Can it simply be our approach on D, help defense not working against Lakers?

[j804]

As we all know Doc stresses help defense and getting back to our man. It's what has worked thus far in all our series. Help defense and getting back, although it got me to thinking. Could it be that we shouldnt be doing much help defense and that it wont work against this Laker team?

With other teams it would work as they dont have much threats so if were late back on a rotation its not so costly. With this Lakers team its a different story they are pretty much all weapons and will make us pay when we help as they did in game 1. Theyre used to teams helping out and finding the open big (Gasol, or Bynum) or vice versa three point shooter (in Fisher, Artest). I saw plenty of times where we tried to help and were burned.

[hpantazo]

I don't think that this was the issue in game 1. We got killed by dribble penetration and lack of effort, not help defense. Now that doesn't mean that help defense won't be an issue in any of the other games though.

[tenn_smoothie]

As we all know Doc stresses help defense and getting back to our man.

With other teams it would work as they dont have much threats so if were late back on a rotation its not so costly.

other teams didn't have threats ?? huh ?

orlando's entire offense is based on their "other" threats, meaning they either penetrate and kick to Howard or a perimeter shooter or the throw it into Howard who proceeds to dunk the ball along with his defender or kick it out if doubled.

if you are talking about doubling on the ball, that's one thing, but weak side help coming to a penetration or reacting to ball movement is a seperate component - and has been the foundation of this team having the best defense in the league overall during these past three seasons - when they are focused and playing defense together with intensity, it's the best defense the league has seen in several years.