CB Draft Western Semis: (2) Blazers vs. (3) Lakers

[Kane3387]

Aldridge is a tough matchup for Dwight Howard. Pulls him out of the paint and seriously decreases Dwight's impact as a team defender, rim protector and rebounder.

It's a pity Aldridge doesn't have a better face up game (like Bosh) because guys like Bosh cause Dwight Howard a lot of issues one-on-one defensively.

I'm not sure how much a choice Portland has though. Millsap is certainly too small to defend Aldridge in the post. Aldridge has had a lot of good moments against the Jazz (Millsap, Boozer and Okur too) over the last few years in the post.

Maybe double aggressively on Aldridge's post ups and concede jumpers to Horford and TA? That seems like the only viable alternative to sticking Dwight on Aldridge.

Aldridge has a very good face up jumper. I think the pick and pop could make things a little difficult on Howard because of LA's range.

I think the 4 and 5 match ups could go either way. I think this series is won with who has the better perimeter play.

[KCattheStripe]

Completely unrelated, Sara Bareilles is a bad mamajamma

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZMQ0OKVO80&feature=relmfu

[Kane3387]

Alright, I'm out for a while. SO's got you for now. Good discussion all!

The  civility level of this conversation is:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiMHTK15Pik


VIVA LA RESISTANCE!

Lol Love it

[KCattheStripe]

I think the 4 and 5 match ups could go either way. I think this series is won with who has the better perimeter play.

[Kane3387]

I think this series plays out on Milsap who is going to have an awfully tough time against whichever big he has.

I'd think that our primary approach would be putting his man on the block, with Rudy Gay on the Wing and the other big at the opposing elbow. That would allow us to focus in on attacking the much smaller Milsap while punishing Dwight if he were to cheat over with mid range j's and slashes to the hoop.

If the Lakers are content to run their offense thru Horford in the post I'll take that over finding ways to get Aldridge and Gay going.

Millsap will definitely struggle in post-defense at times, but I'm just not convinced that Horford has a refined-enough post game to truly punish the smaller Millsap.

Agree with this. LA and Gay need to be the first and second option.

Is Johnson being defended by TA and then defending Gay on offense?

[StartOrien]

I think this series plays out on Milsap who is going to have an awfully tough time against whichever big he has.

I'd think that our primary approach would be putting his man on the block, with Rudy Gay on the Wing and the other big at the opposing elbow. That would allow us to focus in on attacking the much smaller Milsap while punishing Dwight if he were to cheat over with mid range j's and slashes to the hoop.

If the Lakers are content to run their offense thru Horford in the post I'll take that over finding ways to get Aldridge and Gay going.

Millsap will definitely struggle in post-defense at times, but I'm just not convinced that Horford has a refined-enough post game to truly punish the smaller Millsap.

Agree with this. LA and Gay need to be the first and second option.

Is Johnson being defended by TA and then defending Gay on offense?

He's being defended by TA, can't speak for the other side. But, ya.

[Kane3387]

My question for the Blazers is whether they think they can score enough to beat us.

Dwight's a beast for sure, but he's never showed he's capable of dominating a series offensively. The defacto scorer, Iso Jo, appears to have started his decline and will be getting a nightmare matchup in Tony Allen.

Milsap, as talented as he is, seems like he'd struggle giving up that kind of height against two equally athletic trees.

In 2010 Dwight and his presence dominated Horford's Hawks in one of the most lopsided sweeps ever. NBA History ever.

Not enough is being talked about Rudy Gay though. Arguably LA's most explosive and talented player.

Portland who is checking Rudy Gay? Wilson Chandler? LAL why should Rudy not be worried about Wilson?

[jgod213]

Not gonna lie, I thought the KCSO combo was gonna come at me a lot harder than it did.

The two-headed, fire breathing, picture posting dragon lays asleep at my feet.

Dreaming of a better team? a more favorable matchup? Or do i just take it as a slight?  Either way I'm gonna prod this son'gun one last time before I go to bed...

[jgod213]

Gay is gonna get Chandler'd for the most part.  It's not an ideal defensive matchup but I'd prefer to keep Johnson rested on Allen and let Wilson Chandler put in the effort to check Gay.

[KCattheStripe]

Gay is gonna get Chandler'd for the most part.  It's not an ideal defensive matchup but I'd prefer to keep Johnson rested on Allen and let Wilson Chandler put in the effort to check Gay.

That's probably the best option, only problem is this is what happens when rudy plays Wilson:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=gayru01&p2=chandwi01

[KCattheStripe]

Not gonna lie, I thought the KCSO combo was gonna come at me a lot harder than it did.

The two-headed, fire breathing, picture posting dragon lays asleep at my feet.

Dreaming of a better team? a more favorable matchup? Or do i just take it as a slight?  Either way I'm gonna prod this son'gun one last time before I go to bed...

We just likes ya is all JGod. And how we match-up against your team. But mostly you.

[Kane3387]

You know what today we are all Lakers! (this is about the time where you put the picture of Justin Bieber at the Lakers game.)

we are all real americans, fight for the rights of every man. We are all real americans, fight for your lives, fight for what's right

[KCattheStripe]

In 2010 Dwight and his presence dominated Horford's Hawks in one of the most lopsided sweeps ever. NBA History ever.

And in 2011 he got got by a team exposing his inability to make his teammates better.

[Kane3387]

Gay is gonna get Chandler'd for the most part.  It's not an ideal defensive matchup but I'd prefer to keep Johnson rested on Allen and let Wilson Chandler put in the effort to check Gay.

I think this is your best option.

LA why is Gay not sweating Chandler? Hurry it is voting time soon!

[Kane3387]

Gay is gonna get Chandler'd for the most part.  It's not an ideal defensive matchup but I'd prefer to keep Johnson rested on Allen and let Wilson Chandler put in the effort to check Gay.

That's probably the best option, only problem is this is what happens when rudy plays Wilson:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/play-index/h2h_finder.cgi?request=1&p1=gayru01&p2=chandwi01

Thanks for answering.