Defense..finally

by DCBlazerinPDX on Jan 24, 2009 11:50 PM PST

Although one might argue that any observation from this game must be conservatively and subjectively dampened down due to the "Wizards factor", it was apparent from the very start that Portland had a high energy level. I wasn't at the practice facility the last few days, but I guarantee that Nate challenged their manhood when it comes to defense. Don't think that Brandon hasn't heard about people speculating that he basically has been "taking time off" on the defensive end..(actually, that is true, and with the possible exception of JB, I believe the whole team has been basically lazy on defense). Tonight the Blazers were SO focused on locking down the Wizards on D that for the 1st half they had a hard time thinking offensively! Then they just let the game come to them in the 2nd half. Think Nate hasn't been hearing people criticizing him for seemingly ALWAYS having defenders switch on the Pick and Roll? Didn't see much of that tonight, and thank goodness! The extra step the ballhandler gets going towards the basket doesn't seem like such an advantage when you see Greg or Joel waiting there. Help defense was also extra alert tonight. Lets hope that this starts a new trend where we really do only switch on the P&R in, as Nate would say, "an emergency." This will keep Greg in the game, and we all are starting to see that this is indeed, a good thing! Kudos to Sergio for a very solid game on both sides of the ball. And lastly, a Shout out to Dwight Jaynes for bringing the P&R discussion to the table and telling it like it is. .. "with all due respect, Sir, that aint workin!!"

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Good points......

however i would like to see this kind of effort against a quality team. Once we start playing this way against the mid level teams we can progress to the elite teams…….its all a learning process for them right now.

by blazerbeliever97504 on Jan 25, 2009 9:16 AM PST reply actions

Dwight makes a good point

On his blog today…. They should’ve been feeding Oden more. Despite the fact that it appears they don’t want to give the ball to him, this team’s offense is going to have to run through Oden for them to reach the next level. He should be touching the ball on nearly every possession.

by tmundal on Jan 25, 2009 9:17 AM PST reply actions

His usage rate is very low for a center

even for a rookie. All of the other rookie franchise centers had much greater usage rates, even in their first seasons.

by Cablinasian on Jan 25, 2009 10:25 PM PST up reply actions

The Blazer factor wasn't so hot either

You take the win and learn but this was not a win to be happy about.The game I saw had two halves. The first was a throw-away characterized by sloppy play and even worse shooting. The second half saw better defense inside, equally poor shooting, no perimeter defense and terrible (repeat "terrible") decision making. Just because you make the big effort to control the paint doesn’t mean you concede the outside. LaMarcus and Greg bailed us out with the best interior play of the season. Our two big men clicked for the first time this season which is an advance for this team’s play. They won this game for us in the third quarter and the rest of the team only fired up in the last quarter. The play of the big men and the victory are the bright spots. The fact it came against one of the very worst teams I’ve seen in a long time can’t be lost on the coaching staff. At this level of play we are not exactly a lock for the playoffs. Fortunately for us, Phoenix, Dallas and Utah are just as suspect. Decision making should improve when Blake comes back and the outside shooting will take off when Martell reintegrates later on. He’s still the best (maybe 2nd best to Roy) shooter on the team.

by oregonslee on Jan 25, 2009 11:29 AM PST reply actions

Biggest news was new p&r strategy.

We were showing on p&r like never before and it was working amazingly well. um, like, duh. the reason teams set picks is to make the defender fight through it, if your strategy is to have your guys fight through it, then you are doing exactly what they want. Nate having the big guys show and having the weak side help out in the middle on the roll worked very very well last night. Let’s hope they keep it up—this was a perfect game to experiment with it in (and the Clips game as well), but Utah will be the first real test.

"It's like, 'Urrrrrrgh!'" Rodriguez says, his cupped hands turning into fists. "It is a good feeling. Good feeling."

by sergioFTW on Jan 25, 2009 11:49 AM PST reply actions

Not to argue too much

but teams set picks to get the guy with the ball open. Depending on who the guy with the ball is, even a weak screen can slow the defender enough to get him “open”—Kobe needs very little daylight to get off a clean shot; whereas guys like Jason Kapono aren’t open unless his man is guarding someone else with his back turned.

by EngineerScotty on Jan 25, 2009 1:29 PM PST up reply actions

i agree totally.

the point of a screen, is to a) get the dribbler a few steps on his defender, or b) cause a switch that results in a mismatch/open cutter. So, if you try to fight through it or switch, you are doing what the offense wants—even the best defender at getting through picks will lose a step or two on the dribbler. When you show and recover, or trap, you are foiling the offense of both counts (which isn’t to say that you are solving the pick and roll, but you are taking away the offense’s first two, and most simple, options).

"It's like, 'Urrrrrrgh!'" Rodriguez says, his cupped hands turning into fists. "It is a good feeling. Good feeling."

by sergioFTW on Jan 25, 2009 1:59 PM PST up reply actions