Thread: NBA Play Offs
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Old 06-10-2009, 04:30 PM
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asawadude asawadude is offline
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Orlando played an excellent game, but just like they won't repeat their 29.9% shooting of game 1, they won't repeat their 62.5% shooting of game 3. Considering the Lakers couldn't collect any rebounds because the Magic weren't missing, I actually thought the Lakers played an excellent game to lose by only 4 points.

I thought Kobe looked tired. Kobe's shot was off. He's a text book example of a rhythm shooter who uses his legs as much as his arms in his shot motion. His first step looked slow and it looked like he couldn't power his way up to the hoop like he normally can on his missed layup attempts. But Kobe knows how to make the physical adjustments necessary to be game ready. He will have a better Game 4. He'll get his 30+ on Thursday.

Jackson rarely makes in game adjustments because he considers basketball to be a game of will; making an adjustment is conceding that your opponents will is greater than the will of your team. He'd rather have his teams play their way out of deficits using the original game plan.

In game 3, Jackson continued to use Kobe as the decoy, just as he did in games 5 and 6 of the Denver series, and games 1 and 2 of the Finals. Give Kobe the ball for the shot if he's open or let him draw the double team, where he can pass to an open team mate. When the Lakers play this type of offense, Kobe's line is typically 30+ shot attempts along with 8 to 10 assists. It worked out well in the early games, but Van Gundy made the adjustment to counter it in game 3.

SVG instead went more to single coverage on Kobe, but had Lee and Petrius body up on Kobe rather than playing Kobe a step off. Instead of double teaming, he had the weakside defenders trailing in the passing lanes, then coming up to double team Kobe late if he put the ball on the floor. Kobe's had 11 turnovers in the past 2 games - mostly on picked off passes and trying to split doubleteams. SVG's defense, for the most part, is working, so now it's time for Jackson to make the adjustment.

Although poor at making in game adjustments, Phil Jackson is the best at making game to game adjustments.

If it were me, I would to go back to running the Triangle and start running the ball through Gasol on the high post and I'd let Kobe work off the screens - without the ball.

I would start Lamar over Bynum which forces Howard on to Gasol at the high post, as opposed to camping out on the low block guarding Bynum. I believe Gasol has a better chance of getting Howard in foul trouble. Having Bynum come in off the bench for Gasol will keep Pau fresher at the end of the game.

There's a couple of other things that need to get done, like making an adjustment on Turkoglu so he can't go left, and knocking Rafer Alston to the floor a few times.

Lakers in 5 or 6.
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