Athleticism and Shot Blocking Concerns in our Front Court

We don't... not really but Yao is a difference maker in the paint. ANd while he doesn't get blocks he probably leads the league in altering shots. I think we will be okay plus PP will help some there as well as Jordan Hill.

We will be much better than last year and still better than 2 years ago when we did okay.

 

More athletic than Miller? No one comes to mind. :grin:

 

Isn't the front office trying to address this issue by getting Bosh? What's the point? If we dont get Bosh, we have to live with what we have.

 

Brendon Haywood anyone?

 

Yao's Athleticism and shot blocking aint getting better. If there is no Bosh, you play Scola/PP/Hill. Oh, I consider AS the same story as Bosh.

 

I remember that Morey once talked about how the accumulation of any kind of stat is inherently selfish, and there are few stats I can think of that are as overrated and selfish as blocks in the modern NBA. Keep in mind that it's literally the ONLY stat in the boxscore that does not contribute to the team either scoring, or having more possessions to score; it's the RBI of basketball, a stat that largely does not contribute to winning or losing.

I have nothing to back this up, but with the type of player Morey has targeted in the past, defensive positioning is far more valued, and with the way Daryl loves his custom stat of "True Assists", I would think that the scouts give credit to a player for playing good defense if they do everything right, regardless of whether they get the stop or not; in this case, whether a shot gets blocked or not, they'll mark down a good defensive possession.

I fully believe that if Yao can play significant minutes (think Andrew Bynum in the playoffs), he'll instantly make the defense bigger simply because he eats up tons of space, and closes driving and passing lanes, even if he can't block shots.

I have a ton of hope for Jordan Hill as well. Having a full training camp to learn the rotations, a summer to get more used to banging against bigger bodies, and I think he can be more than good enough to be the backup center against most teams.

 

There are few to none good candidates.

 

Good Post.

 

Well, give us a couple names. Don't just say we should go after someone and not provide examples. Oh and be sure they would be willing to sign for no more than the MLE.

 

I'm in total agreement with you, he would be the perfect backup for Yao.

 

If you really think about it, having Mutombo backing up Yao several years was a huge luxury especially against the bigger teams. If the team can get an extra rim protector, players like Ariza, Battier and Lowry all become better on the ball defenders. Yao will make a big difference, but all depends on that left foot.

 

I don't see how blocking shots can be seen as "selfish" by a defensive player, but I do agree blocks are the one stats that have little to do with a team's defensive prowess.

See Houston Rockets' blocks ranking and defensive rating in the last 9 seasons:

Code:

season   BlkRk DefRtg
09-10	   26	  17
08-09	   24	   4
07-08	    8	   2
06-07	   23	   3
05-06	   23	   6
04-05	   16	   4
03-04	    8	   5
02-03	    5	  14
01-02	   14	  29

Here's another example, in 2008-09, Golden State Warriors had the most blocks (527) in the league (Rockets had only 355), but Warriors' defense was rated near rock bottom (28th).

 

Agreed. We need someone who wont suck because they will get starter minutes. B Miller, while I dislike him, would be fine if Yao was able to play 30mpg, but I doubt they will want Yao to play more than 20-24. That means Yao will be on the bench for half, or more than half, the game. We need someone who can be a starter on subpar teams.

 

Trade for Thabeet!!!!!
This guy would be the perfect back-up for Yao.
I'd give them Taylor, Hayes and Anderson plus a future 1st rounder (not NY's). And bring in B-Miller.

Rotation:

Brooks/Lowry
Martin/Bud
Ariza/Battier
Scola/Hill/Patterson
Yao/Thabeet/Miller

Maybe get a combo guard and that's a true contender to me. Who thinks not?