Let me start this by saying, I am not a basketball coach.  I have watched studied basketball as much as most, through college, throughout the Jailblazer era, through our new rebuilding.  I do watch an ungodly amount of basketball though and have this sickness with the Blazers where I've got to watch their games 2+ times just to really put it behind me, wins or losses.  After re-watching the game last night this morning, here are my thoughts on the series so far and the adjustments that will take place for a game 4 victory and the start of a 3 game series for all the marbles.

The Blazers played the Suns 3 times in the regular season.  With all the gameplanning for different teams every night, in these three matchups, the Blazers rolled out their pretty standard offense, going to LMA early and then letting BRoy and Dre do their thing if that doesn't work.  On defense, we play solid man defense and switch pretty much everything, no surprises.  Throughout these meetings, the Blazers won two, once without Brandon Roy.  We matched up well with them and our "standard" gameplan seemed to work well.

Playoffs Game 1:  Without knowing exactly what Phoenix was going to do we roll out our standard gameplan from the regular season.  We win.  Everything works exactly like the regular season, we slow them down, we hang tight and pull away in the 4th with good execution against slower veteran players (GHill / JRich / SNash).

Playoffs Game 2:  Without knowing exactly what Phoenix was going to do we roll out our standard gameplan from the regular season AND Game 1 (see what I did there.... ).  The Suns ADJUST and put Grant Hill on Dre and make insanely fast double teams on both LMA and Dre as soon as they start their offensive moves. 

**Side Note** This is pretty much what Gentry and all the player interviews said they were going to do after Game 1. 

**Side Note #2** This is EXACTLY what Houston did to the Blazers in last year's playoffs but in Game 1.

Our offense sputters expectantly and we lose.  What I want to focus on though is the defense.  The Suns adjusted to do exactly what most NBA teams do in the playoffs.  You try to limit or even eliminate the other teams #1 or #2 option.  In our case they are limiting BOTH.  The Blazers are doing the exact same thing.  They are looking at Nash & Amare as Option #1 and #1a.  We are setting our defense to limit these two in the pick/roll by bringing in a 3rd player as support and leaving the other 3 options open for a closeout and or switch back to cover them.  The Suns are running the exact same plays as the blazers, ISO Amare in the post or Pick/Roll with Nash.  Nothing different from that and what Dre & LMA run every time down.  The significant difference between the two sets is that the suns have 2-3 guys that will absolutely rain down threes on the back side of the offense and the Blazers have Rudy, Martell, Camby on the back side.  As opposed to JRich, GHill, Frye, Dudley, or Barbosa (depending on the lineup).  Game over right?  Well, through Games 2 & 3 it has looked that way.  We shade over one defensive player to the Primary side of the key and leave one of the 3 above open for three or a pump/drive on the back side.  Rough.  Here's where in my opinion we need to make ADJUSTMENTS.

Playoffs Game 3:  This is where Nate and his team look at the tape from game 2 and make ADJUSTMENTS right?  The Suns made theirs in Game 2, it was OUR turn.  I was there a couple hours early with all of the Blazer Maniacs, pumped and ready.  Well, what happened is that Nate rolled out the EXACT same defense in Game 3 as was used in Game 1 and Game 2.  Without the Suns (Amare) force feeding the paint and into a double team like they did in game one, they were free to swing the ball the same way they did in game two and the three pointers RAINED down.  I wouldn't be surprised if Dre isn't having nightmares tonight of JRich threes doing down and the net lighting on fire then falling on his face as he's waiting for a fargone rebound destroying his post basketball career as a NBA TV announcer (John Barry? Really?). 

**Side Note**  In college basketball when a coach knows he's going to play the same team twice a year (conference play) he will insert something into the playbook for the 2nd time around that the other team has NEVER seen.  Full court press, 1-3-1 zone, 1/2 court trap, SOMETHING.  They usually save this for the time when they are playing said team on their home court.  You spring something new, make their players have to THINK and slow down their plays.  With the home fans blasting down noise on top, it makes it harder to process information and think through this new situation that's been forced on them increasing the chance of mistakes and turnovers.  You get the opposition on their heels and the fans push that advantage and that's how the team makes up for a difference in talent and wins big games.  FYI, if you were at the Rose Garden last night, you KNOW that the fans were ready to play an active role as the sixth man last night.  The energy was palpable at times pre-game and the run in the 4th was as loud as I've heard it this season.  Amazing. Sad it was wasted on such an effort by the Blazers.

Instead, the Blazers make no real adjustments, never let the fans help out and SNash and his crew see the exact same defensive setup as they have for 5 games now (3 reg season / 2 playoff) and it's almost like sleep walking.  They don't have to think what so ever, ISO in the post or Pick/Roll, wait for the Blazers to suck in then swing to the open man, bang.  Over and Over and Over. 

ADJUSTMENTS:  Here is where I need BlazersEdge's help.  I am not much of a basketball tactician.  I only call it like I see it.  What kind of adjustments can the boys make to get game 4? 

My recommendations...  The lineup isn't the answer.  The cupboard is BARE from all the injuries.  Starting Lineup of Dre, Rudy, Martell, LMA, Camby.  We need to press Nash full court.  Bayless did a really good job of this last game and actually cut down their fast breaks significantly.  In the half court, we should roll out a 3-2 matchup zone. We've run it a few times this season and done well.  If the guys can't figure this out, then stick with the sagging man but stop bringing in the 3rd man on Amare, let Camby (your max 2 year extension guy) play him straight up...  OR put LMA on him and front.  Let Camby play center field, I don't know.  I just expect with this being a JOB for the Blazers that they can come up with something that would mix up Nash (I know he's a two time MVP) and specifically Amare (low BBIQ) and let the crowd get into the game and make the difference.  JRich should NEVER be able to catch/shoot.  If anything make him take a dribble and then shoot. 

I know this is TLDR but give it a shot and let me know what you think the guys can to DEFENSIVELY to make the Suns have to THINK during the game?  Heck, if we can come up with something and win Game 4, it's a best of three to get through this thing and we've proven we can win in Phoenix...

We all know that Clyde Drexler does commentary for the Houston TV / Radio outlets.  He sits courtside during the game and is visible throughout.  What I'm trying to figure out is why the Blazers broadcast crew hasn't shown him ONCE during either game one or two at the RG?

Wouldn't this get the crowd fired up?  How perfect would it be during one of Adelman's perfectly timed timeouts to simply show Clyde and get a standing Ovation.  Would keep the crowd roaring right through the timeout and cancel RA's attempt and changing momentum.

Am I crazy?  Does Clyde have some kind of contract saying that they can't show him?