Game 4 game plan

Rich4114 · Post #1 » by **Rich4114** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 3:36 pm

At this point, I think we're just playing with house money. No team has ever come back from a 3-0 deficit and I doubt we'll be the first.

That being said, we've got pride to fight for and hopefully can get extend this series past 4 games, maybe even past 5.

The Magic are packing the paint and leaving our C spot WIDE open. They even do this when Gortat is in. The game plan should be to spread the floor, put a guy in corners out past 3pt line and maybe put a guy like Nazr at the FT line and let him take uncontested jumpers. If he can hit them, they might have to change their D scheme a bit.

Listening to all the player interviews as to why they didn't drive the ball like we all want, they claimed the Magic packed the paint. Van Gundy isn't stupid, he knows our only way of reliably scoring is driving to the hoop and if they take that away then we become jump shooters. If we're going to be forced to shoot jump shots, then they need to be open shots which requires us to pass the ball around and make them work for it. I would hope we see more of this Monday night.

ohara · Post #2 » by **ohara** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 5:53 pm

I think a lot really depends on us winning this game, or at least playing with enough heart to make it tight like Game 3. My fear is this team losing heart and feeling defeated and getting blown out. And by a lot riding on it, I mean Ray's future with the team, and also LB's future with the team. If Ray has another pathetic showing and gets shown up by Nelson again, the team will not offer what they put on the table last, and I dont think Ray can take that, if just to keep his pride. If they fight hard for LB, I think he is encouraged and will come back for year 3. If they quit on him, I think he takes heart in the fact that he brought us to the Playoffs in his 2nd year, resurrected his reputation from that tragedy in New York, and rides off into the sunset. And that will leave us with no draft picks, DJ as a starting PG, and not much $ with which to operate.

Post #3 » by **fatlever** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 6:02 pm

- dont double howard early in the game allowing their shooters open looks, confidence and rhythm
- felton needs to fight through picks
- bench felton faster, play dj more
- play tyrus more, play boris less
- start nazr, move theo back to 3rd center.

Battery · Post #4 » by **Battery** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 7:25 pm

fatlever wrote:- bench felton faster, play dj more

I'll take my chances with just this option.

Bassman · Post #5 » by **Bassman** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 8:08 pm

fatlever wrote:- dont double howard early in the game allowing their shooters open looks, confidence and rhythm
- felton needs to fight through picks
- bench felton faster, play dj more
- play tyrus more, play boris less
- start nazr, move theo back to 3rd center.

Agree with all these, but would add that Chandler needs to play in the final minutes if we have a chance to win. You've got to have someone setting picks and screens to allow penetration and/or open jumpers. Plus Chandler is our best rebounder at the 5 spot (not saying much). Diaw does not deserve the playing time late in the game. I'd go with Chandler, Thomas, Jax, Wallace and Felton (but use DJ if he's playing best) down the stretch.

But LB will not do anything different. He's committed to using his line up combos no matter what.

Post #6 » by **BigSlam** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 9:14 pm

Rich4114 wrote:The Magic are packing the paint and leaving our C spot WIDE open. They even do this when Gortat is in. The game plan should be to spread the floor, put a guy in corners out past 3pt line and maybe put a guy like Nazr at the FT line and let him take uncontested jumpers. If he can hit them, they might have to change their D scheme a bit.

I agree Rich. Nazzy has that mid range J that he should be using to obviously score, but to also draw Howard out of the paint and open things up. If Nazzy hits 3 or 4 of those Howard will have no choice but to come out and defend him.

T2 could be used the same way. He has that nice mid range J.

Our in game adjustments have been pretty disappointing.

Rich4114 · Post #7 » by **Rich4114** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:16 pm

Yeah, they're just completely not respecting our centers when they have the ball outside the circle (and rightfully so). But if we know they're going to do this, then we should use the one center on our team who can shoot somewhat (Nazr). Keep him at the FT line and let him shoot open J's until they decide to come out on him.

Another thing we should be doing way more is a play like that Wallace to T2 slam. Howard is coming to get a block once you leave the ground... there should always be a man coming from the baseline and the guy with the ball needs to know that's an option (and a higher % one at that).

If we can't get in the paint because of the zone, then put Diaw in there and use him to bust the zone and swing the ball around. If we move the ball around fast enough someone is going to be open for a jumper and I trust guys like Jack/DJ/Felton to hit jumpers with their feet set in that scenario.

