How does Portland adjust?

[Gaddabout]

Was trying to guess what McMillan plans to change for Game 3. Batum is questionable pending an MRI today. I would expect him to play, but considering it's his right shoulder, I wouldn't expect them to put a game plan on his ... um ... shoulders.

I suspect they'll want to get away from Miller dominating the ball unless they go to more high screen and rolls with Aldridge. I doubt they want to do that because I think that will speed up the game in a way they won't want to do. They may, though, if they think they can get points, fouls against, or both. I don't think Miller is a great screen-and-roll point guard because his mid-range game isn't scary. Neither is Aldridge's for that matter.

They could try clearing out and posting up Webster on Nash. That's actually kind of scary, but if Batum is out or not as much of a threat, maybe Richardson could switch out and let Nash guard Fernandez or whomever.

I'm pretty sure of this: They're going to take whomever Nash is guarding and try to score on him. Fernandez has disappeared, but it would only take a couple of screens and some made shots to get him going. Both he and Webster are capable of absolutely going off. Webster scored 24 points in a quarter against the Jazz this season. Webster probably scares me most as a wild card, even though he has absolutely zero basketball IQ.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Not sure. Batum is a big X factor to me. Him possibly being out is huge. I'm REALLY surprised that they are using Rudy as a decoy. He should be abusing Nash and he isn't. Not sure what's going on there. They have to get Fernandez going if they want to make it a series.

 

[82CardsGrad]

They don't have many options... Batum, even if he does play, will not be near 100%. He's now damaged goods as it's the same shoulder that caused him to miss 45 games earlier this year...

They need to limit the amount of times the offense goes thru Camby. Dude goes into an epileptic fit each time he touches the ball on offense!
Grant Hill will keep Miller out of sync...so they won't have any other choice but to try to get Bayless and Walker in sync with Aldridge. It won't work though if Bayless and Walker aren't hitting their shots. They need to convert on a huge % of their offensive possessions, whereas the Suns can afford a few more empty trips...
I think Howard will need to be used more as well. He's got cement in his shoes but if they can get him the ball down low, he can still put it in the basket on a consistent basis... Cunningham looks like he's got some firepower as well - perhaps they can try to get him involved earlier to add some fire.

Seems to me they just don't have the manpower to do much else...

 

[elindholm]

I think they'll just "become more physical," i.e. foul more. Their only real choice is to try to get the game officiated on their terms. The question will be whether the referees buy into the concept of "playoff basketball" or still make some attempt to follow the rule book. The Blazers can't win if the game is called tight, period.

 

[Ronin]

Bench Fernandez

 

[Gaddabout]

I think Howard will need to be used more as well. He's got cement in his shoes but if they can get him the ball down low, he can still put it in the basket on a consistent basis.

I think Howard creates other problems. Namely, he gets abused on defense, so the Blazers end up trading baskets. Harder to hide him than the Suns hiding Nash.

 

[Gaddabout]

I think they'll just "become more physical," i.e. foul more. Their only real choice is to try to get the game officiated on their terms. The question will be whether the referees buy into the concept of "playoff basketball" or still make some attempt to follow the rule book. The Blazers can't win if the game is called tight, period.

Consider Amare's history of ejections in the playoffs, wouldn't it be a pretty good bet to push him around a little early on?

 

[AfroSuns]

My first guess is they will want to take advantage of Nash, even if Rudy suddenly rediscovers his cajones, i don't see how it will work consistently since they don't really spread the floor. The only player that scares me is Webster, he strike me like one that can go bunkers and score in bunches.
Miller will adjust, he may not score tons but i expect him to be more aggressive at home tomorrow.
The Portland fans are hoping the crowds noise will overwhelm the Suns, they must have missed the last regular season game against the Jazz and the Utah crowd is probably the loudest in the league.
Tomorrow's game is probably the most pivotal in this series because if the Suns can take it, i believe they will win Saturday and close this game out at home.

 

[AzStevenCal]

I'm REALLY surprised that they are using Rudy as a decoy. He should be abusing Nash and he isn't. Not sure what's going on there. They have to get Fernandez going if they want to make it a series.

I think McMillan has stripped away what little confidence Fernandez might have had coming into this season. He just doesn't look like an NBA player out there and it reminds me a bit of Dragic last season before Gentry helped rebuild him.

Steve

 

[AzStevenCal]

Consider Amare's history of ejections in the playoffs, wouldn't it be a pretty good bet to push him around a little early on?

Their coach has worked over Amare before with Fortson and others so yeah I could definitely see them trying this. I don't think it will work as easily as it used to but hopefully the team will be aware and ready for it.

Steve

 

[Gaddabout]

Meh, in terms of crowds, I'd probably give Portland the edge. They are a basketball crazy town and they have always loved their Blazers. No slack in that history really, even with the Jail Blazers.

 

[Gaddabout]

A clue from McMillan's post-game interview:

"We have to set better screens for each other," McMillan said in response to a question about Fernandez's woes. "We've got to move the ball, and we've got to use screens. … I thought they got into everybody's chest tonight; they denied LaMarcus touches, Rudy had to handle the ball. You've got to use each other. That's execution; you set screens, you use screens, you get into your offense and you get into your spots. That should create opportunities for everybody."

What made Fernandez's offensive disappearance particularly glaring on Tuesday was that the Suns made him the Blazers' primary ball handler. Grant Hill and Jared Dudley denied Andre Miller the ball and forced Fernandez to initiate the offense. Too often, he did little or nothing with the rock in those situations.

