Well...that's what happend when you let the other teams hang around. Both teams we played so far was hanging around and in jeapardy of losing....so we need Yao in there...doesn't matter about how much he played...winning is all matter and game situation will always dictate how much Yao will play.
Back this summer Yao told Chinese reporters that he is going to limit his practice minutes to keep stamina. That's a good sign.
We don't have a backup center and McGrady is no where near his best. I'm concerned with Yao's heavy minutes but we have no other choice for now.
there is no need for Yao to play this long. When you are tired you are much more likely to get injured because you become sloppy. Adelman had Yao in more 40+ minute games last year than ever in his career. He also played him 51 minutes in a regular season game, there is no excuse for this.
Definitly the Big Z Ilgauskas Plan for Yao - 28 to 30 minutes a game season average. Ilgauskas from '99 to '02 played 91 games COMBINED. Thats around 23 games a season. After his foot screws surgery and (slightly) lessening his minutes he's averaged around 77 games a season the past 6. But i'm sure he's had plenty nights where he's played 40+ when needed. I wouldnt worry about Yao.. Actually CREDIT goes to Yao. On a back to back, playing a very fast pace the 2nd game, you'd think Yao would be the least effective but he more than met the challenge.
I think Yao's minutes are fine. He does not look exhausted at all these past two games, in start contrast to many -30 minute games from the past years. I think the strategy of practicing less is working out well. When you're not tired, it's much less likely to get injured no matter how long you play.
i bet the coaching staff and morey are watching yao's minutes closely. this is a legit concern. but i think adelman did what he had to do in these 2 games. let's revisit after, say, 20 games.
exactly what i was thinking....specifically, would practicing less be enough? one thing i have to admit though is that Yao doesn't look as winded as before even though he is playing more minutes now as suppose to previous seasons.
yao's stamina/conditioning has been great for the past few yrs. that's not the problem. the problem is the injury last yr was due to excessive stress on his foot (over-playing). concidentally, that's the same yr he played his highest minutes (37+ mpg). he's played 38 and 41 mins the first 2 games.
I'm sure his stamina/conditioning has always been pretty much the same, he's just a hard worker. But it's pretty obvious he has never looked this fresh logging this many minutes, EVER. You can visibly see him huffing and puffing and bending over with sweat draining by late second quarter in the past. I don't think his conditioning has improved at all. It's just that he's so much fresher for game time.
for today's game, Yao should not play the second half of the third quarter and first half of the fourth quarter.
Absolutely bring back Deke, but Morey has hinted it won't be until later in the season. In addition bring in a young athletic shot blocking TALLER big (Rox have a ton of smallish bigs), trade Luther Head (1.9M) to the Nets for Sean Williams (1.5M). Houston might have to throw in a future 2nd, but the trade works for both teams. Nets need backcourt depth, especially an off the bench scorer/shooter. Nets are already stocked with bigs. Williams is currently behind both Boone & Brook (at 5) and Yi & Najera (at 4). Not to mention Stromile Swift is still on that team.
Rockets definitely need another 7 Footer Yao will probably play around the 30 minute mark against teams like the Thunder.
Adelman said they're curtailing his training not his minutes. Yao reportedly does some kind of training daily with or without the team. Obviously those weight sessions after games and 2-4 hr training sessions he does with his personal trainer need to stop. Anyway as the franchise centre he needs to play whatever minutes is they need from him.
