Series Thread: 2) Golden State Warriors vs 6) New Orleans Pelicans

[CitySushi]

Think the first quarter and the energy the Warriors come out with will dictate how this game goes. The Pelicans and their crowd are going to come out hyped. They played really well last game. We'll need the big 4 to be firing on all cylinders tonight.

 

[LAD]

It's not about guarding Capela. It's about what he does when the Rockets run the high pick and roll. Javale is not good in guarding in space. He's a great rim protector. Looney is a good defender in space on bigs, but not the rim protector Javale is.

Problem is putting those two guys together to play doesn't solve the problem. It's not like the Rockets are going to say "hey they have Looney in. he's a good defender in space so let's attack him in the pick and roll."

If you have Javale out there, the Rockets will drag him away from the hoop. You just took away his greatest strength in being able to protect the rim, while also exploiting his biggest weakness in defending in space.

It's the exact reason you haven't seen Javale out there against the Pelicans. If Javale can't guard in space against a team who's sole purpose is to space the floor, then why have him out there?

Well I'm thinking it would work, like it did when they played SA. JaVale was HUGE in relation to guarding LA. Then at times we saw him & Looney out there which allowed JaVale to stay home on LA with Looney guarding the smaller guards out on the perimeter & also the pick n roll.

 

[LAD]

McGee was almost unplayable in the Finals last year because Lebron would wave for a pick&roll to whoever McGee was guarding. Then Lebron would force the switch. (without McGee -- he would mostly do this to Curry's man)

Not sure which is worse on defending the pick n roll, Steph or JaVale. At least JaVale is athletic enough to recover at the rim sometimes.

 

[CitySushi]

Well I'm thinking it would work, like it did when they played SA. JaVale was HUGE in relation to guarding LA. Then at times we saw him & Looney out there which allowed JaVale to stay home on LA with Looney guarding the smaller guards out on the perimeter & also the pick n roll.

Two distinctly different offensive approaches to the team.

The reason it's not the same is because San Antonio doesn't have nearly the amount of 3 point shooting or guard play that the Rockets do. They have two elite ball handlers and passers and a plethora of great shooters to compliment them.

Additionally the Rockets are guard centric. Everything is run through the pick and roll for them. They get the bigs caught out in space and attack the rim. If the defense sags because the big can't recover, they kick it out to open 3 point shooters.

The reason Javale was able to play against the Spurs is because LA isn't that athletic of a big. He's skilled, but he's methodical too. He's also a guy who likes to operate in the post. The Rockets won't utilize that at all.

If you watch from the Spurs series, the only time Javale was out there was when Aldridge was in the game. He never guarded anyone else, just Aldridge. It's because he matched up well with what the Spurs were doing and what LA was doing. He doesn't match up well at all with the Rockets.

 

[LAD]

Well will you look at that, JaVale done found his way back into the starting lineup...lol

 

[LAD]

LOVE me some Dray. That fool mentally owns Rondo. lol

 

[Inimical]

I want to punch Draymond Green right in the face

 

[LAD]

I want to punch Draymond Green right in the face

We just saw Rondo say he learned from the school of KG - then he should already know how to deal with Dray's trash talk & mental games.

 

[Black Adam]

Dubs off to a slow start...

 

[DorianRo]

Ridiculous how much better and competitive the West is compared to that TRASH east.

The pelicans would sweep their way into the finals if they were in the East, The East looks like JV girls ball next to this

 

[podsox]

Never knew an inbound pass can hit the rim.

 

[Black Adam]

9 point lead ain't enough, Peli's...

 

[msgkings322]

This may be the game the Ws lose, I would have preferred tomorrow but oh well

 

[Inimical]

This is what i expected.

 

[DJ]

Hate 12 hour workdays....

 

[DJ]

I took the W's -4....and the under 232.

 

[Black Adam]

told y'all 9 wasn't enough...

 

[DJ]

They are well coached and don't appear to have any selfish players on that roster.

They play for eachother and play within the system.

It's actually refreshing to watch.

They are like a smallish Spurs-East.

You see LiAngelo Ball wasn't invited to the combine?

 

[DJ]

This may be the game the Ws lose, I would have preferred tomorrow but oh well

 

[LogicMan]

i wish rondo would drive the lane more