn’t appear that Outlaw or Fry are going to get it…..I mean where are the instincts? Do you have to be told all the time what to do? (excluding shooting,… they seem to get that part)

'Liability on defense, is an asset on the bench" a quote from my basketball coach, who believed good defense won games and made the offense a product of it

by 67 on Nov 25, 2008 2:03 PM PST up reply actions

i wouldnt mind seeing batum go to the d league

and work a bit on his offensive game

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Nov 25, 2008 11:27 PM PST up reply actions

The play as a team thing sort of gets too much attention

the fact is that they have no choice but to play as a team. Spreading the load isn’t even always effective. Defensively, it makes more sense. Offensively, you play as a team when you fail as an individual (that means when the individual the play is called for fails). In those cases, you need the support of your teammates to knock down shots, make you look good for passing.

It’s nice to say work as a team, and they certainly should. But, teamwork is most important in emergencies, when the play designed for a single player breaksdown.

(As a disclaimer to ranting responses, I totally understand that teamwork’s needed to get some players open in the first place. But, that sort of play only sets up the individual performance needed.)

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Nov 25, 2008 1:19 PM PST reply actions

OK...

Are you serious? I mean I want to respond but I am afraid you might just be kidding…

It is nice to have Roy who can bail you out sometimes. But what happens when you can’t get him the ball on your last offensive possession? Isn’t that what happened last night?

Roy bailed them out but you will be much more successful more often if everyone is involved and playing well. I think you have it backwards. Roy should be for emergencies, when plays break down.

I hope I didn’t miss the sarcasm font.

PTB Liberation Day - 2/10/04

by tssbro on Nov 25, 2008 5:57 PM PST up reply actions

I sometimes think

when the fans see the Blazers one on one play as such an intricate part of our offense, they think it is the way the game should be played all the time…..I mean the thought that they do it so much, it must always be our first option …
sometimes it’s effective and they will get results at times (take advantage of mismatches and defensive alignments or even a hot hand or simply the players skill). But to have a concept of putting team play on the back seat for emergencies is not on anyone’s mind, including Roy…..
I was trying to convey a small message in my post that everyone on the team should understand the team concept and the positive advantages it provides….I’m sure they understand it, but the coaches need it translated into their game plan as a way of life……it takes a lot of pressure off of individual play….where, as a team, you can absorb someone’s bad game now and then……

'Liability on defense, is an asset on the bench" a quote from my basketball coach, who believed good defense won games and made the offense a product of it

by 67 on Nov 25, 2008 7:07 PM PST up reply actions

Spacing

Thats the thing thats sticks out most to me on this team, defensivly guys look like there thinking about what to do and where to go more then reacting, were a good zone defensive team but veteran teams have really played exposed the zone’s weakness, cutting two playes through a single zone worked well and confused some of the new players (Batum and Rudi)Greg looks like he is ready to blow a gasket defensivly when he gets burned on an overly aggressive play. Time together is about the only thing I can think of that will cure this problem and actually its a good problem to have, the players have bought into the system its just a matter of timing and space.

Offensivly I think you can work alot of kinks out in a single practice and over the course of the season there will be a natural improvement.

by Dragonage on Nov 26, 2008 8:58 AM PST reply actions