Los Angeles Lakers: 3 important things to scout in Grizzlies-Blazers

How does Portland attack Memphis’ half-court traps on Damian Lillard?

The secret’s out: Damian Lillard is a certified bucket. The most common defense I saw in the Brooklyn game was a standard 2/2/1 trap, a very popular defense ran primarily at the high school and AAU levels.

Teams now immediately trap Dame as he crosses half-court. Because, if they don’t pressure or trap, this happens.

This is the NBA. Teams are running high school defenses to stop Dame.

Insane!

Portland ran a very standard zone offense to break the half-court trap. Jusuf Nurkic was positioned at the high post. Carmelo Anthony, Gary Trent Jr, and CJ McCollum were positioned on either the wings of the corners. Zach Collins ran the baseline.

What often happened was Brooklyn left the middle wide open for Nurkic to attack the basket off the catch. For some bizarre reason, Brooklyn sent Jarrett Allen to deny the first pass. They left the paint wide open.

Obviously, Memphis should keep their big men in the paint. Have the wing slide up to deny the first pass. Use the weak side wing to defend the high post. Force the only open pass to be a skip pass to the opposite corner.

Pay close attention to the Nets player who yelled at the guy who let Dame pull up on him from half-court. The Lakers need to have this same kind of accountability.

If I am Portland, I would move CJ McCollum or Carmelo Anthony to the high post. Either CJ or Melo can flash to the high post from one of the wings. With Nurkic or Whiteside running the baseline, it automatically sets up a 2 on 1 situation at the basket.

CJ and Melo also thrive from the free-throw line area, which will be open when Dame is trapped at half-court.

If the other three defenders collapse, Carmelo Anthony knocks down open threes, as what happened in the last game. Memphis got the ball out of Dame’s hands. Melo punished them for leaving him open.

Now, considering Portland has seen countless half-court traps, they figure to easily break Memphis’ pressure defense for easy baskets. Memphis will most likely have Dillon Brooks guard Dame full court.

This is extreme. The Lakers obviously do not have anyone to do this. A half-court trap can at least get the ball out of Dame’s hands.

It is worth monitoring to see how Portland adjusts to the half-court traps thrown at them. The Lakers will have to figure out a way to get the ball out of Dame’s hands without giving up easy layups to the other four players.