2010-11 NBA Playoffs / Finals

[Change]

Are me eyes deceiving me?   Chris Johnson???

[Who]

Are me eyes deceiving me?   Chris Johnson???

Portland only has 7 players.

A starting five (Camby, Aldridge, G.Wallace, W.Matthews, A.Miller) and two SGs off the bench (Rudy, Roy). No backup bigs.

Check out the rest of the roster -- Patty Mills, Luke Babbitt, Elliott Williams (injured), Greg Oden (injured), Chris Johnson, Earl Barron, Armon Johnson -- very weak eight through 15.

[mgent]

Chris Johnson > Troy Murphy

[Who]

I love this lineup for Portland - Roy + Batum + G.Wallace on the perimeter alongside two bigs.

Dallas using two small guards with Barea and Terry. All of Portland's perimeter players are very effective post players and can take advantage of Dallas' small guards easily.

Great chance for Portland to stretch their lead.

[Change]

Chris Johnson > Troy Murphy

Semih Erden > Troy Murphy

[Who]

I love this lineup for Portland - Roy + Batum + G.Wallace on the perimeter alongside two bigs.

Dallas using two small guards with Barea and Terry. All of Portland's perimeter players are very effective post players and can take advantage of Dallas' small guards easily.

Great chance for Portland to stretch their lead.

LaMarcus Aldridge needs to make himself available in the post when his perimeter guys are struggling to initiate the offense against Dallas' small guards pressure defense.

Needs to give them an outlet.

It would help to get Marcus Camby back in the game also. Good high post passer. Good decision maker. In contrast to a panicked Chris Johnson.

[Who]

I'd put Brandon Roy on Kidd rather than Barea or Terry.

Brandon isn't quick enough laterally to cover those guys. A non-scorer and non-penetrator like Kidd on the other hand, that Brandon is able to do.

[jdpapa3]

Barea does the most he can with his size. Admirable defensive job. More disciplined than a guy like Nate.

[Who]

Very disappointed in how quiet Gerald Wallace has been offensively.

He needs to be more aggressive when Shawn Marion is out of the game. Difficult matchup for the rest of the Mavs.

[Who]

I don't think Portland should have finished with Wes Matthews. Not with Dallas going with Barea, Terry and Kidd on the perimeter.

Wes Matthews, like Rudy Fernandez, doesn't take much advantage out of the size difference. Doesn't really have the post skills to take the smaller guy down there. Relies too much on one-on-one play off the bounce. Tough to beat a quicker smaller guard off the dribble. Easier against traditional SGs.

Wes is, like Rudy, an excellent spot up shooter against those small guards who struggle to close out on shooters effectively. But not much of a creator. A finisher. Not a creator.

I prefer Nic Batum. He does have the post skills to exploit the size advantage.

I prefer Batum's defensive ability on small guards + on switches than Matthews too.

[PosImpos]

I really don't understand why Dallas went so small at the end.  They could have really used Marion.

Also, that J-Kidd shot was a 3.  Didn't matter, though.

[KCattheStripe]

Dear Nickagenta:



Yours in fellowship,

KCatthestripe Founder and Chairman of the Wes Matthews Fan Club.

[jdpapa3]

Also, that J-Kidd shot was a 3.  Didn't matter, though.

You can kind of make an argument that it mattered. Miller had 2 relatively pressure free shots and the second one was literally no pressure at all since it made the difference between a 4 or 5 point game.

[Who]

Terrible defense by Jamal Crawford.

He just gave up on the play ... didn't want to follow JJ Redick through all those screens so he just let him go and he got a layup. Awful.

----------------------------------------------

I don't like Atlanta going small here (Hinrich + Crawford). I would have preferred to have seen them plug in Josh Smith at SF and Marvin at SG alongside one of Hinrich/Crawford. Probably Crawford. With Horford and Zaza in the paint.

Good chance for Orlando to make a run here. Atlanta's lineup is enabling them to play a smaller group of players (Jameer, JJ, Q, Ryan).

They should put Dwight on Horford here and shift Ryan Anderson onto Zaza ... that way Atlanta has no offense outside of Jamal Crawford dribbling the ball for 10-15 seconds and hoisting up a contested jumper off the dribble.

[aporel#18]

Hornets back to Earth... the Fakers are crushing them. There's no way Chris Paul takes over this game.