tlongII
10-12-2009, 09:12 PM
http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/10/preseason_performances_put_def.html
TUALATIN -- The lingering debate about the starting lineup and the nostalgia surrounding Wednesday night's exhibition game at Memorial Coliseum have provided a convenient distraction for the Trail Blazers at a time when a more pertinent issue has surfaced.
Coach Nate McMillan has emphasized defense throughout the preseason -- and, really, for the better part of the last 13 months -- but three games into the exhibition schedule, he's still searching for the intensity, execution and desire required to catapult this team into becoming a defensive force.
"That is where I think I'm most disappointed -- in the commitment there and ... focus," McMillan said, referring to his team's defensive play thus far. "Not only have we talked about it, we know that that is where we need to improve and part of (practice) was working on that. The guys gotta commit to that. It can't be a sometimes thing."
At the heart of the Blazers' defensive woes is plain old-fashioned one-on-one grit. McMillan uttered the phrase "controlling the ball" too many times to count Monday, after the team's two-hour practice, shining focus on an issue that is developing into a liability.
McMillan says his players, individually, are not keeping their player in front of them on defense, which allows opposing perimeter players to cruise "unattached" into the lane.
The dominoes fall from there. Guards drive the open lanes, forcing Blazers' forwards and centers to abandon their men and provide help. Then the opposing frontline players spring open. That creates a triple whammy: A driving player has a choice of appealing options -- shot an open shot or pass to an open man -- and even if they miss, the Blazers are out of position to corral the rebound.
Even though the Blazers defeated the inferior Sacramento Kings handily in two games, their defense was not sharp. And an exhibition loss to the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night highlighted the Blazers' defensive deficiencies. The Clippers scored a staggering 54 points in the paint, shot 52.6 percent from the field and accumulated 28 fast break points.
"It's a work in progress," said Brandon Roy about the Blazers' defense. "I understand why coach is frustrated because that's something we really wanted to come into camp and improve on. Well, we don't feel like we've improved and if we have, it's just a minor improvement. We want to take a bigger jump. We still have two more weeks left in this training camp though so we'll keep building on it."
The Blazers' roster is sprinkled with defensive potential. Since the moment the Blazers drafted LaMarcus Aldridge, McMillan repeatedly has said the power forward can become a defensive force, in the Kevin Garnett mold. Nicolas Batum earned high praise -- and a starting position as a rookie -- because of his defensive prowess. McMillan also singled out Joel Przybilla, Martell Webster, Andre Miller and Steve Blake.
But the most critical person to the Blazers' defense, according to McMillan, might be the last player you'd expect: Roy.
The two-time All-Star has become an offensive star after three NBA seasons. But he's also shown that during critical stretches, notably in nip-and-tuck fourth quarters, he can play lockdown defense. McMillan has not been shy about using Roy's versatility when the game is on the line, matching him against point guards and small forwards, in addition to shooting guards.
Roy's block on a potential game-winning jump shot by Denver's Carmelo Anthony during the Blazers' 13-game win streak last season and his shutdown of Joe Johnson during the closing seconds of a narrow victory over Atlanta are but two memorable examples from recent seasons.
But now, because the Blazers feature so much depth, he's urging Roy to unleash this defensive prowess from the opening tip, rather than merely saving his energy for the fourth quarter.
"Not that he'll be a stopper ... but for us to take that next step defensively, we need (Roy)," McMillan said. "He's been a good defender in the fourth quarter because ... normally, late in a game, he has drawn an assignment of covering the best offensive player. Now the commitment that he and I have talked about, because we have depth and we don't want you to kind of save or pace yourself for the fourth quarter, is to start out that way."
Roy epitomizes where the Blazers are at defensively: Young, bursting with potential, dominant in brief stretches, but with potential for much more. Defense is not sexy, however, and McMillan is in the midst of a drawn-out process of relaying its importance.
"It's a commitment," McMillan said. "Most guys in this league are offensive minded. They score and they think about scoring. The defensive end of the floor is not a glamorous place to play. It's about the dirty work (and playing) an ugly type of game. If you notice, most of your defenders are scrappers...
"So you're trying to change a mindset of a player who normally thinks offense and thinks, 'I need to see that ball go through the hoop.'"
So the last two Blazers practices, including a surprise Sunday workout on a scheduled day off, have been predominantly focused on defense. The Blazers instituted their zone defensive sets Monday morning, after spending the bulk of two days working on man-to-man schemes, weak side help and ball-denying drills.
Throughout it all, McMillan has urged his team to communicate more and to bring intensity for the entire 24-second shot clock. Too often, when the shot clock dips below 10 seconds, the Blazers defense has folded through three games.
Before arriving in Portland for his second Blazers stint, Ime Udoka played two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, consistently one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. He says the Blazers have the pieces to play defense at the Spurs' level, but it's going to require adopting a different mindset.
"It's a mentality for defenders such as myself, it's something you have to enjoy doing," Udoka said. "You go out and work hard. You have to kind of find your niche. Everybody wants to score the basketball, but defense is a mentality. It's also something that can be taught and right now there is a lot of teaching going on."
Up and down the roster, the Blazers insist that defense is priority No. 1. How quickly this understanding blossoms into action could determine how quickly this organization develops into a championship contender. Can the Blazers become a great defensive team?
"We're working at it," McMillan said, smiling and giggling. "We're gonna work at it. I think we can become a good defensive team. No question. But we have to commit to it."