"They took us out of our offense early," McMillan said. "They jammed Miller. We had some trouble getting into our offense and were a little hesitant running our sets. They forced Rudy to handle the ball and make some plays. That adjustment shouldn't have been that effective."

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Meh, in terms of crowds, I'd probably give Portland the edge. They are a basketball crazy town and they have always loved their Blazers. No slack in that history really, even with the Jail Blazers.

Of all the Western Conference playoff teams, the Blazers had the worst home record.

 

[Gaddabout]

Of all the Western Conference playoff teams, the Blazers had the worst home record.

That has nothing to do with their crowd and everything to do with talent. Any basketball junkie knows the Trail Blazers own the record for most consecutive sell outs.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

That has nothing to do with their crowd and everything to do with talent. Any basketball junkie knows the Trail Blazers own the record for most consecutive sell outs.

I'm not debating whether or not they have a good crowd, of course they have a reputation of having great fans. I'm just saying winning in Portland will be less of a feat than some are making it out to be.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

A clue from McMillan's post-game interview:

this is interesting. makes me think they'll try to have miller draw fouls on hill/dudley trying to get free for the ball early in the game. if those two are drawing whistles for contact in trying to deny miller the ball they'll have to back off, putting the ball back in miller's hands, and out of rudy's hands, and their offense will likely run more smoothly.

not saying this is definitely going to happen, but that's what i'd do. force the action with miller trying to run through hill and duds to get to the ball. more often than not that foul is going against the defender and not as a charge.

 

[AfroSuns]

this is interesting. makes me think they'll try to have miller draw fouls on hill/dudley trying to get free for the ball early in the game. if those two are drawing whistles for contact in trying to deny miller the ball they'll have to back off, putting the ball back in miller's hands, and out of rudy's hands, and their offense will likely run more smoothly.

not saying this is definitely going to happen, but that's what i'd do. force the action with miller trying to run through hill and duds to get to the ball. more often than not that foul is going against the defender and not as a charge.

Wont work. Duds and Hill are the smartest defenders on the Suns. They can probably pull that off against JRich, Dragic or Barbosa but not those two. They will adjust on the fly. He needs to go back to the drawing board, something Gentry said Nate don't usually do because he is not very flexible

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

He needs to go back to the drawing board, something Gentry said Nate don't usually do because he is not very flexible

when did gentry say this????

 

[AzStevenCal]

when did gentry say this????

Yeah, I have to believe that's one heck of a paraphrase.

Steve

 

[AfroSuns]

Yeah, I have to believe that's one heck of a paraphrase.

Steve

when did gentry say this????

I've known Nate a long time, he's not a real flexible guy. What they do, they do great. You have to prove time and time again that you can beat them

Didnt really have the time to listen to the audio but the article is here.

http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2010/4/19/1431143/phoenix-suns-practice-report-knock

 

[cly2tw]

this is interesting. makes me think they'll try to have miller draw fouls on hill/dudley trying to get free for the ball early in the game. if those two are drawing whistles for contact in trying to deny miller the ball they'll have to back off, putting the ball back in miller's hands, and out of rudy's hands, and their offense will likely run more smoothly.

not saying this is definitely going to happen, but that's what i'd do. force the action with miller trying to run through hill and duds to get to the ball. more often than not that foul is going against the defender and not as a charge.

They were trying exactly that every game, with Miller and Bayless acting up out there. Refs bought in quite a lot in the 1st game but much less so in the 2nd. Maybe our players learned a lesson to negate that, maybe refs reviewed tapes upon Suns' protest and talked about it.
In game 1, refs allowed people to hack the bigs in the paint but gave the penetrating guards all the calls when touched. Inconsistent!

 

[Gaddabout]

They will adjust on the fly. He needs to go back to the drawing board, something Gentry said Nate don't usually do because he is not very flexible

Ha! That's one way to interpret it, I guess. I believe what Gentry was actually saying is McMillan is tough to coach against because you know they're going to redouble their efforts to do better what they already do well. He wasn't slamming McMillan on his lack of creativity.

 

[AfroSuns]

Ha! That's one way to interpret it, I guess. I believe what Gentry was actually saying is McMillan is tough to coach against because you know they're going to redouble their efforts to do better what they already do well. He wasn't slamming McMillan on his lack of creativity.

I dont think he was slamming him, maybe my previous post may have seem that way, but i do think what he is saying is Mcmillian is not going to make major changes on the fly, since his system has worked all season especially very well against the Suns

 

[GYDevil]

this is interesting. makes me think they'll try to have miller draw fouls on hill/dudley trying to get free for the ball early in the game. if those two are drawing whistles for contact in trying to deny miller the ball they'll have to back off, putting the ball back in miller's hands, and out of rudy's hands, and their offense will likely run more smoothly.

not saying this is definitely going to happen, but that's what i'd do. force the action with miller trying to run through hill and duds to get to the ball. more often than not that foul is going against the defender and not as a charge.

THis is the only way that the Blazers are going to win another game or two in this series. If they can ugly up the game by getting lots of ticky-tack fouls they can disrupt the rythm of the Suns and keep in the game with free throws. If the refs let Hill and Dudley play tough D then the Blazers don't have a chance.

 

[AfroSuns]

Right now, it looks like they intend to keep everyone guessing about Batum's status.