Monday, June 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am  |  72 responses

Laker ‘D’ Against Howard: Single Coverage

by Marcel Mutoni

It’s the biggest question heading into the NBA Finals, and one that involves Orlando’s opponent more or less picking its poison: Get abused down low by Dwight Howard, or see how many threes the Magic shooters can make.

According to Phil Jackson, the Lakers are going to take their chances with a single-covered Dwight Howard. And may God have mercy on Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum and company.

The Press-Enterprise reports:

Howard averaged 21.5 points and 16 rebounds against the Lakers in the regular season because they chose not to double him, yet Coach Phil Jackson said he plans to maintain the same approach.

“It’s to your advantage not to double on this team,” he said. “They have four three-point shooters arrayed around the court, they really stretch you out and their spacing is good. It puts a priority on being able to defend the post.”

Conversely, Phil and the Lakers are counting on their bigs – plus the penetrating wing players – to get Dwight in foul trouble.

Bynum, in particular, was hoping for this matchup. We’ll see if he can make it past halftime before fouling out in any of the games. Let’s just say that I’m not holding my breath.

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  • http://www.twitter.com/TheDiesel Anton

    I love the Lakers! I’ve been a Lakers fan for 96 years, anyone who says otherwise doesn’t have skills, just athletic gifts.
    Kobe Finals MVP!!!!

  • http://www.manutd.com/ Z

    good point betcats, even though svg, the media and dwight himself denied that dwight’s statement had any effect whatso ever on their gameplan… he DID start to get the ball more after b!tching about it.

  • http://www.slamonline.com wayno

    Agreed Z, all I am saying is that that is thier best chance at winning. Thier superb shooting wins games for them. Dight is a force, but IF they can take away some of thier 3 point shooting they’ll win. However, like you said, easier said than done. I really think Orlando has the advantage in this series. Incredibly tough matchup for LA.

  • Stan

    The Lakers should have Dwight on foul trouble every game with the kind of inside presence they have, plus kobe. I don’t care who wins the finals as long as I don’t see Vujacic on the floor.

  • Tenorca

    Also, pretending Perkins defended Da-white (I thought he did a decent job, honestly), Perkins is large, strong, and mean. Pau? Tall, feeble, and vaguely perturbed. Bynum? Large, sad-looking, lost.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    riggs Posted: Jun.1 at 9:20 am
    will the winner of the first game be the winner of the series?
    ________________________________________________
    It’s generally a ‘first to four’ scenario, unless there’s been a rule change somewhere…

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    It’s been a ‘back-and-forth’ decision for me, but I’ve decided to become a Lakers fan (once more) for the finals series.

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    If Andrew Bynum can contribute through the series, that should force Dwight to defend a man, not the hoop this should open up things for Gasol and Lamar to get around the basket – IF Kobe can attack the hoop and draw Dwight over, force fouls and get him sitting down, things could definitely move to their favour.
    The draw card for me in this series is watching each team get into ‘mental lapses’ and see how they come back from double digit leads throughout the games….both teams will suffer this and that for me is the biggest issue – who can sustain the mentality longer.

  • andre anglais

    Everyone is focused on what LA does to stop Orlando, but how do the Magic stop the Lakeshow?
    LA is a much better offensive team than either Cleveland or Boston. I think the key for LA will be to outscore the Magic.

  • http://myspace.com/jrcfl Justin

    ENDS,

    Do You Live Here in Orlando?

  • chintao

    How dare anyone question Fphil.

  • josh

    Everyone goes on about the Magic having 4 guys who can shoot it on the floor all at the same time, but so do the Lakers… Whoever’s playing point- DFish, Farmar and Brown can all shoot the lights out if they’re in form, which i think they all are after that Denver series, Kobe… of course, but also the Machine, he found it in those last two games, look for him to keep jacking at every opportunity, Trev was hot against Denver, and Walton can occasionally warm up too, then you have Lamar Odom at the 4 as a threat, when Bynum sits after a minute, because he’s on 3 fouls. Pau spaces the floor too cause he can knock down the j. So the Lakers too have outside threats… And they’re deep too. Just a thought…

  • C2

    DJ Mbenga and Josh Powell have the best chances at guarding Dho

  • http://www.triplejunearthed.com/dacre Dacre

    Dj Mbenga will continue to sit I feel.

  • Cahyo

    Dj Mbenga will eat Vujacic & Farmar’s lunch while sitting..

  • catalan

    Howard is not the problem. 8:34, 1st quarter: 2 fouls.

    Who stops Pau?

  • chintao

    Actually, catalan makes a good point. Much as with every series involving the Lakers so far this playoffs, this series will be determined by the refs. The team whose big men find themselves foul trouble may find it impossible to win.

  • Nashty

    Forget about Dwight, Kobe would have him fouled out of every game by the 3rd quarter.

  • http://nbacheapseats.blogspot.com Chendaddy

    Single-coverage on Dwight is fine. Just make sure Lamar Odom stops Hedo Turkoglu and Shannon Brown stops Rafer Alston from getting him the ball. Ten FG attempts every game!
    That was Cleveland’s problem more than not having guys who couldn’t guard Dwight. NOBODY can guard Dwight over seven games. But Cleveland had 6’3″ Delonte West
    matched up against 6’10″ Turkoglu, Orlando’s best playmaker and clutch shooter?? But the only guy on Cleveland who could’ve stopped him was LeBron, and as pathetically as everyone
    else was on offense, they needed ‘Bron to conserve his energy for offense. Not the case with L.A., which can throw Ariza and Odom at Turkoglu while Kobe handles the playmaking and scoring
    against Pietrus. I love LeBron, but one-on-one, nobody can handle his man on offense like Kobe. It’s not all about Dwight, people! Lakers in 6.

  • http://myspace.com The Truth

    Yea we’ll see how long The Lakers do that. Let the dominance in the paint begin. I wonder how long itll take bynum till he fouls out? haha. Poor Pau Gasol has ’0′ chance guarding Dwight Howard. Go Magic!!! Let the dominance down low begin…….Magic in 6

  • Mack

    I have a feeling Alston is going to have a field day with Fisher covering him. Shannon Brown could be getting big minutes if Fisher’s defense is subpar.

    Also, Perkins was the best defender against Howard during the playoffs 1on1 because he could match size with him. Bynum will end up in foul trouble often because if not as savvy defensively as Perkins or even Gasol.

  • Mack

    btw I think Lakers in 6 cuz of the Kobe factor, he can shoot 18 footers all day while LeBron was struggling with his jumper. Plus no one can guard Mr. Bryant one-on-one.

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