Game 1 analysis with outlook for the rest of series
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2009 5:57 pm
The Jazz need different rotation and playcalling. For sure it will not happen in the way I prescribe it but at least some of you will be able to focus on decisive trends.
PG - Brevin Knight has limited range and cannot work against tall Lakers. I would put Ronnie Price in backup role against any other West team but tall Lakers are big challenge for Jazz execution and a precise ballhandling is needed so CJ Miles would be best solution. It would outbalance height disadvantage a bit as well.
SG/SF - Brewer obviously cannot score against Lakers. His jumpers bounce to sides, inside he is denied by tall Lakers. He should be used as a SG/SF backup defender when someone gets in foul trouble.
Korver lateral slowness makes him useless in numerous defensive rotations. What Ariza made to him was not funny. Korver should camp on perimeter on every possession. He should come off the bench at SG.
Miles played very good defense. He stole one pass on defensive help rotation, poke the ball out of postman, was in the Bryant's on tough turnaround jumper, fought through screens, Jerry liked it. His jumpers was long, rattle out, in, short, but they were taken in good rhythm. He should start at SG.
Harpring posted up Odom and Walton very well, got open on curl, Jackson sent double team to help Walton. Harpring should start at SF to set tone for the game, we need more fouls to be called.
Kirilenko should be backup SF cause he gets out push at PF. When he was on Bryant then Jackson send a screen to explore Kirilenko's inability to get around screen. Bryant had success but then he got cocky and tried one-to-one which is his common trend.
PF/C - Collins had good game, drawing charges and fouls but his limited leaping ability is wait-to-happen disaster. Fesenko is too stupid yet to be effective in playoff battle and with Okur out Koufos is the only real option to match up Lakers athleticism. Koufos should start at C. Collins should be backup C. When the Lakers will play Powell then the Jazz could go small with Millsap and Boozer that's the only way how to find more playing time for Millsap beside backup PF duty. Millsap is in trouble to score around tall Lakers.
Playcalling.
Unfortunately playcalling was huge advantage for Lakers. Running Jackson's offense through tall Gasol and Bynum, setting screen for Bryant and spreading the floor on perimeter put the Jazz in uncomfortable position.
In contrary the Jazz had only few model executions, usually from midkey Williams passes or Boozer's jumpers.
The Jazz should attack Lakers more on high and side picknrolls, set small-on-big screen for Boozer. Post up Harpring and Kirilenko. Proper spreading with Williams, Miles or Korver on perimeter but not in corners, the Jazz don't have so many wings with efficient 3pt%.
In contrary, they should limit UCLA cuts and deny Stacks cause smaller Jazz players get in uncomfortable position when running 4-on-4 inside or around the paint area.
On the defensive end the Jazz could send different double teams and fakes on different occasions on Bryant and Gasol but I prefer immediate hard double-team with Williams. Harpring or Korver should provide the following help the helper defense while Miles, Kirilenko or Brewer should provide roaming weak side defense. Keep big men around the rim, rotate with wings and guards.
PG - Brevin Knight has limited range and cannot work against tall Lakers. I would put Ronnie Price in backup role against any other West team but tall Lakers are big challenge for Jazz execution and a precise ballhandling is needed so CJ Miles would be best solution. It would outbalance height disadvantage a bit as well.
SG/SF - Brewer obviously cannot score against Lakers. His jumpers bounce to sides, inside he is denied by tall Lakers. He should be used as a SG/SF backup defender when someone gets in foul trouble.
Korver lateral slowness makes him useless in numerous defensive rotations. What Ariza made to him was not funny. Korver should camp on perimeter on every possession. He should come off the bench at SG.
Miles played very good defense. He stole one pass on defensive help rotation, poke the ball out of postman, was in the Bryant's on tough turnaround jumper, fought through screens, Jerry liked it. His jumpers was long, rattle out, in, short, but they were taken in good rhythm. He should start at SG.
Harpring posted up Odom and Walton very well, got open on curl, Jackson sent double team to help Walton. Harpring should start at SF to set tone for the game, we need more fouls to be called.
Kirilenko should be backup SF cause he gets out push at PF. When he was on Bryant then Jackson send a screen to explore Kirilenko's inability to get around screen. Bryant had success but then he got cocky and tried one-to-one which is his common trend.
PF/C - Collins had good game, drawing charges and fouls but his limited leaping ability is wait-to-happen disaster. Fesenko is too stupid yet to be effective in playoff battle and with Okur out Koufos is the only real option to match up Lakers athleticism. Koufos should start at C. Collins should be backup C. When the Lakers will play Powell then the Jazz could go small with Millsap and Boozer that's the only way how to find more playing time for Millsap beside backup PF duty. Millsap is in trouble to score around tall Lakers.
Playcalling.
Unfortunately playcalling was huge advantage for Lakers. Running Jackson's offense through tall Gasol and Bynum, setting screen for Bryant and spreading the floor on perimeter put the Jazz in uncomfortable position.
In contrary the Jazz had only few model executions, usually from midkey Williams passes or Boozer's jumpers.
The Jazz should attack Lakers more on high and side picknrolls, set small-on-big screen for Boozer. Post up Harpring and Kirilenko. Proper spreading with Williams, Miles or Korver on perimeter but not in corners, the Jazz don't have so many wings with efficient 3pt%.
In contrary, they should limit UCLA cuts and deny Stacks cause smaller Jazz players get in uncomfortable position when running 4-on-4 inside or around the paint area.
On the defensive end the Jazz could send different double teams and fakes on different occasions on Bryant and Gasol but I prefer immediate hard double-team with Williams. Harpring or Korver should provide the following help the helper defense while Miles, Kirilenko or Brewer should provide roaming weak side defense. Keep big men around the rim, rotate with wings and guards.