1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

Adonal Foyle on guarding Yao and Shaq

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Sydeffect, Sep 15, 2016.

  1. Sydeffect

    Sydeffect Member

    Joined:
    Sep 6, 2010
    Messages:
    5,919
    Likes Received:
    440
    https://soundcloud.com/siriusxmnba/adonal-foyle-describes-what-it-was-like-defending-shaquille-oneal-yao-ming

    On defending Yao:

    "Yao presented a much more different challenge because he was soo tall and he had a good jumpshot so you had to honor his jumpshot. He was also skilled enough to get into the paint, and once he got his move going you couldn't stop him. You had to front him and keep the ball away from him Once he got the ball he had so many skills. He was so skilled down in the block, he could do so many things.

    I remember just pushing Yao and his upper body would move, but his legs were like tree trucks just planted into the paint. It would be so very hard to move. most of these guys you had to learn to play them early. This provided a very unique challenge because you would just be exhausted by the first quarter"
     
  2. MorningZippo

    MorningZippo Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Messages:
    3,229
    Likes Received:
    2,494
    Defending one on one in the post against a guy that actually has skill is the hardest individual skill in basketball to learn. I couldn't even imagine trying to stop a guy that's 7'6" and has a fade away as one of his go to moves.
     
  3. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2000
    Messages:
    25,260
    Likes Received:
    12,960
    One on one, yes.

    Fortunately for the NBA, they can defend differently. Fronting Yao worked VERY WELL often for opposing teams.

    Now, at lot of this came down to JVG anemic offenses. Having to front and effectively soft double someone without the ball should make overall offense even better.... but the Rockets usually just got bogged down, spending 15 seconds trying to figure out a way to force it in there...

    That all said, Foyle's comments are spot on.
     
  4. topfive

    topfive CF OG

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    18,940
    Likes Received:
    37,185
    [​IMG]
    <BR>
     
  5. baller4life315

    baller4life315 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2003
    Messages:
    12,648
    Likes Received:
    2,910
    Personally, I'd rather defend somebody I can bait into taking a turnaround or fadeway than somebody I know is straight up going to run me over. But I understand the point Foyle was making.
     
  6. apollo33

    apollo33 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2009
    Messages:
    20,368
    Likes Received:
    16,525
    Fronting Yao kinda shut him down in both the Portland and Lakers series. The team was able to capitalize a bit but it threw everyone off in the beginning. Man I wish Tmac didn't get injured or he was traded for VC
     
  7. Tonaaayyyy

    Tonaaayyyy Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2002
    Messages:
    4,537
    Likes Received:
    148
    [​IMG]

    Adonal Foyle!
     
    1 person likes this.
  8. Pringles

    Pringles Member

    Joined:
    Mar 25, 2006
    Messages:
    4,706
    Likes Received:
    1,469
    Rick Adelman did a great job finding ways to get the ball to Yao. If a team began fronting Yao, the guards would move the ball across the perimeter allowing Yao to repost on the other side.
     
  9. LabMouse

    LabMouse Member

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2008
    Messages:
    3,662
    Likes Received:
    251
    With Scola on the team, Fronting Yao became a problem for other teams. Yao led the rockets to beat the Portland easily, and the rockets could beat the Lakers if Yao did not break his foot again.
     
  10. jchu14

    jchu14 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Sep 2, 2000
    Messages:
    923
    Likes Received:
    917
    Don't forget about the two Jazz series. It was so painful to see Yao playing against Okur and Boozer.
     

Share This Page

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now