Some Early Short thoughts on Game 1

Houston has been pushing the tempo, and we've been giving up lots of fast breaks. Interesting to see how that works out
Houston will start the 6'6" Chuck Hayes at center. Hayes is no pushover, but giving up 6 inches, Oden better get a LOT of chances down low
Related to the above, if Nate decides to go small ball for large chunks of the game instead of exploiting his own matchup advantage, so help me...
Will we look any better than last year at mitigating the damage of quick penetrating point guards?

over 2 years ago douglast 10 comments 0 recs |

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It would be funny if Nate told Oden to front Hayes in the post.

by Nick Van Excellent on Oct 23, 2009 2:32 PM PDT reply actions

Concerning point 3.

I would love to see people react to a lineup that had Outlaw anchor the 5 spot. Priceless.

μὴ φοβοῦ, μόνον πίστευε.

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by T Darkstar on Oct 23, 2009 3:40 PM PDT reply actions

I would throw myself down the stairs.

nearly got hit with a t shirt cannon t shirt while typing

worse than travis
-Ben.

by rockingharder on Oct 25, 2009 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions

Oden and LMA need to see alot of touches against a very small front line, both should be close to 20 points for the game unless it becomes a blow out early and they don’t play much.. Look for Roy to be more aggressive, like he was against the Suns, the Blazers need him to attack the defense for their offense to be efficient.

The second unit will be outplayed by the Houston second unit. Houston is all about heart this year, and so far Portland’s second unit players have not shown the ability to be “scrappy” as Nate likes to call it. Houston will push Outlaw around on the post, as Landry is too good for Travis to stop. If Rudy doesn’t play, which looks like a possiblity, then Bayless gets some minutes to show he belongs this year. A good early showing by Bayless could mean more minutes later in the season.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Oct 23, 2009 4:23 PM PDT reply actions

I dunno

Houston is small but Scola and Hayes have what it takes to slow down Oden and Aldridge. That’s not to say they shouldn’t get the ball, but its going to be tough.

This is going to be a very interesting game for all the reasons you guys suggested— Houston’s tempo, our 2nd unit’s struggles, their undersized but good front court. Portland should win, but they better show up or they’ll get out hustled and dominated.

by jksnake99 on Oct 23, 2009 4:29 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah

Houston isn’t going to roll over for anyone this year. They will come to play hard every night, 1 through 12, they will push the tempo, and they will make you earn the victory.

You gotta love Adelman as a coach. Unlike most coaches who stick to their “system” regardless of personel fit, Rick has proven over and over again that he can adjust his system, sometimes overwhelmingly, to be one that plays to the strenghts of his roster. That will be evident as he moves from a pound it down to Yao fairly slow paced team last year to an up-tempo team that likely will use a lot of ball and player movement in half court sets.

In my book Adelman is one of the most underrated coaches of all time, and easily one of the best never to have won a title. He’s my favorite for coach of the year.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Oct 23, 2009 4:34 PM PDT up reply actions