Chris Mannix: Yao's 24 min limit may be reevaluated in DEC

Tmac situation part 2 but with less drama queeniness

 

I think DD makes a good point about the team struggling to find its identity with Yao in and out of the lineup. Some players like Brooks and Martin, moreso than Battier and Scola, look unsure of how to best play with Yao and look like different players without Yao playing. Yao being in and out of the lineup could disrupt our chemistry enough to weaken our record early, which could possibly make us lose home court advantage or even miss the playoffs altogether down the road.

 

Exactly...I don't mind the 24 minutes as much as the not playing in back to backs....

DD

 

A great team doesn't make an excuse like this one. With or without Bynum, the lakers are a great team. Also, Duncan didn't play b2b either last season. The spurs were still a good team.

 

The person most effected by this would have to be Brooks.

He plays so much better with Yao on the floor. With the in and out cameos by Yao, his play could be a rollercoaster the rest of the season.

 

Duncan doesn't play b2b either...

 

Lakers got the luxury of having a 6-10 SF/PF/C in Odom off the bench who could start either position.

They also have a 7 foot PF in Gasol who can play both positions as well and is a 20/10 beast.

And Oh yeah, they got that Kobe guy as well.

And the Spurs got Ginobili and Parker to pick up the slack.

We don't have that luxury.

 

So, basically, we are not good enough...

 

The difference ABC, is that they already have their identity, they have their chemistry and know each other and how to play with or without him.

The Rockets chemistry is completely different, we have had a 40% turnover on the roster since January....

And when you add in Yao, and then take him away, it elongates the process of role creation and understanding.

If you have Yao and he is limited to 24 minutes, then you can get a rythmn with that.....but if he is constantly in and out of the lineup...you won't it will hurt the team.

It is 100% an identity issue...

DD

 

Yep.

We don't got a Kobe or Manu or Tony to pick up the slack.

Or even a Gasol or Odom who could play multiple positions.

 

This only means that the current rockets team is too weak! Perfect environment is not exist, every team has to overcome some problems.

 

Instead of focusing on Yao's playing time, players need to focus in their own roles, without or with Yao you can't miss defensive assignments and constantly miss rotations, dribble the ball off your feet, make poor passing decisions, blah blah blah blah.

Defensively they need to play better man to man defense, regardless who is the center.

Offensively they rarely look for Yao, in his 1st game with the lakers almost 4-5 of his 11 attempts was off offensive rebounds. He rarely touches the ball as much on the offensive compared to 2008-2009. So offensively, Rockets really ain't missing him.

Or take this perspective.......

Last year we were 42-40, which is exactly were we would be without Yao because Miller is not a presence on the defensive end (a non-shot blocking center).

If we were to get Rid of Yao, we would need a defensive minded center who is 6'11+........people might point to Hill....but he is still so Raw. Besides Hill, who else is a good defensive center (and who is available.........)....not many choices.......so we got to live with what the Doctor's can give us.

 

It does mean that our chemistry is fragile yes.

DD

 

Damn it!

We worked too hard last season to build up team chemistry and now it all goes down the drain!

You got Lowry injured, Battier declining and Brooks possibly upset at not getting a contract extension.

Plus all the trade rumors surrounding Martin and Carmelo Anthony affecting him, Scola tired from his national team games and Hill and Budinger not seeing anytime on the floor!

 

What bothers is why aren't they driving to the basket? I think both Martin and AB relies too heavily on their shots when there could be better options like driving to the basket. I mean look at what Kobe did. Granted no one is like Kobe but the fact that he's able to draw people in and dish it out on command to score easy basket, is something that Rockets is missing.

They have the talent, speed and capability, but when it comes to executing, it seems like they're lost or just simply aren't ready for the play. Take a look at our guys: Cbud, Ab, Lowry, Lee, Martin. That's 5 guys who should drive to the basket to keep the opponent's defense second guessing on what they're doing.

 

I hope the rockets reevaluate Yao's minutes a lot sooner than December...

--RB

 

on a contending team, Martin/Brooks would be the 3rd best option on offense and still be a liability on defense

 

The ideal situation is that Yao plays without limitation. But there is a reason that Dr. recommended no b2bs. You can have hime play all the minutes and all the b2bs now. He will likely to break again when playoff begins. What use does cohesion during the regular season give you when he breaks again before playoffs? IMO, he will probably last longer playing 30 min a game but avoid b2bs and give the team more chance to succeed.

 

I dont care about this 24 minutes thing. its this god aweful back to backs hold out stuff thats gonna kill any hopes we have to make the playoffs. One or two games lost there in the back to back will absolutely kill us if they continue to do it. They need to reevalutate holding players out on back to backs. Tmac it didnt work. it messed up his career and the Rockets. Its not working with Yao you stumbling idiots.

 

The 24 minute rule is designed to preserve Yao's health until the play offs!

You have guys like Dakota screaming for Yao to resume starter minutes! If the Houston Rockets can't win with Yao playing 24 minutes, what makes you think playing 28 minutes will make a difference? Yao's good but those extra 4 minutes shouldn't be the difference between winning and losing.

Are people here so short-sighted they forget what it would mean if Yao re-injured his foot? No more Yao. Ever. You guys do not want to go down that road...and this isn't about a contract either. Yao is not going to get a MAX contract again. So people need to stop being demanding "starter minutes" from Yao as a pretext for future contract negotiations. The Rockets need Yao as much or more as Yao needs the Houston Rockets.

This team has bigger problems than Yao's missing 4 minutes.

Aaron Brook's lack of defense and general bone-headedness is a far bigger reason why the Houston Rockets sucked so far.

I dare say Coach Adelman is another reason. He's in his final year of contract and I'm not sure he's the right guy for this team anymore. His offense is good but he's so stubborn and set in his way, it's become a detriment to this team. Why play Chuck Hayes at center last night? Did Adelman not learn anything from last season? Play Miller / JHill!

We need to protect Yao Ming's foot and gradually increase his minutes. To scream for Yao to play 28+ minutes is reckless and short-sightedness, a troubling pattern from Houston fans who will miss Yao when he's gone.