When they're not in the zone, our best post up option has been Diaw but he only goes to it once per game. He's the one guy with the moves who can score on those little hooks and flips to the hoop with a high %. If we called his # more he could be the difference maker for us.

Defensively, gotta make Jameer give the ball up and let them run the offense through Vince. They become more one dimensional when that happens IMO.

Rich4114 · Post #8 » by **Rich4114** » Sun Apr 25, 2010 11:17 pm

Too bad Lexi wasn't ready for the NBA yet. He'd get destroyed defensively but he seems like the type of C we could use to exploit Howard on offense.

Magic2FinalsN09 · Post #9 » by **Magic2FinalsN09** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:11 am

hey atleast you guys have the best lookin dancers......farewell enemies, good luck in the future.

Post #10 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 12:59 am

I like the idea of taking our Howard and Nelson that Rich suggested in the other thread.

PigsEatHam · Post #11 » by **PigsEatHam** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 1:24 am

Magic2FinalsN09 wrote:hey atleast you guys have the best lookin dancers......farewell enemies, good luck in the future.

Series isn't over yet. As a Magic fan, I hope it ends Monday night, but until then, no reason to act like a series win is a foregone conclusion. These Bobcats have completely disrupted our usual team offense, limiting our best two players to well below their averages. They are more than capable of winning tomorrow--and beyond. Let's wait until the series is over before we start celebrating. Crazier things have happened.

countryboi · Post #12 » by **countryboi** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:45 am

I would bench Felton, Boris and theo...this is most likely the cats last game and I would sent a clear message to Felton and Boris that the bullsh*t is over....play well or sit

Rich4114 · Post #13 » by **Rich4114** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:50 am

lol, we don't exactly have the option of teaching guys lessons. Btw, if the Magic end up playing Atlanta in round 2... what are you guys gonna do if Jameer does the same exact thing in that series?

Anyway, they need to force the ball out of Nelsons hands asap. The 42 trap, sounds like that is in Larry's game plan. I'll take my damn chances with their 3's at this point then letting their PG get whatever he wants off those picks.

countryboi · Post #14 » by **countryboi** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:59 am

there is no lesson here....i am just trying not to get swept and i am hoping that not starting would light a bit of a fire under them both.....if it does not work well its ok cause not benching them aint worked either

Ballah · Post #15 » by **Ballah** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:52 pm

Please don't let the freaking Magic be the only team to sweep its way to the second round. Even the lowly Bulls managed to snag a game from my Cavs, winning one on your home court is not much to ask guys.

Post #16 » by **Walt Cronkite** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 2:54 pm

We're doing our best, but Fats and Slam have just not shown up the way they did in the regular season.

Post #17 » by **BigSlam** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:16 pm

Walt Cronkite wrote:We're doing our best, but Fats and Slam have just not shown up the way they did in the regular season.

Gone fishing..........

Rich4114 · Post #18 » by **Rich4114** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:18 pm

We're gonna need Walt to claim the Bobcats will lose in the GT in order for us to pull out a dramatic win. Never fails. Go earn that game ball walt.

tranjSAIC · Post #19 » by **tranjSAIC** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:31 pm

I can't not believe Brown hasn't changed his defensive schemes yet, we are KILLING you guys on WIDE open threes. I love Dwight, but he isn't good enough to carry an offense by himself. All of the teams that give the Magic trouble play Dwight straight up, let him get 30/15 but make sure you limit our open threes. Easy enough but coaches fold when they see Dwight scoring a few in a row.

If you guys do that an hedge more on PnRs with Jameer that should be enough to win game 4.

BobCatsFoLife · Post #20 » by **BobCatsFoLife** » Mon Apr 26, 2010 3:35 pm

My comments are based totally on game 3 considering that is the only full game I have seen. First off, the double team for Howard should come from the opposite wing. Not the passer! This gives us a better chance to rotate (which we do very well). Secondly, our Center position has to be able to make the 12-15 ft. jumpshot. This opens up driving lanes. Third, ATTACK, ATTACK, ATTACK! I was so pissed when Howard fouled out and we started shooting jumpshots. The Red Sea opened up and nobody went in! Last but not least, Jameer Nelson... Sigh. I have no answer, but to MAN UP! Not just Felton, but the whole team. This is the playoffs. Knock his little ass down. At this point I would rather step up and stop him from getting into the paint and then send Howard to the free throw line if he dishes it. C'mon BobCats! I will never live it down if we get swepped. The Grizzly fans in Memphis are rooting against us because of ME!! I got bets all around town that we will win a playoff game before them!!