"The Oklahoma City Thunder came to the Moda Center Wednesday, November 5. The defending NBA champs. 8-0 start to the season. A swarming defense that is once again the best in the NBA. Last season's MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, a savant at getting his defenders to foul him, has given lesser teams fits. And a 16-game winning streak against the Portland Trail Blazers. But the Blazers are different this year. They can beat annoying at its own game."
"Basketball is a contact sport. Sure, it isn't the full-on deliberate brain damage-inducing collision sport that is American Football, but every single play in an NBA game involves players in some form pressing their bodies into the opposing team in hopes of creating some sort of offensive or defensive advantage. One way to create more advantages for teams who are offensively deficient is "pressing," something this year's Portland Trail Blazers do more than any other team in the NBA."
Oklahoma City's defending champion Thunder visited the Moda Center while holding an 8-0 record and a swarming defense widely regarded as the NBA's best. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander frequently draws fouls and causes problems for lesser teams. The Portland Trail Blazers employ full-court pressing more than any other NBA team to force turnovers, sap opponents' energy, limit offensive time, and create disruption. Pressing succeeds at youth levels where some coaches seek bans, but professional offenses can exploit poorly positioned defenders. Pressing also equally tires defenders, and the full-court press has traditionally been viewed as a high-risk, high-reward tactic at elite levels.
Read at Portland Mercury
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