Similarities Between Game 4 verse Detroit

[STChaser]

Anyone else pick up on some of the similarities between last night's game between Boston and LA and our game 4 against Detroit? Here are a few things I noticed;

- Both games were the tale of two halfs; the first, a team running the fast break and pushing the ball - a team looking completely dominant against their rival, and the second, a slowed down half court game that favored the team with better shooters and post-up big man

- Another similarity I saw was that Boston historically went on runs during the 3rd. Anyone else notice that our team did this as well for most of the second half of the season? So much of this game is about pace and momentum. LA shot their load early and ran out of gas. Boston coasted along and wore down their opponent.

- What I'd take from this for next season?; our team is great at running the fast break and defending their opponent - but you can't do this the entire game as it requires too much exertion (see game 4 against Detroit). We need to get our post up big man and some outside shooters, play a slowed down half court game for most of the 1st half, and then turn on the jets from the 3rd quarter on and run our opponents out of the gym. This is also why I've been advocating trying to get two different molds of PF's - the Speights or Brand type capable of giving us the back-to-the basket offense and rebounding, and the Josh Smith, Donte Green, Tyrus Thomas type, capable of playing an up-tempo game.

STChaser

[ITK9]

I totally agree with you.We were murdered in the 3th q of that crucial game 4 and so were Lakers last night.While I understand that our young players couldn't recover in the 4th, I was shocked that Lakers continued to play bad in the 4th Q and they have like 3 players that are better than our entire roster.

[STChaser]

Ok, here's one more thing to consider. Kobe is the best player in the league in terms of getting to the basket and yet he was totally shut down by Pierce last night. For as much as others (and I) have ridiculed Iguodala for his lack of a first step, anyone else recall our win in Boston when Iguodala got the better of Pierce? I'm in no way saying that Iguodala is as good or better than Kobe, but it does make you wonder how our poor-man's Kobe managed to outcompete Pierce while Kobe couldn't.

STChaser

[Salvistine24]

Ok, here's one more thing to consider. Kobe is the best player in the league in terms of getting to the basket and yet he was totally shut down by Pierce last night. For as much as others (and I) have ridiculed Iguodala for his lack of a first step, anyone else recall our win in Boston when Iguodala got the better of Pierce? I'm in no way saying that Iguodala is as good or better than Kobe, but it does make you wonder how our poor-man's Kobe managed to outcompete Pierce while Kobe couldn't.

STChaser

yeah but your also not taking into account the other 4 games were iggy wasnt able to get by pierce...in sports with long seasons like bball baseball and hockey, your going to have great games and down games...you cant make assertions on a player based on one game of success or one of failure...i dont think iggy is anywhere near a poormans kobe (and i know you didnt mean it in this context)...using a bad game last nite by kobe and iggys lone good game vs boston as reasons for a comparison of the two just doesnt work...

however you are completely right in your original analysis that we need some halfcourt offense if we want to win...this team has an identity as a hard working running team but that doesnt mean they dont have to work on things like outside shooting and post games...running teams like phoenix and golden state all can shoot from the outside as it gives another element to the break on the drop pass...something we lack right now