SB Nation User Blog: LaoTzu

How to Beat the Blazers!

LaoTzu — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:15:04 -0000

NBA teams scout each other. They try different looks to "solve" the other team's scheme. Whatever is successful against you, you will see repeated. Here is part of what other teams in the league have decided works against the Blazers:

1, Be physical.

The Blazers are seen as a jump shooting team. You get up on jump shooters. They are less likely to punish you with drives. Off the ball, get in the passing lanes as the pressured shooters will often make mistakes. Do whatever you can to get the Blazers off their A-game. And turn rebounds into hustle contests rather than height and position contests,

2. Take the ball out of Roy's hands.

Ever since the Orlando game, especially, teams have been doubling Roy. They have come at him late in the shot clock or late in the game. Denver came at him early and often and was very rarely punished. The Blazers will see this more and more until they punish it. The reason they double Roy is that you can't come up on him alone. Roy is more dangerous off the dribble. More often than not, you would prefer him to take the jumper. But when he is hot, you can't let him beat you by himself. So you get up on him on both his hands and make him pick it up or find an outlet. Even if this does not result in a turnover, it takes the ball out of Roy's hands and eats up clock. This leaves someone open, but finding that player, in the right position, with time running down has been hard, especially with all of our new players. And, sorry to say it, the other players (and perhaps Nate in his sets) are starting to rely too much on Roy. Everyone has to be ready to participate fully on offense or that is where the opponent will force the ball.

3. Pressure the inbound pass.

This has been effective. And there has been no downside. It is surprising we don't see this more. Lately, the Blazers have been wasting a TO or two each game to this. And rather than being punished, opponents more often come up with a steal.

4. Leak out on the fast break.

The Blazers do a great job offensive rebounding, but they can commit too many folks to the offensive glass. Especially when Roy and Rudy are in the game at the guard spots, or when the point guard takes the shot, the Blazers are not getting back in transition. Easy two!

5. Go at GO early and often.

Greg always looks for the block. And he usually drops his hands. He gets cheap fouls, getting the butt end of rookie calls and not yet knowing where his hands should be or exactly what they will allow boxing-out for rebounds. This not only takes out GO as an offensive threat, it allows the opponent to turn the game into a one-way parade to the foul line. And always going for the block, as has been recently seen, leaves the opposing bigs a better shot at rebounds and put-backs. And being out of position, Greg is even more likely to foul on the second attempt.

Between having an answer for Roy, staying out on our other shooters, knocking us around, eating shot clock, and getting easy transition buckets, put-backs off blocks, and free trips to the charity stripe, the Blazers are having trouble staying out of trouble. They cannot put any real distance between themselves and other competitive teams.

So, what can the Blazers do?

1. Be tough.

Come ready to ball. Punish physical defense by going at the abuser to make the call obvious. Don't be the second to foul, just maintain the contact to make it obvious. And make your free throws (something the Blazers are great at this year). Enforce your will. Stand your ground. Play YOUR game. But if the opponent does everything to take your strength away from you, have a second plan to go to. For us, that's more guys blowing by the defender and collapsing their defense. (I am looking at you, Travis. Where is that aerial game?)

2. Be ready for the double team!

Roy usually gets the ball from the point guard out top with 15-20 seconds left in the shot clock. If and when the double comes, he takes time to get rid of the ball. Defensive rotation comes to the first man out of the double team, so it often takes take two good passes to punish this. There will not be much time if any to reset. Ideally, though, you want to play 4 on 3, so the Blazers should be able to punish the opponent here. This should prove less a problem as the players know more about where each other wants the ball and where each other shoots efficiently. Still, Nate must be chomping at the bit to install sets off this double-team. One thing that is already clear, when Roy is being doubled, Blake is leaking to the corner for the open three. This is getting teams to play Roy more honestly and helping Blake's 3-pt% and ppg. Crisp passes around the perimeter and cutters to the basket desparately needed!

3. The Blazers need to audible into special plays to beat ball pressure. Most teams do this by swinging the ball. Rather than passing inbounds to the primary ball handler for the play, you set up series of passing lanes around the perimeter where the ball will come to an open man, a 2-on-1, or a favorable isolation -- usually on the weak side.

Problems 1-3 are closely related. Until the Blazers beat opponents who overcommit, they will see more and more of this type of defense. The Blazers need to punish overcommitment, preferably by blowing by exterior defenders and getting to the rim for the finish or the easy dish, or at least by crisp passing into new and better looks.

