Counterplays to LMA double teams

by dogbert on Mar 1, 2011 11:22 AM PST

Do you think the Blazers have specific counterplays that they run to deal with LaMarcus being double teamed?

There have been a few times where I've seen LaMarcus make a nifty pass to a cutter but I would say the majority of the time he makes a move into the double team and then passes it out to the perimeter with little or no advantage. I'm wondering if you've seen plays that look to be specially designed to take advantage of the player who leaves their man to double team LMA. It seems like if you run a play that anticipates the double team then the player who is left unguarded ought to be able to get free for a high percentage shot. Especially if the double teamer is a guard, or better yet a guard switched onto a bigger player.

I'm not a basketball X's and O's kinda guy, but to me it looks like any the occasional counter to the double team is mostly ad-libbed by LMA or Andre, and not necessarily a scripted play. I guess the occasional alley oop to a cutting Batum looks like a scripted play but why don't we see a steady diet of that?

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This is why Rudy is a good PG to play with Aldridge

He is a very good passer and has a quick trigger. The problem is if Miller is running the play with Aldridge, he isn’t enough of a shooter to keep defenders honest and paying for their doubles. My guess is that Roy/Matthews aren’t good enough interior passers to consistently get Aldridge the ball.

by Sir.Ludo on Mar 1, 2011 11:33 AM PST reply actions

Rudy and Aldridge do have some really good chemistry.

Rudy’s strengths compliment Aldridge’s game very well.

by gtbassett on Mar 1, 2011 1:19 PM PST up reply actions

My issue isn't

how LMA get’s the ball, it’s more how we can react to the double team that LMA invariably gets.
It just doesn’t seem like we get something good often enough to make them think twice about double teaming him.

by dogbert on Mar 1, 2011 1:35 PM PST up reply actions

I've seen Wesley make the post-entry pass quite a bit, especially when there is no Dre in the game

I don’t have Synergy, but I would also bet money just from the games I have seen that at least half of LA’s assists are to Wes for the 3, often after Wes makes that pass into the post.

Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!

by HailOden! on Mar 1, 2011 3:42 PM PST up reply actions

Przybilla is no longer there to set a pick for Batum to cut to the rim

But now that we have Crash, I can see something opportunistic develop between G-Dub and LMA.

Faith applied reasonably is practical magic.

by Matthews vs Roy... Fight! on Mar 1, 2011 12:16 PM PST reply actions

Just run some plays off of LA for Crash & let him integrate into our system.

"Unless commitment is made, there are only promises and hopes, but no plans."

by SurReal on Mar 1, 2011 12:21 PM PST up reply actions

It sure looks like they are trying this now - albeit without much success on Sunday

LA has been a step slower on his post moves for the last three games. He has been looking more mechanical and seems to be waiting for a play to develop off the double instead just attacking the rim. This could be a side effect of the crazy minutes he has been logging, the injury, or just trying something new.

by Jacksonville on Mar 1, 2011 12:25 PM PST reply actions

They are getting wide open shots

When LMA is double teamed problem is they can not make them. When you are given wide open shots you have got to knock em down and make them pay for the double teams.

by Planet29 on Mar 1, 2011 12:54 PM PST reply actions

most of those wide open shots

are from the perimeter. I want to see more mid-range/layup type shots.

by dogbert on Mar 1, 2011 1:36 PM PST up reply actions

Yep

It’s called the “Pass back out to Miller, then re-post”

Portland could coast along with their superior talent and stay right with us. Now that Portland woke up, the hammer cometh down.

Bayless > Daffy Duck after 3 cans of rockstar

by Batumshakalaka on Mar 1, 2011 1:15 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

Rec

There’s also the “throw it up and pray for contact” which also provides the option for the “throw it up, grab the O board, repeat till shot is made or foul is drawn.” It’s quite versatile, and provides more than one scoring option, all of them named LaMarcus.

Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!

by HailOden! on Mar 1, 2011 3:50 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

LMA should get himself a hook shot

and also, I’d love to see him do the old “spinny-pivot” until the defender just can’t help but jump on you.

by ZenGarden on Mar 1, 2011 1:34 PM PST reply actions

I wonder why

you don’t see LMA on the right block nearly as often as the left. Instead of his go to move being the roll to the middle for the hook, it would be the spin to the baseline that he is so hesitant to try from the left block. I wonder if it is harder for them to double team from the baseline side?

by dogbert on Mar 1, 2011 1:38 PM PST reply actions

I'd like to see LMA use his length to pass over the top of doubles,

instead of kicking it out. Kicking it out is a good first step though.

It’s probably my most referenced BEdge article, but awhile ago Ben wrote an in-depth analysis of LMA’s passing skills that revealed his atrocious passing out of double-teams. Shooters were 18% when shooting off an LMA pass out of the double. The fact that he’s getting more confident in doubles and finding his teammates in any capacity is a step forward. The next step is going to be hitting the open man headed to the hoop. That is on his teammates as much as him.

Stealth > Wealth

by 500dogs on Mar 1, 2011 2:16 PM PST reply actions

Teams probably know he's going to kick out almost instantly

He needs to make that double actually commit and not just show for a couple seconds and rotate to cover shooters. Noticed a few games ago that some teams were trying to fake the double so that he would pass…getting the ball out of his hands.

Would be nice to see him either split the double or fade every once in awhile so he’s considered a continual threat in need of a hard double team.

by poorwebguy on Mar 1, 2011 2:43 PM PST reply actions

excellent point.

i’ve noticed this as well. not all double teams are created equal la!

just because there’s a second guy headed in your direction doesn’t mean that you can’t still score!

by SaveOden on Mar 1, 2011 9:24 PM PST up reply actions

Uh...cutting?

Why don’t we try sending a wing down the middle of the paint when the double comes? The Jazz run this constantly..why we haven’t picked up this concept up yet is beyond me…

by ClydeFrog on Mar 2, 2011 5:10 PM PST reply actions