SuperSuperstar Shaq was easily taken out of game by Rockets, with fronting defense

1 game

If Yao and Rockets can't solve the fronting D, he might as well turn into Big Z.

 

to beat front,we need good pg and refs start give yao some love.it's not simple front,they hold yao's arm all time.if yao in lbj or kobe's team,he will get calls.

 

Good find OP. It not only gives perspective into how a great big can be shut down by proper defense, but also how his team can exploit the holes created by that tight defense on the great big to get a win.

I agree with Adelman that the fronting defense and Yao not getting shots doesn't bother him as long as we win, but I fear that if they adjust and find a more effective way of fronting and double teaming Yao, we may not win if we dun have a good counter strategy.

 

It's also possible that if they try to adjust, to front Yao without exposing holes all over the defense, it'll put Yao in a position to make catches and score. I think that Portland is going to be 'trying' to do too much, and with the constant flux in their defense, as long as Houston can stay consistent in their gameplan, they will easily beat the Blazers.

 

Fronting defense can shut down anyone nowadays with no illegal defense called. If it were called, they could easily toss it over to Yao since the second defender has to wait for Yao to receive the ball before he doubles. Teams dont do it because it affects their defense too much.

 

At times, they could go with this lineup:

Yao
Artest
Battier
Wafer
Brooks

Have everyone essentially stand beyond the arc and dare the Blazers to double down on Yao, leaving an open 3 point shooter.

This strategy wouldn't be great for the whole game, but in spurts it could change up the look and get Yao one-on-one chances down low.

 

It is ONE GAME. If Yao had only one poor game i'd be ok. Fakers made adjustments. Yao and the team cannot.

 

Except this Shaq guy is kind of the top 20 NBA Players of all time and won 4 rings. Hmm.

 

Mr Mean? Was that you?
Phil Jackson with Payton and Malone. Way to go...

 

i dont think they want to go small, because we can go smaller and give them hell. I dont think they want to see Lowry and Brooks in the lineup together.

Yao- Aldridge
Artest- Outlaw
Battier- Roy
Lowry- Blake
Brooks- Rodriguez

 

anyone else lol at this?

 

I don't think one game can tell the story.

 

Actually Payton and Malone did not do very well stats-wise. It was Kobe who killed us.

Wonder why teams didn't do as much fronting when T-Mac was healthy?

 

Hey thanks for the shout out Landryfans. The difference is that Shaq rarely gets taken out by fronting defenses (or any type of defense for that matter) while Yao has been taken out pretty often. You had to go back to 2004 just to find one game while I could find plenty of games where Yao was taken out this year.

 

If Adelman really wants Yao to get the ball, he'll run a pick and roll with him on the left side. He must be happy with Yao as a decoy right now.

 

If Adelman's game plan has been getting Yao the ball no matter what, Yao will get the ball. Simple as that. JVG made sure Yao got the ball. But at what cost? Adelman apparently has a different basketball philosophy, which I think is as good as, if not better than JVG's. So people, please don't say adjustment was not made, it was. Just not way some of you would like to see.

 

Great post, teams can take out superstar bigs......they can shut them out...but that leaves them exposed in so many other areas.

We are up 2-1.....because the Blazers are so worried about Yao.....

The Rockets have been up double digits every game....Portland barely has led for a bit....

The Rockets have not hit their 3s yet........Portland has......the Rockets have not had Ron go off.......Roy has.....

Houston has not played all that great, yet still leads 2-1........we got this.

Don't worry, be happy.

DD