If Asik is setting a screen and team hard hedges Holiday, i think thats fine. Asik isn't going to beat you with the ball in his hands 18 ft from the rim. If its Davis setting the screen, then hard hedging stupid. Holiday just kicks it back to him for a wide open jumper.

We got hurt so many times last year leaving jump shooting big men wide open. We made guys like Patrick Patterson and and Jared Sullinger look like knock down shooters, because they were taking wide open shots.

I also think its hurt Davis' reputation as a defender because when he hedges, then has to turn and run all the way back across court to get back to his man, it "looks" like its his fault when Aldridge is knocking down open jumpers.

How many times last year did we trap the point guard, then actually see a secondary defender jump the passing lane for a steal(like Miami tries to do)? Never? I can't remember any. The only thing that happens when we do it is Davis ends up having to exert unnecessary energy trying to sprint back to his man.

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Posted by Pellican

NOLA

Member since Jun 2013

49 posts

Posted on 10/2/14 at 11:22 pm to eyeran

Eyeran, I don't recall us blitzing any pick/rolls last year, and I can see why it'd be appealing (w/ someone like Jrue who can get around screens and someone like Davis who is super mobile and has a huge wingspan). But with that said, if you're going to blitz, your other 3 players need to know which spots to rotate to and also better have high defensive IQs. I'm not sure that style would've fit last year's squad.. in fact, I'm not sure any style really would've. But I am on board with dialing back the hard hedging.

As far as I know, Chicago does not hard-hedge often, and I don't think Houston makes a habit of it either. So that could easily be what Asik is referring to as an adjustment. Would also love it if, with the addition of Asik, we stopped doubling so often in the post.

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