Portland Trail Blazers: How To Beat L.A. Without Dame
Terry Stotts, Portland Trail Blazers. (Photo via Wikimedia
Take away Anthony Davis
What Portland can do on defense is to take away the best of James’ alternatives. Stotts should start Hassan Whiteside, the team’s best big-man defender, to make Anthony Davis’ night miserable. Whiteside is an outstanding rebounder and shot-blocker in the paint.
Putting Whiteside on him will force Davis into more of the mid-range game. He shot very well on Tuesday, but that doesn’t reflect his season to date. This year Davis did most of his damage inside. He shot 17.3 percent from 3-10 feet and 15.5 percent from 10-16 feet.
Don’t count on C.J.
C.J. McCollum can expect a heavy dose of James when the Portland Trail Blazers have the ball. By the end of the night, Lakers coach Frank Vogel will know McCollum’s preferred gum deodorant, and likely his underwear size.
Bring them out
What will kill the Blazers (or any pro team) is giving Los Angeles second and third chances to score. Since Whiteside will force the Brow to shoot from someplace other than next to the rim, Portland has to crash the glass on defense. If that means running in every power forward on the roster to play physically on the boards, then make it happen.
On the other end, James is guarding McCollum. Make C.J. the decoy and get James away from the boards. Clear out, so Trent and Simmons have room to work. Let Anthony do his thing in the low-post. Unless he’s doubled, that turnaround j can bury a dagger into the heart of the beast.