Seeing the game - Courtside analysis of the Rox

I have a new found appreciation for the NBA game. Courtesy of my wife's former employer, we were invited to attend the Portland game in the suite, which included the opportunity to watch courtside for 1 quarter (you rotate in and out from the suite). Anyways, it was awesome!!!! I had my feet on the hardwood. I was 5 feet from Tmac, Yao and others. I knew I should have brought my camera. AHHHHHHHHH.

Althought I was partially distracted by the awesomeness of the experience, I did watch the 2nd quarter in great detail. Here are some observations.

1. Generally, the game is incredibly physical and fast. Players can't so much as take a step without getting shoved or mauled. It was like watching the really talented people play above the rim at the Y, but times 1000. I dont think the physicality is Yao's problem, it's about pure speed.

2. John Barry is amazing: It's neat to see his court awareness on TV, but courtside, WOW. When he comes up with the ball, his eyes are darting everywhere. Without the ball, he is non-stop motion. At all times, he is talking to his teammates, cut, here!, help side, help side. I saw why he is such a valuable teamate. He brings qualities that help to make the team greater than the sum of its parts.

3. Tmac: The blazers were talking to each other on defense, callign out picks, "right, right". "help side". Tmac didn't ahve a great night, but man, the entire defense is so aware of his presence. Let there be no mistake, he makes the game easier for everyone.

4. Yao fights like hell, but is just not as quick as other NBA athletes. that 1/8th second that he loses in quickness to the ball, quickness to catch and shoot, to fight for position . . . It's very tough on him. It allows the defense to rotate, go for the strip, you name it. It's wrong to call Yao soft. The guy gets hammered and hammers back. The quickness/balance deficiency makes it seem like he is soft, like he is taking it instead of dishing it. JVG has to see the same thing. I think it's wise that he has moved the offense away from just plodding Yao down to the low block. That's a tough way for Yao to live. For Yao, it's about spacing and rhythm. Contrast Dikembe, who is incredibly agile for his size. it's hard to describe in words. Wish i had a camcorder .

5. Sura: I watched him rebound and here's the thing. He's a natural. When the ball is in the air, he is in motion, sliding half a step or across the whole court. He is barkley like in his ability to gage where the ball will go. He beats people to the ball based on that alone. He's adecent jumper, but that's totally secondary.

6. The power dancers. Their boobs are much bigger than I thought. I better not say more. (damn me for not bringing the camera.) It's been covered before, but some are pretty, many are not. But damn . . .

7. Our perimeter attack continues to improve. Tmac, Wesley, Sura, Barry, all are developing that sixth sense as to where their teammates are before they get there. Especially with barry, I saw several times where they went one direction for the express purpose of passing the ball to the spot they vacated, where a teammate would catch and pass again, for the open shot. These guys are able to see the movement of the defense before it moves. This means we are dictating play on the perimeter with our minds. I am reminded of Clutch city II and the current Spurs ball movement. I believe this is what coaches mean when they say someone "understands the game" or "is playing the game the right way". I am now more confident than ever that Francis will never understand.

8. the Rockets are very nice. I was able to say hi to Yao in mandarin (with a Jia Yo too). Sura, Howard and Barry were all very cordial and said hi when cheered by us.

9. during a free throw, I said at the top of my lungs, "Man, I knew Stoudamire was short, but dang!! I could have been in the league." He kinda grinned and shot me a look out of the corner of his eye. The guys that sit close have such an opportunity to heckle. I can't imagine how creative I could be if given more opportunity.

Alas, I'll probably never get to do that again, but the tix were $800 per ticket, face value.

 

To follow on Yao, it is footspeed (running speed) and lateral quickness (agility). The footspeed is less of a problem. He doens't get beat downcourt regularly. the lateral quickness comes in the smallest degrees.

- It's when he has his defender pinned behind him, but the defender is able to slide outside and tap the ball because yao is not agile enough to shift his body to the side the defender is reaching around (sounds p*rn like).

- It's when Yao's trying to rebound, but he's slower to get to the spot where the ball is going and thus has to jump while he's moving, rather than explode upward. He is thus weak in the air and doesn't do well hanging on to the ball. And, this inability to get his feet to the spot results in him reaching and fouling. Agility and lateral quickness are huge problems for him for rebounding.

- the contrast is Shaq. He dominates because he is huge AND AGILE. he gets to the spot and he is able to use his size to its maximum potential - go straight up, wide and strong as possible.

- again, people need to quit saying that Yao is soft. He isn't. He just isn't quick enough to get to his spots and thus sometimes winds up reaching, fouling, flailing, falling down. Easy to see the symptoms. Hard to diagnose the problem.

I don't know that I see an easy answer for this. there may not be one. Yao needs to be as good as he can be, but ultimately, I think TMAC may always be the first option and leader. I think the combination could still work for a championship.

 

I'm certain that there were some D's in the collection, but that's too big for my personal tastes, so I was sticking to the B+'s and C's. I think there's a mix of real v. augmented. right or wrong, I usually judge by the waist and hips. if the lady is skinny, it's unlikely that she's natural (unless it's wynona ryder, who I have always admired for her "work" in dracula"). It is hard to judge accurately b/c of the push up factor.