Play to Yao's strength: face the basket

I actually enjoy seeing Yao face up and shoot the ball from outside. That definitely needs to be utilized more often. The key reason being it will keep players from doubling the ball handler when Yao goes out to set a pick. Think Karl Malone. He made a living out there setting picks and getting the ball back for a easy face up jumper. But of course Francis, Mobley, or whoever has to give the ball back to him quick in those situations and Yao has to shoot it without hesitation. Just think if Francis would utilize the stop and pop mid range jumper more often coming off those Yao picks. Teams would have to eventually always double them and Yao would be wide open for an easy mid range jumper all the time. I hope they keep utilizing Yao from the outside like that.

 

Yao is the best jumpshooter on our team!

but now is the time to mix up his repetoire, he needs to be able to do both, dominate in the paint and outside...

I think Yao is already a better shooter than JJ and even Piatkowski...and Yao doesn't even practice his jumpers as much as them....

 

I think it's great for his confidence when he steps out in the high post & drains a 15 footer off a p-n-r.

But as MANY others said, that's only one facet of his game. I'm still waiting to see him go back to his jump hook CONSISTENTLY. Remember the pics of Yao's hook shots posted last year? He'd have that ball a foot and a half higher up than the nearest defender. No one could defend that shot.

That and some banging down low. He's picking it up. Yeah, you can tell he gets frustrated down there. But he'll learn the low post. And he'll make defenses pay!

 

I will say, using Yao at high post will at least give Rockets extra 4 points for their offense. Just think about the games rockets lost by one point.

 

He looks like he is rushing that hook and forcing it. He probably needs to get a more fluid style hook rather than the jump hook, then add a jump style.

 

I also think Yao should mix it up. While not completely abadoning the high post game, he should take a lot more mid range jumpers. After all this game is about scoring more points than the other team and the last time I checked points in the paint were worth the same as points from mid range. So if you keep forcing him to keep taking high post shots he's not making, then there's an opportunity cost of him not taking mid range jumpers that he would probably make.

 

I meant low post game.

 

I'm with the other posters who think Yao should play more high post. Its not only works to Yao's strengths but also to Francis' and Mobley's by pulling the opposing big man away from the paint to clear out for drives by the guards and even if the big man doesn't come out it lets Yao shoot over a shorter player or pass over a shorter player shooters or cutters coming in from the wings.

I agree that Yao needs to eventually learn the low post game but I think its more important the Rox utilize their strength to win now than just consider this season to be a learning year.

 

I think Rox should let Yao play it like Tim Duncan, cuz that's the type of players he resemble more, not O'neal. Let him face up and shoot the ball more like Webber and Duncan did. If opponents bite on his jumpshot, he can drive by them and dunk and so forth. And course the low post game occasionally. But just mixed it up i guess.

 

Man I've been saying this forever. YOu don't necessarily have to take away the low post game but Yao thrives on variety of shots. Face up, High post, low Post. He scores well in china because

1) the competition is just lower

but most importantly of all

2) He's just got too many weapons to contain him. He's become predictable in the low post. Moving him around on screens and back and forth btw Low and High Post will utilize his skills greatly.

 

Add me to the petition.

 

Umm.. it's not just Europe. It's almost the rest of the world..
Learn the system or you'll see another Mars probe embarassment.

Oops. off topic

 

i cant say i want him to do it all the time but i admit i was pumping my fist when yao was hitting 22 footers with ease

 

That's a good point.

 

You're right. Some people think playing down low is really easy just because you're tall. Shawn Bradley would get broken over someone's knee if he got aggressive. Until Yao gets the strength up top, he won't be effective for many minutes down low.

 

I do agree that when he's not in the low post he takes less of a beating and is not as tired.

I don't believe that taking him out of the low post opens the lanes for Steve and Cat. With Yao out of the low post, teams play a zone. There's still someone (possibly 2 or 3 someones) to guard the paint. With Yao IN the low post, he draws a double-team and THAT opens the lanes for Steve & Cat better than Yao working a high post. Best ways for our team to create a mismatch on the offensive end are #1 Yao drawing a double team and #2 pick & roll.

 

Ummm....yeah. No kidding.


Here's a little more. Put Taylor and Cat to work on the two man game left. Set Yao, Steve and JJ in a triangle with Yao holding the high post. This set is sometimes called .... a "triangle" offense! Who'd of thunk it? This allows Yao to direct traffic and sets up passing lanes that get the ball to our scorers on cuts and picks.
You get eye candy ball and easy buckets. Yay.

 

I can't agree more. When it is needed, they will run high-post for Yao. Otherwise, just let him do the pratices of low post every game.

 

A lot of good points in this thread and responses.