Playoffs thread

[Duke13]

Man if we pulled that trade, shooting would be an issue. Not much different then the Bulls this year. I know the rebuttal would be Kat can shoot but that's below ave shooting from your perimeter players, Rubio/Dunn, wig and butler.

[AbeVigodaLive]

I guess I just don't see how LaVine has that much value... and I'm nearly positive it's the consensus outside of Wolves fans.


[Note: Especially coming off the injury while staring at an extension.]

[Monster]

I guess I just don't see how LaVine has that much value... and I'm nearly positive it's the consensus outside of Wolves fans.


[Note: Especially coming off the injury while staring at an extension.]

Yes. If Lavine was healthy and had finished the season strong...well would the Wolves even consider trading him? I think if Lavine was healthy he has a lot more value than he did last summer because he would have proved he was that guy that the believers thought he could be instead of a guy that had done if for 30 games or whatever solid chunknofngames it was. I think he probably has a pretty high value right now to some extent because his age and what he has flashed and it's just an ACL that's probably not a big deal but it's lower than it could be especially since most teams aren't looking to suck right away and there would be legit concern Lavine would be limited in helping you a lot that first year back. Plus like you said then you have to figure out if you want to pay him all that money.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

This Houston team is better than the old Phoenix run and gun teams led by Nash because these guys are defending AND putting up points in a hurry. Beverley is perhaps the best defensive PG in the league, along with Chris Paul.

I think they capitalize on a few things more than those Suns teams. Those teams had a bad rap defensively, but they weren't absolutely terrible. If I remember correctly, they were about average.

Meanwhile in this Game 1... the vaunted defender, Ryan Anderson, is completely destroying LaMarcus Aldridge in the post. Aldridge looks absolutely atrocious. On both ends of the court.

He was absolutely terrible in that game. He's too soft to punish Houston in the post and on the glass, but too slow to guard the likes of Harden on switches. And his bread and butter shot is the dreaded long 2, which was not going in.

I wonder why a team doesn't go really small to guard Houston. They thrive on getting Harden and Louis Williams switched onto a big (and you have to switch on Houston lest you give them an open 3 pointer whilst trying to get around a screen or hedging then trying to get back to your guy who is space out - it's much easier just to switch).

Here is what I'd do:

Center - Leonard
PF - Kyle Anderson
SF - Danny Green
SG - Manu
PG - Mills

Dare them to post someone up, which they won't do because they do everything possible to avoid mid-range shots, including turnarounds and jump hooks. They want everything to be a 3 or a drive all the way to the hoop and they especially thrive on switches. So I'd go position-less on them and switch everything.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

By the way, Golden State is perfectly suited to put this kind of lineup out there against Houston:

Center - Draymond
PF - Durant
SF - Iggy
SG - Klay
PG - Curry

[AbeVigodaLive]

This Houston team is better than the old Phoenix run and gun teams led by Nash because these guys are defending AND putting up points in a hurry. Beverley is perhaps the best defensive PG in the league, along with Chris Paul.

I think they capitalize on a few things more than those Suns teams. Those teams had a bad rap defensively, but they weren't absolutely terrible. If I remember correctly, they were about average.

Meanwhile in this Game 1... the vaunted defender, Ryan Anderson, is completely destroying LaMarcus Aldridge in the post. Aldridge looks absolutely atrocious. On both ends of the court.

He was absolutely terrible in that game. He's too soft to punish Houston in the post and on the glass, but too slow to guard the likes of Harden on switches. And his bread and butter shot is the dreaded long 2, which was not going in.

I wonder why a team doesn't go really small to guard Houston. They thrive on getting Harden and Louis Williams switched onto a big (and you have to switch on Houston lest you give them an open 3 pointer whilst trying to get around a screen or hedging then trying to get back to your guy who is space out - it's much easier just to switch).

Here is what I'd do:

Center - Leonard
PF - Kyle Anderson
SF - Danny Green
SG - Manu
PG - Mills

Dare them to post someone up, which they won't do because they do everything possible to avoid mid-range shots, including turnarounds and jump hooks. They want everything to be a 3 or a drive all the way to the hoop and they especially thrive on switches. So I'd go position-less on them and switch everything.

I tend to agree.

And that's what makes the playoffs so interesting. Coaches have to make such quick adjustments to adapt to specific matchups in a series. It's why things like Andrew Bogut guarding Tony Allen would be unthinkable during the regular season but end up swinging playoff series. It's why a guy like Gerald Green doesn't start all season... then starts 5 straight games in the playoffs. It's why Enes Kanter ends up riding the pine seemingly every spring. Et al.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

This Houston team is better than the old Phoenix run and gun teams led by Nash because these guys are defending AND putting up points in a hurry. Beverley is perhaps the best defensive PG in the league, along with Chris Paul.

I think they capitalize on a few things more than those Suns teams. Those teams had a bad rap defensively, but they weren't absolutely terrible. If I remember correctly, they were about average.

Meanwhile in this Game 1... the vaunted defender, Ryan Anderson, is completely destroying LaMarcus Aldridge in the post. Aldridge looks absolutely atrocious. On both ends of the court.

He was absolutely terrible in that game. He's too soft to punish Houston in the post and on the glass, but too slow to guard the likes of Harden on switches. And his bread and butter shot is the dreaded long 2, which was not going in.

I wonder why a team doesn't go really small to guard Houston. They thrive on getting Harden and Louis Williams switched onto a big (and you have to switch on Houston lest you give them an open 3 pointer whilst trying to get around a screen or hedging then trying to get back to your guy who is space out - it's much easier just to switch).

