Los Angeles Clippers vs Portland Trail Blazers: 2016 NBA Playoffs: First Round: Breakdown/Preview
Keys To Victory For The Los Angeles Clippers
Offense
The Los Angeles Clippers half court offense has mostly been confined to a small area of the floor from the three-point line to the free throw line. When the clippers are within this area, they have 4 go to sequences. 1. Chris Paul has the ball behind the three point line he called for a screen once the screen is set he goes over top of it to around the free throw line and shoot a typically wide open mid-range jump shot. 2. The clippers have Blake Griffin post up around the mid to low post area pass the ball to him and once the second defender he passes the ball back out for a three. 3. Blake Griffin Back down his defender by using his left shoulder and then when he’s close enough to the basket he shoots a hook shot with his left hand. 4. Chris Paul has the ball behind the three-point line and he waits to until another clipper wing player gets out to the three-point line and passes to them for a three or mid-range jump shot.
Defense
In order for the Los Angeles Clippers to reduce the effectiveness of the Trail Blazers offense, they must have a big man on the other side of the screen to prevent the opposing player from having an open lane to the basket. This will force them to pass to the player who is rolling to the basket, once that happens the Clippers must stay with their man to force the big man to take the shot.
Keys To Victory For The Portland Trail Blazers
Offense
When it comes to the Trail Blazers offense, Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum typically bring the ball up the floor until they get up to the three point line, then he calls for a screen. Once the screen is set, they will go over the top of it and if there is no defender on the other side of the screen he will drive to the basket. Damian Lillard or CJ McCollum will try to score if they see a wide open path towards the basket, otherwise, they will pass it to the perimeter to try to get a three point shot for the team. However if there is a defender on the other side of the screen they will pass to the player who is rolling to the basket then that player will either take the shot or pass it to the perimeter depending on whether there is an open lane to the basket.
Defense
In order for the Portland Trail Blazers to beat the Los Angeles Clippers, they must force the clippers to move from the small area between the three-point line and free throw line. This is because most of the clippers roster besides Blake Griffith and Deandre Jordan take a substantial amount of their shots from that area of the floor. As a result, when they are forced to attack the basket they sometimes will hesitate or put up a difficult shot. Therefore the opposing teams has to play pressure man to defense against clipper perimeter players to the point where they have no space to shoot a jumper and are forced to drive .
Winner: Clippers in six games
