CB Draft '10 Playoffs Western Conference Semi-Finals

[Who]

For those of you that are taking coaching into consideration.

Gregg Popovich is 106-69 in the playoffs.  That's a .606 winning pct.  

Not too shabby.  The man knows how to coach on the biggest stage.

Who is Sacramento's coach?

Also, who is coaching in the other matchup? Denver vs Phoenix?

[Lucky17]

Denver has Larry Brown. Not sure who Phoenix has.

When are votes due? I'm tied up with the fantasy drafts lately, but I can submit a quick vote if needed.

[Fafnir]

Question for Phoenix:

How will playing Tim Duncan effect Howard's help defense?

[StartOrien]

I by no means say this to say "Howard will dominate Duncan." I pointed out that their team already is severely lacking offensively, and their go-to, aging scorer has an extremely difficult matchup in Dwight Howard.

I have Byron Scott.

[Donoghus]

Denver has Larry Brown. Not sure who Phoenix has.

When are votes due? I'm tied up with the fantasy drafts lately, but I can submit a quick vote if needed.

Midnight EST.

[wdleehi]

I by no means say this to say "Howard will dominate Duncan." I pointed out that their team already is severely lacking offensively, and their go-to, aging scorer has an extremely difficult matchup in Dwight Howard.

I have Byron Scott.

How do you prevent Howard fouling at a rate like he did against Charlotte and Atlanta when he is facing one of the top and smartest low post players?

[indeedproceed]

For people who haven't studied the series as closely as nick, here's how Pau Gasol and Zach Randolph have matched up:

20 games played (10 wins, 10 losses each)

Pau:  17.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.8 turnovers, 48.2% FG% in 37.3 minutes

Randolph:  19.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 2.2 turnovers, 48.1% FG% in 30.4 minutes

In other words, Randolph scores more points and grabs more rebounds, despite playing seven fewer minutes per game.  This isn't an aberration over a couple games, either; it's been a pattern for several years.

Randolph has had some of the biggest games of his career against Pau, including a 43 points / 17 rebound game, and another game where he went for 42 / 12.  Since Gasol has moved to LA, Randolph has averaged 20.0 points and 13.7 rebounds, to Gasol's 15.3 points and 10.3 boards.

In other words:  Advantage Randolph.  (I fully expect people not to buy into Randolph trumping Gasol, but head to head, that's exactly what has happened.)

2 questions/requests

1) Are you sure Randolph was actually being guarded by Randolph there in most of those matchups and vice-versa?

2) What's the mins breakdown for Lewis/Boozer/Randolph/Dampier?

[Roy H.]

Roy, how many minutes do you expect out of Dampier?

I would expect him to shadow Lopez.  Boozer and Randolph will both be in the 38 to 41 minute range, meaning that Dampier probably sees around 15 minutes or so, plus or minus.  Obviously, if we need a big defensive stop, he'll be inserted in spot situations, as well.

Also, this is a series where Rashard Lewis will be playing some power forward. 

Can you give a breakdown of your big man minutes? I'm not quite sure how Lewis fits in here. If Lewis is playing PF, who does he play alongside and what combination does he play against?

Does Dampier still start? Or does he come off the bench and solely play against R.Lopez? (Plus, defensive possessions late in game)

It's hard to come up with an exact projection of minutes at this point, if only because I don't know how the series will play out.  However, I think that Randolph and Boozer will both play around 38 - 41 minutes per game.  They'll both start, and will be on the court most of the time together.  When Rashard is on the court, I could see Dampier out there with him (depending upon who Dons has on the court), or Boozer (I don't anticipate pairing Rashard and Randolph).

[StartOrien]

I by no means say this to say "Howard will dominate Duncan." I pointed out that their team already is severely lacking offensively, and their go-to, aging scorer has an extremely difficult matchup in Dwight Howard.

I have Byron Scott.

How do you prevent Howard fouling at a rate like he did against Charlotte and Atlanta when he is facing one of the top and smartest low post players?

While the playoffs are a different beast, Dwight's been able to stay out of trouble against Timmay. In 12 contests against eachother averaging slightly under 35 minutes per game he's averaged 3.8 fouls per game.

[Donoghus]

I by no means say this to say "Howard will dominate Duncan." I pointed out that their team already is severely lacking offensively, and their go-to, aging scorer has an extremely difficult matchup in Dwight Howard.

