If Yao's defender is fronting him in the high post, one of the wing players simply needs to cut hard to the basket since there will be no 'big' on defense to stop them from getting to the basket. As the defense rotates, either Yao's man will drop down to cover leaving Yao open for the 15 footer. As the rest of the defense rotates, we have Mac or Battier open to shoot or drive, that is if one of them didn't already score a layup or dunk from the initial cut. My point is that just because Yao is fronted, there are other options. There is no need to force feed him the ball and risk a turnover or a bad Francis entry pass. Once that backcutter scores 2 or 3 baskets, they'll quit fronting Yao so much because it leaves the backside wide open. If they insist on doubling Yao off the ball, we'll have open jumpers or cuts to the basket. Contrary to last year when JVG would force feed the ball to Yao no matter the cost, resulting in the plodding garbage of an offense that we all suffered through last year.
Be careful, blazer_ben will jump out from nowhere to say that you a YOF, that you are a r****d, that you are a douchebag, that you only care about Yao's stats and, most important, that you try to blame Yao's off night on Scola. And of course he will yell at you with his all intimidating capital letters. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=3184460&postcount=167
Some of ya'all need to watch the game a little more closely. Swift was primarily at PF. Darko played 14 minutes at C and Aaron Brown played 39. If the opposing team fronts Yao and he's in the high post, the path to the basket is even further unobstructed. Then it becomes time to b**** about about what players drove to the basket and didn't get any assists.
I think the spacing was poor. To me Yao trying to catch at high post is as predictable as him catching at low post.
Why do you have to magnify a shortcoming and uses it to knock Yao? I can pretend to be a Laker's fan in the 1990's and say something like that about Shaq too. "I'm frustrated with this shortcoming of our supposed franchise player as well. At least you tried to frame your frustration in the form of a question about strategy. You are a better person than me. I would have just said whytf can't our franchise center hit a FT." Why the hate?
Both Swift and Darko have the long arms, Yao had many problems to catch and shot the ball, Plus that the coach is former the Suns assistant, the Suns know how to front Yao for years.
You say I'm magnifying it, I say I'm pointing it out in a thread that has everything to do with said shortcoming. Tomato, tomahto.
I know the guy that you are talking about is blazer_ben. But you should make yourself more clear next time. You said that after you quoted my post.
I think you still can see my poster, but the guy, blazer_ben can not see it, HaHa. . Next time I will make the thing clear.
I don't think fronting should be a big problem. If other players are playing well, especially since the Suns or GSW are not defensive heavyweights. Even though the rules favor, such an elementary defense, what kinda defense is that to double a player when he doesn't even have the ball? I never liked that rule....it should still be outlawed....it aids inferior teams with defense. I don't think you all should be worrying too much, lets be honest for all of bad games Yao has had against the GS, Memphis, and Phoenix. He has some downright unbelievable games against the same 3 teams, especially when he starts to get hot from the outside....one game he could be around 11 - 15 points and only 5 or 6 rebounds....another he could explode for 30 - 29 and have about 15 to 22 rebounds. With coach like Adelman and type of team we have now, I don't think front will work....for the reason...that another scorer or shooter is wide open.
The only person who I've EVER seen beating a double team off the ball in the way you described is Shaq. He's the only one who has the sheer strength and quickness to do it, and the refs were more than generous to him in many instances (i.e. Shaq elbows dude in the face = FOUL ON DUDE'S FACE). The other guys simply can't do it, and nobody is saying Yao > prime Shaq. Anyone who says that is crazy.
He'll also misspell half his words (most of which are 6 letter words a 10 year old knows how to spell) and proceed to get busted down to Rookie from Member.
I know..that's why I knew you were talking about him, not me. But...still...it's better to make it more clear next time...not everyone is as smart as I am...you know what I mean...
