we cannot mess around with these teams. don't even think about restnig yao unless we have a HUGE lead and are protecting it well, or if yao's not being effective, which probably won't be the case. we need to make up for the bad losses to bad teams in the past by making sure we kill these teams. every game counts if we're gonna try to catch the spurs. hopefully the spurs drop one somewhere here, maybe tonight to cleveland. San antonio's next three is CLE @POR and @LAC, with a fourth @ DAL. i'm hoping they somehow lose 3 out of 4 w/o duncan and manu, if they're still hurting. we can make up good ground by winning our next three. Denver vs LAL, @IND @DET and vs POR. they could easily go 2-2, and possibly 1-3. we need to catch them with our three game winning streak and try to keep these teams off our backs. a win @ utah for us would be enormous and the 10th game of the winning streak =)
Yao retired early to the bench in garbage time and still played over 40 mins. If this was a close game he would have played a few more minutes. that's way too much for the big man.
We look like 2 different teams, depending if Yao is in or out. When he's in, we do a great job at a half court game. When he goes out, we do a great job running the fast break, turning our game into a full court game. It's a great way to confuse the defence and wear them down. I agree, watch Yao's minutes, and only play him more if our small lineup isnt working. If it is working, keep him out, give the other guys some PT. On another note, I had to miss the majority of last nights game because my girlfriend got some tickets to the symphony. I was so pissed I had to miss it!
If the rox can keep the defense they could defeat all the three teams. They should keep the momentum and continue the straight vicotry. Go rox!
just play the big guy his regular 36 minutes... ideally id like to see 32 to 34 min and some more minutes for the bench guys... cause the key to the playoffs wont be Yao... but how our bench guys do...
The schedule for next 2 weeks is simply brutal. 10 games in 15 days! 3 back to back. And the tougher opponents (Utah & Denver) will be playing us at the later part of the b2b games. Not to mention playing against Lakers and Spurs. Let's just stay humble and wish for the best.
It's a good thing Jefferson is injured, otherwise Yao would be slugging it out all night in Minnesota.
