I hope this thread doesn't get buried in all the playoff hoopla (Much deserved, of course). Anyway, here goes. Camby had another big night, and Yao got beat up in the chat so it got me to thinking. I didn't watch the game, but it seems like whenever Yao gets burned by the opposing center it is because, Yao leaves his man to cheat over or help on someone, so the opposing center gets a wide open shot. This seems to happen a lot. In the chat, when Yao is repeatedly bashed for giving up those open shots, I can't help but think where is JVG on this issue. JVG is supposed to be a defensive guru. If Yao cheating over and helping is part of the scheme, then where is the rotation over to Yao's man? Is Yao supposed to be able to double team someone then get back to his man quickly? If that's the case, then it doesn't seem to be working. Yao usually can't get back to his man quick enough. Yao has his limitations like any normal person much to the chagrin of the "Unrealistic Expectation Crowd" be they Yao fan or Yao basher. So this is one of Yao's limitations, getting back to his man after a double team. So what is JVG doing about all this? Part of a coach's job is to make adjustments when things aren't working out, not allow your franchise big man to be burned time and again. Where is the rotation helping Yao out? I mean he helps everyone else out. Why let Yao hang out to dry like this? I don't know. Maybe this is all part of Yao's learning process, and JVG is allowing Yao to take his lumps. The best rationale I can come up with this: "The only way to fully utilize Yao is to make him a terrific off-ball defender that controls the paint. This means that Yao has to gain the recognition and practice to know when and how to double team, and when to cheat over. And along the same lines he has to learn to anticipate when he needs to get back to his man. And you can only learn all of this by doing over it again and again in game situations." I suppose I would feel better if I heard some quotes from JVG discussing this issue. But it seems like nothing is being done (Camby was lighting Yao up like the Rockefeller Tree). And even if it IS just a case of giving Yao his trial and error, it still hurts the here and now of Yao's confidence and the team's ability to win games.
Certain mobile centers are always gonna give yao trouble. He doesn't really want to follow them out there and around... the same way shaq is hesitant to do that because they have more influence inside the painted area. So Yao will have trouble against the Cambys, the Drobnjaks, and the Wrights of the world. But yeah... I mean eventually JVG or Yao himself will make an adjustment. It's only his second season. I'm not sure he had to deal with this stuff in China.
Oh and the chat... or my limited impression of it... is crazy man. It's very manic... so don't be fooled.
Not to mention it wouldn't seem nearly as much like being "lit up" if Yao were to actually get even half the foul calls he deserves. The preferential treatment given to Carmelo tonight was absolutely ridiculous.
Well you're right about that. According to the chat, when Yao's shot isn't falling, he should be deported. And when it is falling, then he's God's gift to BOOM. Reading the chat is ultimate rollercoaster. Oh well, it's still the best place to follow Rockets games if you live outside Houston.
word. i actually think chat is really cool. i like talking to rockets fans. there aren't many here. the chat should be open to discussion in between games too, that'd be cool.
Man, yao was freaking gang tackled 2 or 3 times and nothing was called. No wonder he's tired b/c he's been fighting all year to get position downlow and the other teams are allowed to beat on him as much as they'd like without anything being called. Tonight though was over the edge ridiculous as concerned with the inequities in foul calls for and against yao. Hopefully in the playoffs he'll start getting some calls.
Our defensive gameplan is to basically make the big men beat us from the outside. I'm pretty sure Camby is not as good a shooter as he has shown in our last two games against him. Camby's jumpshots were the only thing really keeping the Nuggets in the game.
I think recent Yao's poor play is mainly because of Yao's lack of strength and stamina towards the end of the season. We all know that these are Yao's potential weaknesses in the NBA, but they were not so conspicuous in the middle of the season because he has only played 40-50 games. The efficiency of Yao obviously drops very much after playing 70+ games. Hopefully we can beat Utah on Saturday to clinch the 7th spot and then JVG may want to rest Yao in the last 2 games so that Rockets can stay competitive in the playoff.
Sometimes I wonder if have the posters on this site know the first thing about the game of basketball. Yao is not a mobile defender. If Camby is going to shoot 18 footers all night, Yao is going to give that to him as you'd want him to. Yao's job is to clog the paint as a deterrent to opposing drivers. Camby is either given the outside shot, or becomes someone else's man when he goes to the outside shot. Now if Yao starts getting schooled in the post, then the bashers can pile on. Defensively, Yao's job is to clog the middle and act as a help defender to the guards when their man gets by them.
Yao is fine on defense. If the opposing center is going to sit outside and take 18 foot jumpers all night long, you are probably going to win that match-up on most nights.
Cheap shot. I don't live in Houston or have LP, so therefore my posts mean less. Nice generalization you have there. And I don't just looked at the boxscore. I followed the game in chat, and a lot, I mean a whole lot of people that WERE watching the game voiced their displeasure repeatedly at Yao allowing those open shots. So what's their excuse then? And to Deuce Rings, allowing opposing centers open 18 footers is part of the game? Fair enough, but that doesn't change the fact that many centers in the league can make an open 18 footer. The Camby's the Doleacs and the Swifts of the world can make that shot and it is hurting the Rockets defense. And the rotation ISN'T coming over, which was the whole reason for my post in the first place. The defensive scheme seems to be allowing those open shots and I just wanted so discussion on why that is. And I openly admitted that I didn't watch the game and would like some imput from those people that did. So I see no reason for your rudeness. We're still people behind these web-based personas and I don't know why everything has to delve into negativity on this board.
what is the big deal? Everyone is allowed to have a night when he just cannot miss a shot, right? Camby had one of those nights, and Yao is worthless?
i have been telling you guys that yao's defense is average at best. he rarely gets in position--in front of his opponents-- to stop any players. it doesn't help that he has short arms and no hop.
