He kinda looked like Malone on some possessions in the second half. The way he moved and shot those mid-range Js... very similar.
My feelings exactly, Cookie. AD was WAY too passive in the first half. He only took 3 shots. That won't get it done. Nice to see him come to life in the second but I just don't like the disappearing act. That isn't going to work going deeper into the playoffs.
This is a perimeter league now folks. And no, the opponents do not want AD to do it. As soon as AD started dropping J's last night, Portland had zero chance. AD also added blocking facials to boot. Lakers team last night showed how good they really were because Portland was playing really good ball and they still couldn't win. Carmelo looked like Carmelo of old and still didn't mean anything. Both Portland guards were shooting lights out, still didn't mean anything.
This whole "let the game come to you" in stretches has to stop. To paraphrase the late great Al Davis: "Don't take what the defense gives you; take whatever the hell you want."
I guess dropping 29 and 11 and 8 ain't what it used to be. And a game turning facial block against God Lilliard was just a lucky play, I guess. Maybe AD needs to get 50 points and 30 rebounds to show how good he is from now on.
I think it's great but Davis needs to put his stamp on the game early... He is too good to play passive at times like the others here have commented.
I feel like too many talk out of both holes when you can only have a legit argument from one. Is Portland good or not? Everyone was climaxing about how great they were and it got even worse after Game 1. So, if Portland is so good, why would it be a surprise that AD isn't as aggressive in stretches of the game? You don't think the opponent makes players not be aggressive? Sometimes the other team doesn't let you play well. That's why "adjustments" are important in sports. And sometimes players do it naturally over the process of a game. Floyd Mayweather Jr. made a billion dollars with that method of execution.
Portland is very good. Nurcik and Whiteside present size problems. Davis abused Gobert who is much better than either of those two. I don't think it's Portland at all but more of us with our putrid/spotty outside shooting. Our defense have been solid through the series holding them down below their average.
yeah for guards not a supposed dominant big man....hold back your complaints then when AD doesn't have it from the outside n continues floating on the perimeter
Portland did double team AD at times to good effect in the first half. He does need to adjust to that because he's going to see it plenty going forward. It was great that AD recognized what he needed to do at half time. In his own words he couldn't let Lebron carry the whole scoring load for the team. But it discourages me that AD continues this pattern of dominant play followed the next game by passivity. It's going to be a problem if he doesn't turn that corner. He only took three shots in the first half. That's not all the opponents' D. That's a mindset and we can't win many games with him doing that. Glad he corrected the issue. But he really needs to keep an aggressive mindset going for us to win a championship.
It was nice of MJ to hook him up at halftime Completely different player coming out of halftime. I'm fine with a AD and Bron taking turns, each dominating a half. But it didn't look intentional. AD just looked mia in the first half. When he's playing like he was in the second half, no one can stop him.
embiid 90% of the time n u ome kf those crying bout how league is soft but since AD hit some its ok? cant have it both ways
It's a story of his single-game halves too: two dominant quarters, then he disappears, or vice versa.
His offense is just not going to get unlocked at the 4 consistently. Put him at the 5 and he's a nightmare matchup. With another center, he's not a bruise and he doesn't have great spacing to post up a small ball 4. He also can't face up as easily and take him man off the dribble as McGee and Howards man will wait in the paint. At the 5 OTOH with shooters he can face up and also be the roll man as needed. It's just a different type of post-up, instead of his back to basket if he's facing you up from the FT line in bigs just can keep up with him.