Watching Shaq put up 45 points today at the age of 36, got me curious of what peoples opinion of how we are utilizing Yao this season. Are we getting all we can from Yao, and is this as good as he gets? Or is the system we're running with Rick not the best at getting 100% of Yao's abilities? I can't help but think that Yao could be averaging 25+ points again with similar efficiency if the offense was more Yao-oriented. BTW, this is not a discussion of whether the Rockets would be better with a high scoring Yao, versus what we have right now.
Yao could easily average 25 ppg in this system. Its on him to be more aggressive. He has shown the ability to put up big numbers constantly in this system. Shaq is still Shaq, way stronger than anyone in the league and with touches he will put up monster numbers.
I think Yao is a step slower than his most progressive season 06-07 prior to injury. This team is not better with that Yao but if Yao could catch a quick pass and flush it before the defense can react we are then using him to his full potential. We have Artest penetrating and a Battier doing what he did when he was a rook or during Duke. I mean really drive.. Yao can only learn to catch the ball in traffic, put back dunk it and such we would have him at another level.
I think Yao is playing up to his full potential, the guy is forcing double teams, scoring etc., I also think Rick is also using him to his full potential. Like everyone said, its up to Yao. I just hope Rick doesn't overplay Yao too much and something unfortunate happens to him.
Yao can get a lot of points if he wants too. But I think our offense is better if it's efficient with everyone in it. If everyone is included in the offense and it's a team offense, then we will have more success and more wins.
you want to use Yao to his full potential and this team... as a defensive juggernaut.... u walk or jog the ball down court... play the full 24 seconds... have Yao take on the doubles a little more... but then kick out and then swing the ball with quick passes... to the open man... nothing would irritate a basketball team of today... with the methodical old school... slow the ball half court game to the fullest...
Using Yao that way can be inefficient at times because he has a tendency to turn the ball over when we run exclusively through him. I like how Adelman mixes it up and gets the ball to Yao on the move or lets him hang around the basket for offensive rebounds too.
What Yao can improve is his turnovers. He should find a better way to catch the ball without turn it over. Also, he should find a better way to catch the ball when the defenders try to front him. Otherwise, I think he already did best he can. I don't mind how many scores he can get in a game. We have enough talent around him.
it's all about team. yao can score more points but it is way better to have everyone as a scoring threat than just one or two guys. it makes a team alot more dangerous. everyone has to sacrifice. the full potential of one player means reducing the potential of other players. yao is a team guy...he understands and that's why he doesn't complain. he knows that he'll need everyone playing at their best for the rockets to go where they want to go...
Raw point total is such a misleading stat. You can't compare points scored in the Phoenix system vs. points in our system. Also, Yao is scoring quite a bit once you factor in his low minutes per game numbers. So he's definitely productive when he's playing.
As long as everybody's determined to get the ball to Yao first he will get his 20-22 ppg, but Artest & Wafer have a tendency to score themselves and ignore Yao. Against Cleveland in the first quarter Artest tried to do way too much and Yao should've gotten a lot more touches, he could've easily had 35-40 pts so they need to a better job. If the stats say we're 23-2 when Yao scores 20 or more that's what the team needs to do. Yao however has to improve on reading the defense, taking advantage of his talent (he's better than 90% of the guys who're defending him), taking advantage of his size, ball handling and making decisions.
Yao can shoot well in the mid-range, but i never see that happen except when there're only 3 or 2 on the shot clock.
Yao doesn't need to score 30 pts to be effective. The rox are a defensive team, scoring 20 pts in this system is similar to scoring 30pts with the warriors. Yao needs to defend the paint, score efficiently, pass out of the double team, he should get around 15 shots a game, but there is no reason to force feed him.
Yao always play hard but sometime he didn't do well in the game or match with the teammates smoothly. If he could play more attention to the defense of the opponents he may do better!
This is a valid point. I honestly dont think Yao has been utilised to the max here nor to his efficiency. But its a team game and you go with whats working. Yao should ideally take 20+ shots on average. I believe he has to take that aggresiveness one notch higher. Sometimes he will kick it out even when he can draw a foul. Question lies where the shots are going to come from? When Yao is on the floor, we have to go for him much more frequently. Battier and Scola are pretty efficient. Artest, Brooks and Wafer can hit their 30% shots when Yao is resting. Im sure RA and Morey would love for Yao to take more shots too. It's partly on his teammates and partly on Yao himself. But the team is clicking so good it's only fine tuning thats needed. So I'd say Keep playing the way they are doing at the moment. It's like when Mac said if only he had Shaq or Duncan on his team when all he needed to do was open his eyes. Try and milk Yao while you can.
