Article here from the local Portland, OR paper on Coach Nate McMillan stressing talk and communication on defense. Here is a piece from the article:
This Trail Blazers team is a very tight-knit group off the court, but as it turns out, the guys have had problems communicating on the court, particularly on defense. Screens by the opponents were going unannounced. Team rules on pick and rolls -- going under or through a screen -- were not being voiced. And assuring voices of help defense were muted.
As a result, the Blazers defense has suffered, so much so that McMillan termed the team's latest defensive outing against Dallas as "bad. Really bad."
So before Saturday's game in front of 20,588 at the Rose Garden, McMillan had a plan. As he addressed the team at the front of the room, he walked to the back, where a glass refrigerator sits with Gatorade and bottled water. From there, he asked Oden and starting small forward Nicolas Batum to give their scouting reports on the Toronto players they would guard.
Two of the quietest players on the team, Oden and Batum each gave their report. Still standing by the refrigerator, McMillan made his play.
"He told us 'Look, there are going to be 20,000 people out there, you need to talk louder,'" Oden said. "He said, 'I'm standing right here next to a little refrigerator motor and I can't even hear you. Speak up.'"
By the end of the night, the Blazers defense had spoken loud and clear, holding Toronto to 32 second-half points, including 10 in the pivotal third quarter.
"The Bostons, the Lakers, their defenses are always talking loud," LaMarcus Aldridge said. "And coach made sure to make a point that everybody needs to hear us talk on defense. I think it helped."