I have Byron Scott.

How do you prevent Howard fouling at a rate like he did against Charlotte and Atlanta when he is facing one of the top and smartest low post players?

While the playoffs are a different beast, Dwight's been able to stay out of trouble against Timmay. In 12 contests against eachother averaging slightly under 35 minutes per game he's averaged 3.8 fouls per game.

I apologize if I glanced over it, S.O.

But what's your strating lineup this series?

[Roy H.]

For those of you that are taking coaching into consideration.

Gregg Popovich is 106-69 in the playoffs.  That's a .606 winning pct.  

Not too shabby.  The man knows how to coach on the biggest stage.

Who is Sacramento's coach?

Also, who is coaching in the other matchup? Denver vs Phoenix?

We've got Paul Westphal.  Westphal doesn't have Pop's credentials, but he's taken a PF-driven offense to the Finals before, and he knows how to get the most out of his team on defense.  Boozer is his new Barkley, and Rose is his Kevin Johnson.

[indeedproceed]

Roy, how many minutes do you expect out of Dampier?

I would expect him to shadow Lopez.  Boozer and Randolph will both be in the 38 to 41 minute range, meaning that Dampier probably sees around 15 minutes or so, plus or minus.  Obviously, if we need a big defensive stop, he'll be inserted in spot situations, as well.

Also, this is a series where Rashard Lewis will be playing some power forward.  

Can you give a breakdown of your big man minutes? I'm not quite sure how Lewis fits in here. If Lewis is playing PF, who does he play alongside and what combination does he play against?

Does Dampier still start? Or does he come off the bench and solely play against R.Lopez? (Plus, defensive possessions late in game)

It's hard to come up with an exact projection of minutes at this point, if only because I don't know how the series will play out.  However, I think that Randolph and Boozer will both play around 38 - 41 minutes per game.  They'll both start, and will be on the court most of the time together.  When Rashard is on the court, I could see Dampier out there with him (depending upon who Dons has on the court), or Boozer (I don't anticipate pairing Rashard and Randolph).

And what about the Gasol/Randolph matchups?

[wdleehi]

I by no means say this to say "Howard will dominate Duncan." I pointed out that their team already is severely lacking offensively, and their go-to, aging scorer has an extremely difficult matchup in Dwight Howard.

I have Byron Scott.

How do you prevent Howard fouling at a rate like he did against Charlotte and Atlanta when he is facing one of the top and smartest low post players?

While the playoffs are a different beast, Dwight's been able to stay out of trouble against Timmay. In 12 contests against eachother averaging slightly under 35 minutes per game he's averaged 3.8 fouls per game.

Last year

Cha regular season:  4.0
    Playoffs: 5.5

plus 1.5

Atl regular season 3.5
     playoff 4.0

plus .5



His fouls go up in the playoffs (except when the refs decide to look the other way against Boston)


So, is it wrong to expect an upward trend of around 1 foul?

[StartOrien]

I by no means say this to say "Howard will dominate Duncan." I pointed out that their team already is severely lacking offensively, and their go-to, aging scorer has an extremely difficult matchup in Dwight Howard.

I have Byron Scott.

How do you prevent Howard fouling at a rate like he did against Charlotte and Atlanta when he is facing one of the top and smartest low post players?

While the playoffs are a different beast, Dwight's been able to stay out of trouble against Timmay. In 12 contests against eachother averaging slightly under 35 minutes per game he's averaged 3.8 fouls per game.

I apologize if I glanced over it, S.O.

But what's your strating lineup this series?

No probs:

Dwight Howard
Antawn Jamison
John Salmons
Wesley Matthews
Baron Davis

[Donoghus]

I by no means say this to say "Howard will dominate Duncan." I pointed out that their team already is severely lacking offensively, and their go-to, aging scorer has an extremely difficult matchup in Dwight Howard.

I have Byron Scott.

How do you prevent Howard fouling at a rate like he did against Charlotte and Atlanta when he is facing one of the top and smartest low post players?

While the playoffs are a different beast, Dwight's been able to stay out of trouble against Timmay. In 12 contests against eachother averaging slightly under 35 minutes per game he's averaged 3.8 fouls per game.

I apologize if I glanced over it, S.O.

But what's your strating lineup this series?

No probs:

Dwight Howard
Antawn Jamison
John Salmons
Wesley Matthews
Baron Davis

Thanks.