DD- one thing I've seen consistently with Yao's rebounding is that he is not quick enough to really bang the offensive glass. When he is fronted there is usually weakside help ready to double which either creates a turnover or seals Yao off the boards, he just doesn't crash the boards at all. he is more likely to stand and try to snag the rebound, I have seen many much smaller players beat him to an offensive board.
I have been saying this for years....go away from him, take advantage of the other team overplaying Yao. The only players I have seen do this consistently are: 1. Scola 2. Von 3. Landry The rest of the team just panics and still tries to get him the ball...SCREW that...ATTACK !!! DD
that's probably true. but i'd take whatever they can achieve the next couple of days at this time. sometimes it's also a reinforcement issue. i'm talking about adelman. playoffs are usually slower paced half court offense and more play calling anyway.
He is certainly NOT quick, but then neither is Deke, it is more about positioning and desire than anything else. Yao hangs his head.....and doesn't fight for rebounds often enough. There are games where he just dominates on the glass, because he goes and gets the ball.....when fronted, that is what he should do...game in and game out. DD
Landry was open several times in the 4th quarter due to the sandwiching of Yao. He hesitated badly, even though he can make that elbow shot. The best example I can think of when the Rockets made the defense pay was just as you said: bring Yao out high on a pick and then either have him take a jumper or hit Scola on a baseline cut for the layup as we did against the Spurs in San Antonio. I'd prefer not to live and die by Yao's outside jumper, but against the fronting we're going to have to live and die by SOMEONE'S outside jumper because Yao can't get the ball down low. Yao's making the most money and we don't have anyone better, so I say let him take those shots.
Definately! Deke is all about positioning, he is a very seasoned post rebounder. Deke has the mindset to crash the boards, Deke does not have to worry about the weakside double team and this gives him room to get to the glass. Deke also still jumps, rarely do I see Yao trying to fight for a rebound. I think this is one area to really coach Yao- rebounding position. He still has alot to learn about controlling the paint with his size. His lack of quickness just amplifies his lack of passion for the rebound. His offense certainly makes up for alot of that- still most of his rebounds come easy due to his size, but when he has to fight for a board he loses the battle about 60-70% of the time IMHO.
this has been discussed ad nauseum around here. we all have ideas of how to beat the fronting defense, but what it all comes down to is execution. the team looses all its composure in the 4th quarter when Yao is fronted. All it comes down to is staying composed and executing. I'm not going to discuss what I think the Rockets should do to beat the fronting defense, I'm actually really tired of the whole topic. I just want the team to suck it up and execute. The last few games the team executed down the stretch when Yao was fronted, but last night they didn't. It comes down to execution, period, end of story. Here is to execution and composure in the playoffs. Time to beat the LaMarcus Aldridge fronting defense in the 4th quarter. Rockets are going to get it done! Rockets in 6.
My problem is that he doesn't fight often enough, those 30-40% that he would win would be dunks or putback on the offensive end. When he is fronted he is all alone between himself and the basket.....He should be KILLING them on the offensive glass. He has the ability, he just shrinks from the task too often. DD
So maybe it wasn't the coaching all these years that have caused them to be so befuddled. Before, it was JVG's fault for not knowing how to coach offense. Then, it was T-mac's fault for being "selfish" and not trusting his teammates. Then it is Adelman's fault for turing Yao into a pansy and largely neutralizing him by putting him in the high post. Now? I guess its gotta be on the whole team, and mostly Yao. The problem with Yao is that when he gets comfortable, he's unstoppable... on BOTH ends of the court (his rebounding, lateral movement, and blocked shots improves dramatically when he's got his confidence on the offensive end). However, when it only takes one undersized defender, or one bad offensive foul call against him to take him out of his rhythm... that's a problem. When Yao is out of his rhythm, the teammates don't trust him... and the game plan completely falls apart.
I agree with that, Yao certainly bares a lot of responsibility, he is a front running player...he needs to be mentally tougher. I doubt most Rocket fans would disagree with that. When he plays mad, or aggressive he is unstoppable, but he too often plays passively....or afraid.....he needs to be a bull in a china shop, if he fouls out...he needs to complain about the unfair bias by the refs. Force the NBA to start calling fouls against players that put 2 hands in his back.....man up.....be aggressive.....all of that. DD
Don't forget the #1 thing to beat fronting: Yao needs to be well rested to bring that extra effort battling fronting. Last night Adelman should let yao rest a little bit after teammates ignored yao for a couple plays. Mavs actually started fronting AFTER that.
You need a guard who can take guy's off the dribble. You get a player like that there will no more fronting.
man it's really not that hard. We need to get someone who can lob the ball to yao. He can catch it. There was one occasion in 1st or 2nd period, I think brook lob it to him, he caugh it and dunk it down. Why is it so hard to repeat that if it can happen once or twice?
Yao run out of gas in the 2nd half. He tried too hard in the 1st half. He even didn't have energy to speak in the halftime interview. In that situation, other players have to step up. I think Scola and Landry also did poor jobs besides Artest last night.
Von did play last night but seems to have an off night! He didnt slash and keep on jacking up air ball.
Practicing the lob gives both Yao & his teammates confidence. It is just like a rebound for Yao. When done right, the pass has an arch so it will go over the defender. If a basketball player can shoot into a cylindrical hoop, he should have the ability to pass it to an imaginary hoop in the vicinity of Yao. Does Morey & his staff need to do the geometry and pass out fliers? I think so...
yao has bad hands and can not catch that pass consistently and the weakside defender on a lob can come quickly over and jump up to get it. DD