TUALATIN -- The lingering debate about the starting lineup and the nostalgia surrounding Wednesday night's exhibition game at Memorial Coliseum have provided a convenient distraction for the Trail Blazers at a time when a more pertinent issue has surfaced.
Coach Nate McMillan has emphasized defense throughout the preseason -- and, really, for the better part of the last 13 months -- but three games into the exhibition schedule, he's still searching for the intensity, execution and desire required to catapult this team into becoming a defensive force.
"That is where I think I'm most disappointed -- in the commitment there and ... focus," McMillan said, referring to his team's defensive play thus far. "Not only have we talked about it, we know that that is where we need to improve and part of (practice) was working on that. The guys gotta commit to that. It can't be a sometimes thing."
At the heart of the Blazers' defensive woes is plain old-fashioned one-on-one grit. McMillan uttered the phrase "controlling the ball" too many times to count Monday, after the team's two-hour practice, shining focus on an issue that is developing into a liability.
McMillan says his players, individually, are not keeping their player in front of them on defense, which allows opposing perimeter players to cruise "unattached" into the lane.
The dominoes fall from there. Guards drive the open lanes, forcing Blazers' forwards and centers to abandon their men and provide help. Then the opposing frontline players spring open. That creates a triple whammy: A driving player has a choice of appealing options -- shot an open shot or pass to an open man -- and even if they miss, the Blazers are out of position to corral the rebound.
Even though the Blazers defeated the inferior Sacramento Kings handily in two games, their defense was not sharp. And an exhibition loss to the Los Angeles Clippers Friday night highlighted the Blazers' defensive deficiencies. The Clippers scored a staggering 54 points in the paint, shot 52.6 percent from the field and accumulated 28 fast break points.
"It's a work in progress," said Brandon Roy about the Blazers' defense. "I understand why coach is frustrated because that's something we really wanted to come into camp and improve on. Well, we don't feel like we've improved and if we have, it's just a minor improvement. We want to take a bigger jump. We still have two more weeks left in this training camp though so we'll keep building on it."
The Blazers' roster is sprinkled with defensive potential. Since the moment the Blazers drafted LaMarcus Aldridge, McMillan repeatedly has said the power forward can become a defensive force, in the Kevin Garnett mold. Nicolas Batum earned high praise -- and a starting position as a rookie -- because of his defensive prowess. McMillan also singled out Joel Przybilla, Martell Webster, Andre Miller and Steve Blake.
But the most critical person to the Blazers' defense, according to McMillan, might be the last player you'd expect: Roy.
The two-time All-Star has become an offensive star after three NBA seasons. But he's also shown that during critical stretches, notably in nip-and-tuck fourth quarters, he can play lockdown defense. McMillan has not been shy about using Roy's versatility when the game is on the line, matching him against point guards and small forwards, in addition to shooting guards.
Roy's block on a potential game-winning jump shot by Denver's Carmelo Anthony during the Blazers' 13-game win streak last season and his shutdown of Joe Johnson during the closing seconds of a narrow victory over Atlanta are but two memorable examples from recent seasons.
But now, because the Blazers feature so much depth, he's urging Roy to unleash this defensive prowess from the opening tip, rather than merely saving his energy for the fourth quarter.
"Not that he'll be a stopper ... but for us to take that next step defensively, we need (Roy)," McMillan said. "He's been a good defender in the fourth quarter because ... normally, late in a game, he has drawn an assignment of covering the best offensive player. Now the commitment that he and I have talked about, because we have depth and we don't want you to kind of save or pace yourself for the fourth quarter, is to start out that way."
Roy epitomizes where the Blazers are at defensively: Young, bursting with potential, dominant in brief stretches, but with potential for much more. Defense is not sexy, however, and McMillan is in the midst of a drawn-out process of relaying its importance.
"It's a commitment," McMillan said. "Most guys in this league are offensive minded. They score and they think about scoring. The defensive end of the floor is not a glamorous place to play. It's about the dirty work (and playing) an ugly type of game. If you notice, most of your defenders are scrappers...
"So you're trying to change a mindset of a player who normally thinks offense and thinks, 'I need to see that ball go through the hoop.'"
So the last two Blazers practices, including a surprise Sunday workout on a scheduled day off, have been predominantly focused on defense. The Blazers instituted their zone defensive sets Monday morning, after spending the bulk of two days working on man-to-man schemes, weak side help and ball-denying drills.
Throughout it all, McMillan has urged his team to communicate more and to bring intensity for the entire 24-second shot clock. Too often, when the shot clock dips below 10 seconds, the Blazers defense has folded through three games.
Before arriving in Portland for his second Blazers stint, Ime Udoka played two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, consistently one of the top defensive teams in the NBA. He says the Blazers have the pieces to play defense at the Spurs' level, but it's going to require adopting a different mindset.
"It's a mentality for defenders such as myself, it's something you have to enjoy doing," Udoka said. "You go out and work hard. You have to kind of find your niche. Everybody wants to score the basketball, but defense is a mentality. It's also something that can be taught and right now there is a lot of teaching going on."
Up and down the roster, the Blazers insist that defense is priority No. 1. How quickly this understanding blossoms into action could determine how quickly this organization develops into a championship contender. Can the Blazers become a great defensive team?
"We're working at it," McMillan said, smiling and giggling. "We're gonna work at it. I think we can become a good defensive team. No question. But we have to commit to it."