4. The Blazers are getting back better in recent games. But they are still allowing too many cheap buckets. Better planning and better communication are necessary, especially if we are scrambling to get a shot up and committing bigs to the boards. We can't wait for game situations to improve communication on who's responsible to get back. Speaking of that, the opponents are also getting too many secondary fast-break points when too many of our bigs are trailing the play. This and put-backs is how Denver's Nene got some easy hoops.

5. GO needs more experience, and -- at least until he is shown some respect -- more patience. He has unique abilities. Which is part of the problem. He is starting to back down opposing players more, ala Sh*q, which is ugly if we are on the receiving end but otherwise very profitable. GO also of course needs to give up on some blocks -- simply elevate to increase the opponent's degree of difficulty rather than go for the stuff every time. A little variety will keep them guessing. LMA and Batum/Travis need to crash the defensive glass and maybe get a body on the opposing center. This will not only cut down opponents' offensive boards, but will help keep our bigs out of foul trouble when they are out of position after going for the block. On the offensive end, this team needs to learn how to feed the post. We can and do dish when we cut, but otherwise we just try to feed bigs on the block. Something I have not seen all year, I think, is a pass off the backboard when Oden is fronted or off the pick-and-roll. Let's get the other team's bigs sat down on the bench with early fouls!

We are figuring these things out, getting to know how the new guys fit in. But as long as these basic problems are this glaring, it will be tough for these guys to achieve results comparable to their potential.

Why is Charles Barkley such a Hater?

LaoTzu — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 21:19:53 -0000

The TNT after-show didn't do Brandon many favors. And the leader, the person most disgruntled appeared to be Charles Barkley.

Barkley has long had it in for the Blazers. He never acknowledges that we have good players. He was a Rasheed hater -- hate on Rasheed as you will, man can ball -- saying that he was not a legitimate allstar. Goes to Detroit, all of a sudden Barkley falls in love with him.

Is it the race thing? Too many white people in Stumptown?

Is it a longstanding antipathy from his days in Phoenix?

Is it down to him not having a ring and having to hate on somebody else, instead of himself?

Or am I full of it, right or wrong Charles Barkley (ring-less wonder that he is) simply calls it as he sees it.

You tell me.

Poll

Why does Charles Barkley hate on the Blazers so much?

Charles has a big race chip on his shoulder from growing up in the deep South, a black town that didn't even have long distance telephone service deep into his frustrated career

10 votes

Barkley hates the Blazers like he hated on Philadelphia, where white people controlled the team and the town

7 votes

Charles hates him some Blazers because we ruined his championship dreams while he carried those Phoenix Bums

25 votes

It isn't cool to hate on Jordan, so he has to vent his nightmare, ring-less frustrations somewhere

9 votes

It is cool to hate on small market teams -- Charles is being a tool in Stern's plan to justify horribly biased refereeing to media market giants

26 votes

Some fool in Portland called him out for being a bad tipper in front of his woman

8 votes

Charles biased? You are an idiot!

42 votes

127 votes | Poll has closed

Blazers Best Team to Watch/Best Fantasy Guard Duo says NBA.com

LaoTzu — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 22:58:34 -0000

http://www.nba.com/2008/news/features/dave_mcmenamin/12/22/blazers1222/index.html

http://www.nba.com/video/channels/nba_tv/2008/12/22/nba_20081222_magic_guards.nba/index.html

[Yes, I tried to enter these links as a fanshot, but got rejected because the system tried to upload an image and couldn't find one.]

B-Roy and Blake are getting their creds. Yes, the Blazers do put on an awesome display.

Thank Stern&Co for their insight!

More words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words more words

Trade to Guarantee WCF!

LaoTzu — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 05:11:59 -0000

Analyzing the Blazers' roster on offense, we are great from behind the 3-pt line, have great slashers, and are developing an offense off the blocks down low. We can finish on the break. Martell will give us another reliable shooter when he returns. So there is little need to fill on offense except more experience scoring in the post.

We have become reliable at the FT line.

Turnovers are under control. We will have even less when the players take communication to the next level.

We have an assist-to-turnover ratio that is very solid. Our SGs distribute like most team's PGs. Oden is showing a capacity to distribute from the post. And everyone on the team is a willing passer.

We have decent defenders, with a solid wall at center. And our team defense is getting better all the time. We could use an enforcer at PF, although Ike might be that guy.

If we could readily improve, it would be at the 3, where we already have three solid, developing NBA talents which allows Nate to find the right solution against the right team.

We have a young team with great chemistry, committed to improving every game.

