Provided by: Twitter.com/CoachDaveMiller | Former NBA Assistant Coach for New Orleans Hornets | 710 ESPN Host of Lakers Line and Weekend Warrior
New Orleans Hornets Scouting Report
This New Orleans team hangs it hat on the defensive end. Their team defense has been the one constant that has allowed this team to win basketball games.
First and foremost, the Lakers must be patient on the offensive end. One of the worst possible scenarios would be for Los Angeles to play 1 on 1, force shots, as well as try to score with one pass and play “strong side only basketball”. The Lakers need to look inside first and if there isn’t a post feed, move the ball to the 2nd side of the offense and make the defense work. Ball movement will be critical to the Lakers success offensively. It is important that the Lakers finish quarters strong as the Hornets proved they can score in spurts.
Defensively:
- The Lakers have to contain Chris Paul and Jarrett Jack
- You must make CP3 a SCORER or PLAYMAKER…NOT BOTH
- Laker BIGS must short show or plug on pick and rolls
- AVOID a lot of switching…MAN UP: This is the playoffs
- Defend without fouling…Keep them off the free throw line
- Take away their EASY POINTS
- Transition lay ups
- Transition dunks
- Lobs
- 2nd Chance scoring opportunities
- Major key will be controlling the backboards on both ends
- Laker bench must outplay Jack, Gray, Anderson, and Green…Keep them as NON-factors
- Solid defense
Keep them in front of you
WALL off the PAINT! BUILD a WALL – Help the HELPER ACTION
Don’t gamble…don’t reach and stab
Make them a jump shooting team by contesting every shot
- Must pursue long rebounds and loose balls
- Awareness of shooters
Know where Belinelli, Green, and Ariza are in transition
Make them work for their catches
Contest… but don’t foul
Next: The Players
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6’0” 175 Chris Paul
- Great Passer…values the ball…
- When he gives the ball up…don’t let him get it back
- Will enter playoffs with a HUGE CHIP on his shoulder
- Controls the ball
- Relentless in pushing the ball…will flow into P/Roll
- Excellent penetrator and rim finisher
- More effective going right
- Great left to right crossover
- Looks to split pick and rolls
- Gets very aggressive in 4th quarter…can score in bunches
- Keep in front of you… don’t reach or stab
- Can’t let him turn the corner on pick and rolls…bigs have to TALK!
- Limit point penetration
- Make him give the ball up…and don’t let him get it back
- Make him one dimensional for 48 minutes
- Can’t let him occupy TWO defenders
6’5” 200 Marco Belinelli
- Excellent 3pt shooter… but has been inconsistent as of late
- Very good off screens- loves to catch and shoot
- Struggles handling the ball for more than 2 dribbles
- Be ready for baseline staggers after timeouts
- Defensive liability… he’s foul prone
- Locate in transition
- Limit his catch and shoots… make him put the ball on the floor
- Make him take difficult shots – contest all shots
- Force left… pressure his handles
6’8” 210 Trevor Ariza
- Slasher and competitor
- 3 point shooter that can get hot when his feet are set
- Strong left driver
- Great cutter= speed cuts
- Loves to crash offensive glass
- Playing very good perimeter defense
- Don’t let him shoot with feet set
- Keep off rhythm… off-balance… vary close outs
- Block out
- Look to draw charges on his direct line drives
- Make him a driver who has to pull up… will struggle
6’9” 250 Carl Landry
- Tough undersized big man… big heart
- Can make the mid-range jumper
- Not a David West… but has played well
- Will be the aggressor…is physical
- Limit his post touches- keep off the block- push outs
- Contest shots
- BLOCK OUT
6’10” 255 Emeka Okafor
- Great at getting DEEP seals in the paint
- One of the best DUCK IN players in the league
- Can turn either shoulder in the post- prefers left block
- Great offensive rebounder… loves to tip back to guards
- On pick and roll never pops- always rolls to the rim
- Meet early in transition- take away paint seals
- Limit his post touches
- Anticipate lob pass on pick and rolls
- Ball on top- ¾ denial preventing duck ins
- BOX OUT!
- Keep a body on him for 48 minutes
6’6” 225 Quincy Pondexter
- Good Talent
- Adequate mid range jumpshot
- Slasher- excellent lane runner in transition
- Strong right hand driver… good energy guy
- Working on increasing his range to 3
- Find in transition
- Match his intensity
- BLOCK OUT
7’0” Aaron Gray
- Big Body… will use all his fouls
- Below average athleticism
- Will set screens
- Has gotten better as season progressed
- No deep paint seals
- Don’t play behind him…3/4 defense
- RESPECT his game…don’t take him for granted…is a PRO
- BLOCK OUT
6’5” 200 Jarret Jack
- Aggressive scorer… good size and strength
- Wants to be a scoring point guard
- Strong left hand driver- good going right but prefers left
- Will attack the rim in transition
- Will shoot the 3
- Really penetrates… can make transition jump shots
- Find in transition… stop ball
- Play his left hand on close outs
- Play him as a driver but hands high to contest shot
7’0” 240 Jason Smith
- Athletic… great pick and pop game
- Big that loves to shoot jump shots
- Loves the elbow… range to 16’
- Keep him off the sweet spot
- Stay attached to him on the pick and pop
- Block out
6’3” 200 Willie Green
- Strong… more of a shooter than a driver
- Combo guard
- Can get hot and make shots
- Pressure his handles
- Contest all shots
- Go over all screens
6’11” 245 David Anderson
- Long… offensive minded jump shooter
- Turn around jumper in the post… better facing up
- Questionable foot speed
- Attack him offensively
- No open looks
- BLOCK OUT
Coach Dave Miller has coached at both the collegiate and professional level. He has enjoyed coaching stints with the University of Southern California as well as the New Orleans Hornets. He is also the Executive Director of his MVP Summer Camps that he puts on each year for children interested in learning more about the game of basketball.
Follow the Coach on Twitter: @CoachDaveMiller
www.MVPCamp.com – Coach Dave Miller coaches young kids to provide them with basketball fundamentals.
www.CaliforniaElite.com – Camp for Players looking to take their game to the next level