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Taking no chances Conservative play leads to second-round blowouts
Posted: Friday May 12, 2000 08:44 AM
The first few games in the second round were disappointing, and I was a little surprised by that. I thought the teams were more equal than they've shown. Part of the problem has been the conservative play of the road teams. It looks as if they're playing not to lose instead of trying to win, and they've really slowed the game down. The average losing score this weekend was 81 points, and that's just not enough. Sometimes in the postseason, coaches try to keep it close and see what their teams can do in the fourth quarter. But in the process, they're playing less aggressively. You do try to slow down the tempo on the road, but the teams are so good defensively in a half-court playoff game that I think the road teams are going to have to get into a running game.
Winds of change blow through Great White NorthThe transition that's going on in Vancouver was completely expected. Lionel Hollins did a pretty good job, but when new owners come in, you've got to expect changes. The new management is in a tough situation, though, because Bryant Reeves hasn't shown that he's worth the money, and he's locked into a big contract. When you tie yourself into a long contract with a player who doesn't produce, that's really an albatross around your neck. On a more positive note, Shareef Abdur-Rahim is really good, and Michael Dickerson is really good. I'm not as big a Mike Bibby fan as everyone else is, but he's got value. Reeves is really the problem there.
Coach's breakdownIf I were to draw up a defense against Shaquille O'Neal, I would start by pressuring the Lakers' backcourt, even double-team them a little. And when Shaq catches the ball in the post, I would send my biggest man over to double-team him and leave their big forward -- Robert Horry or A.C. Green -- alone. If Shaq catches the ball deep in the paint, I would foul him automatically. If he's outside the paint, I'd put two bodies on him and make him hit the jumpshot. As soon as he takes the shot, whoever is guarding him shouldn't try to rebound; they should concentrate on boxing him out. When Shaq take a shot, he has a tendency to go after the ball, which is a good tendency. But he'll pick up some fouls if you face-guard him. Kevin Loughery is a former NBA player and head coach. He appears each Sunday on CNN/Sports Illustrated's "This Week in the NBA."
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