The only thing that threatens this happy campground is a lack of minutes and the threat to break it up with trades.

So the trade I am proposing -- assuming we can keep everyone happy -- is to ... TRADE EVERY ONE OF THESE GUYS ... for the same guy with the 2008-09 regular season behind him.

WCF, baby.

Beat that, trade post wannabes.

Ways Oden is Well-Centered and You are Not

LaoTzu — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:55:14 -0000

1. Oden has demonstrated clear-headedness. His perspective is based on reality versus fantasy. Oden says that he hasn't done anything in the NBA yet. He is hopeful but he refuses to put the cart in front of the horse. We all want to be the first to recognize the next big thing. Oden knows that the next big thing isn't something to crown in anticipation. It is something to experience, to look back on in wonder. Would he like to be the next big thing? Absolutely. Does Oden have dreams of championships and NBA stardom. Duh. Does Oden feel comfortable with the idea of an SI cover photo when he has not earned it on the court? Obviously not. Oden is not that interested in potential. Oden is interested in realizing that potential. Oden will be ready to talk SI cover when they are asking him about the amazing thing he did, not the amazing thing he might do.

2. Oden is a warrior. As a warrior, he understands what Sun Tzu and Lao Tzu and others have espoused. To win, he has to know his opponent. And, as importantly, he has to know himself. Oden is frustrated. He is just getting a feel for what it is like to compete at this level. Facing injuries, he is not saying that they are keeping him from displaying his God-given dominance. He is dealing with what is, his God-given upsides and downsides, while trying to develop NBA-level big man skills that often take years to mature. When asked if there could be anything more frustrating than rolling his ankle in his first NBA game and being out for weeks, Oden said, 'Yes. My team losing by 20.'

You (include me here), on the other hand, are Blazer Fans. Fanatics. The Blazers are an escape for us. A happy land of possibility, of potential, of dominating the league from 2010 until Roy and LMA and Rudy leave the NBA on a three-pronged repirator. We see the possibilities, and see the season starting, and no matter how hard the deck is stacked against this young team in the first month, we want wins. We have been waiting!

You are also most of the Blazers players. In LA, most of the guys were so nervous to be the team everyone makes them out to be, they clutched. We gotta play loose. Gripping is a death sentence. So Sergio throws a horrible lob and makes a turnover, so what.

You are also Nate. To get his team to relax, he has to relax. This ain't even the playoffs. We are not who we think we are, yet. And we will only get to that promised land if we loosen up and ball.

QED: Oden is Well-Centered. And You are not.

Do the Blazers have too Many Project Players?

LaoTzu — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 15:53:03 -0000

We all remember the ugly days of Trader Bob. It was like fireworks with all the trades. Your guy has an inch more vertical or another two years experience or more time in re-hab? Deal!

Now we have KP. In KP we trust! Frye is a solid get in moving ZBo out which finished cleaning out the jail blazers. KP snagged us Rudy, Roy and LMA. Bayless looks promising. KP is said to have been on the fence on Durant v Oden. But he has let some veterans like Jones, Jack and Udoka go in favor of making room to develop young talent. How is that working?

Are we too young for our own good? This is the bigger concern behind questions like the Martell and Travis controversy. The third option is neither. Do we need to have veterans to add around Roy/LMA/Rudy? And do we need to focus the team around a tighter rotation? If so, are we in that process? Can you feel it coming together, or are we still looking too much to gamble on young talent? Or is it a gamble. Will we think in a year or two that yes this team was loaded, just waiting to put it all together.

Poll

Do the Blazers just have too many project players to count on having a great team come out of the current roster?

Yes. This is reminding me of Trader Bob, but with unproven youth instead of creaky veterans and head cases.

2 votes

Yes. We need to pare this down to a core team of the best talent.

1 votes

Yes. This is an obvious train wreck, based on one game against the reigning Western Conference Champions.

3 votes

No. We have just had a rash of injuries. We will win now, well, very soon.

3 votes

No. The players are fine, they just need more time. We'll make the playoffs this year and be dangerous.

17 votes

Yes. We simply need more trades to get the type of probably veteran talent we need. (Suggest your trades below.)

2 votes

Let's stand pat until near the trading dealine to get a better idea of what we have.

7 votes

C'mon. This is supposed to be a year to experiment. The championship window opens NEXT season: the jello is hardening for 2010.

8 votes

43 votes | Poll has closed

A Few Questions regarding Darius' Expiring Career

LaoTzu — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:17:31 -0000

Blazer management must have heaved a heavy sigh of relief when Darius Miles was recently released by the Celtics. I still have questions as to how the scenarios could play out.