Here is what I'd do:

Center - Leonard
PF - Kyle Anderson
SF - Danny Green
SG - Manu
PG - Mills

Dare them to post someone up, which they won't do because they do everything possible to avoid mid-range shots, including turnarounds and jump hooks. They want everything to be a 3 or a drive all the way to the hoop and they especially thrive on switches. So I'd go position-less on them and switch everything.

I tend to agree.

And that's what makes the playoffs so interesting. Coaches have to make such quick adjustments to adapt to specific matchups in a series. It's why things like Andrew Bogut guarding Tony Allen would be unthinkable during the regular season but end up swinging playoff series. It's why a guy like Gerald Green doesn't start all season... then starts 5 straight games in the playoffs. It's why Enes Kanter ends up riding the pine seemingly every spring. Et al.

I guess what I'm a little surprised by is the lack of innovation defensively to counter what Houston is doing. They are absolute purists from an analytics perspective by doing everything possible to avoid shots between 3 feet out to the 3-point line - where literally you can count on one hand how often they take those shots. Morey has constructed the perfect team to execute this strategy.

So where is the defensive innovation to counter it? Dare them to post guys up and take advantage of size mis-matches by putting smaller players on them. I loved seeing Patty Mills guard Harden for a stint. Put Manu or Kawhi on Ryan Anderson instead of some lumbering big dude that hedges on the screen then can't get back to Anderson in time for his open 3. Just switch it such that a capable defender is on Harden no matter what. Anderson absolutely will not want to post up a smaller player, and if he does, let him take turnaround 2 pointers all night. It takes them out of their game.

Ugh. Part of my frustration stems from how Minnesota played Houston. It was the same dumb strategy. Anderson sets pick on Harden's guy. Dieng hedges to contain Harden. Anderson spaces out. Dieng can't recover in time to contest an open 3. Swish. Rinse. Repeat. It doesn't work!

[AbeVigodaLive]

This Houston team is better than the old Phoenix run and gun teams led by Nash because these guys are defending AND putting up points in a hurry. Beverley is perhaps the best defensive PG in the league, along with Chris Paul.

I think they capitalize on a few things more than those Suns teams. Those teams had a bad rap defensively, but they weren't absolutely terrible. If I remember correctly, they were about average.

Meanwhile in this Game 1... the vaunted defender, Ryan Anderson, is completely destroying LaMarcus Aldridge in the post. Aldridge looks absolutely atrocious. On both ends of the court.

He was absolutely terrible in that game. He's too soft to punish Houston in the post and on the glass, but too slow to guard the likes of Harden on switches. And his bread and butter shot is the dreaded long 2, which was not going in.

I wonder why a team doesn't go really small to guard Houston. They thrive on getting Harden and Louis Williams switched onto a big (and you have to switch on Houston lest you give them an open 3 pointer whilst trying to get around a screen or hedging then trying to get back to your guy who is space out - it's much easier just to switch).

Here is what I'd do:

Center - Leonard
PF - Kyle Anderson
SF - Danny Green
SG - Manu
PG - Mills

Dare them to post someone up, which they won't do because they do everything possible to avoid mid-range shots, including turnarounds and jump hooks. They want everything to be a 3 or a drive all the way to the hoop and they especially thrive on switches. So I'd go position-less on them and switch everything.

I tend to agree.

And that's what makes the playoffs so interesting. Coaches have to make such quick adjustments to adapt to specific matchups in a series. It's why things like Andrew Bogut guarding Tony Allen would be unthinkable during the regular season but end up swinging playoff series. It's why a guy like Gerald Green doesn't start all season... then starts 5 straight games in the playoffs. It's why Enes Kanter ends up riding the pine seemingly every spring. Et al.

I guess what I'm a little surprised by is the lack of innovation defensively to counter what Houston is doing. They are absolute purists from an analytics perspective by doing everything possible to avoid shots between 3 feet out to the 3-point line - where literally you can count on one hand how often they take those shots. Morey has constructed the perfect team to execute this strategy.

So where is the defensive innovation to counter it? Dare them to post guys up and take advantage of size mis-matches by putting smaller players on them. I loved seeing Patty Mills guard Harden for a stint. Put Manu or Kawhi on Ryan Anderson instead of some lumbering big dude that hedges on the screen then can't get back to Anderson in time for his open 3. Just switch it such that a capable defender is on Harden no matter what. Anderson absolutely will not want to post up a smaller player, and if he does, let him take turnaround 2 pointers all night. It takes them out of their game.

Ugh. Part of my frustration stems from how Minnesota played Houston. It was the same dumb strategy. Anderson sets pick on Harden's guy. Dieng hedges to contain Harden. Anderson spaces out. Dieng can't recover in time to contest an open 3. Swish. Rinse. Repeat. It doesn't work!

Yep. Makes sense to me. And I think we're seeing what you're describing a bit in the Boston series.

Boston has put Isaiah Thomas on Otto Porter even though Porter is a foot taller than him. Why? Porter is largely a standstill shooter. He's not used to posting up. Now these are NBA guys who are plenty talented to figure it out eventually... but it still took the Wizards (and Porter) out of what they wanted to do at a critical time in Game 1.

[bleedspeed]

I am not worried about the Spurs yet. I think they will make adjustments for game 2, but this game got out of hand so fast they didn't bother making any changes. It will be a fun series and should be a good chess match.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Good call on Boston Abe. By the way, in their two games against Houston, they held them below both their average 3PA per game and 3Pt % in both games. I'm not sure how they defended them, but Bradley, Crowder, Rozier, and Smart can pretty much switch everything. Horford isn't bad in space either.