Matchup specific adjustments helps the Portland Trail Blazers defense shutdown the Grizzlies
The Portland Trail Blazers played a little zone defense against the Grizz and returned to a drop coverage against Morant-Steven Adams pick-and-rolls.
Team’s who have less than ideal defensive personnel are best suited changing their scheme from matchup to matchup, focusing on taking away the opponent’s strengths and not allowing attackers to repeatedly take advantage of the same weak points.
This might be the move for the Blazers who have plenty of defensive holes up-and-down the roster.
While this will be difficult to maintain throughout the regular season, with back-to-backs, stretches of four games in five nights, and such, but on the chances they get, this will help them build their malleability before the playoffs.
For example, if Portland has to face off against the Los Angeles Lakers in the postseason, they simply will not survive running the “at-the-level” coverage that they started the year with. With arguably the best floor general in the history of the game leading the charge in LeBron James, Los Angeles will repeatedly punish the Blazers with their passing if Portland constantly shades and doubles from the corners like they have been.
The Blazers minor tweaks made a huge difference in this one against the Grizz as they held Ja Morant to just 17 points on 42 percent from the floor. He entered the game averaging 35 points per night.
Portland was able to execute their game plan flawlessly and forced turnover after turnover. Let’s see if Head Coach Chauncey Billups continues to make matchup specific adjustments, as that might be the path to getting the most out of this Blazers defense.