If Miles is picked up, he has to sit out 10 games for violating the NBA substance abuse policy, right?

If so, Darius is not going to get picked up to fill a sudden hole caused by temporary unavailability of a player due to injury.

Who if anyone has to pay for the 10 games he doesn't play?

Is he suspended, does that mean no one pays? Are we going to see the Blazers pick him up with 11 games to go just to not have to pay him for 10 of those? Or have the Blazers already got that financial relief? Or is there a settlement on the books?

All of those considerations aside, if the new team anyway becomes liable, to the League or to the player, for the money for not playing, that could be a deal-breaker.

Sitting out doesn't count as playing, right?

No one could hire him to a 10-day contract just to have his salary count against us the following year, right? I mean, they would have to have the room and wait out the suspension, right?

Who would want a project player like Miles, facing a doping suspension, on the back end of what might not be even called a career?

I am looking at you, Pat Riley.

Really, though, any guesses where this guy might fit? Houston has Battier. Detroit, no. Charlotte? Denver?

So, if none gets Miles under longer than the minimum 10-day contract, does that mean we are free of him from the salary cap for the following season? Do we gotta make it the whole year?

Thanks for the information and ideas!

The Blazers WILL inevitably DOMINATE: When will losing to Portland cause their roster to blow up?

LaoTzu — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 18:25:14 -0000

The Trailblazers will eventually and inevitably dominate the NBA. Given Kobaby's fragile ego, how long can it be before Blazer dominance causes that cancer to blow that team up?

Payback is a Pritch.

Could the inevitable immolation and destruction of the Fakers be in this year's playoffs? Sooner? (My guess is that Kobaby blames any slow start or stumbles on his Olympics experience.)

Bonus points for guessing how many long years it will take the Fakers to buy another set of players that to get them to the playoffs.

Poll

How Many Years will it take for the Portland Trailblazers to SO DOMINATE the Fakers in the Playoffs that LA's roster will blow up?

This Year's Playoffs -- done deal!

30 votes

2010 -- all our opponents scatter before us

64 votes

2011, Can anyone say Dynasty?

45 votes

2012 (How did those losers avoid us so long?)

5 votes

This is moot, Kobaby will blow that team up after the first regular season game!

10 votes

154 votes | Poll has closed

What is the Sound of One Pritch' Slapping?

LaoTzu — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 23:38:51 -0000

We all know that Kevin Pritchard's laid down some serious Prtich'slaps on other NBA GMs during the past few years. KP's pimp hand is strong.

Now never having been there, I've still got to think that with all of that energy being consumed in the momentous moment, there's got to be a distinctive sound associated with the event.

No one close to the Blazer organization has let out the nature of this sound. Is that because then other GMs might duck at the last second, hearing it coming? Of course, other GMs and even fan bases have been knocked silly for half a season by the sheer force of the blow (see Isiah and Knick fan right after the Z'Bo trade). Or they are too embarrassed to revisit the event. Maybe during a crying session with Bryant Gumbel, some GM will share the awful truth.

So help me out, here. I want to be able to see that sound in posts on BEdge. What sound does a Pritchslap make?

Bonus Question: If KP slaps another GM without that person listening, say like via Blackberry or text message, maybe in an email exchange on his laptop in a beautiful Oregon forest, does that Pritchslap make a sound?

Where for art thou, Rudy?

LaoTzu — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:25:14 -0000

We have alot of love here on BlazersEdge. Jerryd Bayless (JBay), Summer League MVP, he gets the love. BRoy seriously threatens records for manlove. Even Sergio gets the love. Where is the love for Rudy?

by dvcastle on Jul 28, 2008 2:21 PM EDT: "Allow me to echo “Jorga”’s concern about Rudy: not only did Brandon leave him out of the conversation, so has Nate, KP and any local writer."

That concern has me wondering about my early assessments about Rudy being PritchSlap Numero Uno. How good is this Spaniard? Should I be as excited as I am to see him in Blazer gear?

Poll

How Good is Rudy?

Rudy is the Man (destined All-Star status)!

25 votes

Rudy will start for a Blazer Championship Team

27 votes

Rudy will be a solid contributor on our Championship Team

176 votes

Rudy will find trouble seeing playing time for years to come

10 votes

Rudy will kick around the NBA after he scrubs out against superior talent in Portland

5 votes

Rudy may see time in the D-League (smoking division)

4 votes

247 votes | Poll has closed