Posted by Joe Freeman, The Oregonian April 17, 2009 13:35PM A lot of practice discussion centered on how the Blazers planned to guard Yao Ming and how they hoped to free Brandon Roy in his matchup against Ron Artest and Shane Battier. Much on these subjects will be covered in playoff preview material that will appear in Saturday editions of The Oregonian (or already has appeared online). But here is something to keep in mind regarding Yao: McMillan said the Blazers would mix and match their defensive schemes on the 7-foot-6 center depending on several factors. Needless to say, he wasn't overly eager to reveal all of his game plan, but he did mention that the Blazers would not start the game fronting Yao with LaMarcus Aldridge -- a tactic that worked with moderate success during the last meeting between the teams in April. The Blazers almost certainly will front Yao some of the time -- as others teams did successfully during the second half of the season -- but that makes the Blazers vulnerable in rebounding because it allows Yao to more easily box out his defender and corral misses. "We didn't get hurt on his post ups, (but) where we did get hurt was on his rebounding," McMillan said. "So part of guarding Yao is not just getting the ball out of his hands, but ... keeping him off the boards. (Aldridge) did a good job of denying him the ball, but then when the shot was taken, we got our center out and our power forward (trying to keep) him off the blocks. "I don't think there's one way (to guard Yao). I think he's good on that post. His conditioning has gotten a lot better than the past (and) he's playing more minutes and he's a really good passer. So when you have a guy like that who can score in the post, and pass the ball, giving him one look -- I don't think you can do that. So I think we'll mix up our looks on him depending on where he's at (on the floor). http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/04/blazers_practice_oden_a_gameti.html
all i can say is.. good luck portland. if you guys are not gonna front yao, be prepared to have him drop 30 on you guys every game.
Well, one thing is for sure, regardless of if they front him or not: the Rockets need to figure out a way to neutralize the effectiveness that fronting Yao has on, not just Yao's game, but the flow of the entire offense. The thing is, it's probably too late to devise a new and effective strategy against defenses that front Yao at this point in the season. Unless Adelman has an ace up his sleeve for battleing the fronting technique; it may come down to other players stepping up their offensive production and/or luck to beat teams that effectively front Yao...
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If adelman had anything up his sleeves on fronting Yao he would have used it in second half of Dallas game when it really really mattered! All Dallas did was front Yao on defense and keep Yao away from post so they can make layup after layup on offense. But obviously you can't front Yao throughout the game that will leave Yao open on one side for easy layup or dunk and plus it'll drain the defender fronting Yao throughout the game. I simply think they will start fronting Yao in the second half mostly 4th quarter or when it really matters.
Here is what McMillian should have said when asked. Nate: Well, we don't really have to do much eventually they will stop going to him and jack up threes. We'll make our runs then.
Totally agreed!! The coach still has no solution to the fronting of Yao If he had we would have seen some reaction from him in this 4th quarter of a game where there were so much at stakes for the rockets.It's up to the other players now to find other more effective plays when Portland will use this fronting tactics
That might be the dumbest thing I've ever heard, and considering that by all accounts Nate McMillan is a brilliant basketball mind, I'm fairly certain he just isn't tipping his hand. Not fronting Yao because it lets him get offensive rebounds? Give me a break. Sure, it significantly increases his chances of getting them and his positioning but that doesn't necessarily guarantee he will capitalize given how poor a rebounder he is. Combine this with the fact that if they don't front, he will most likely average 30 a game and destroy Pryz/Oden, I'm not buying it. It's more likely that Aldridge is the only guy they have capable of doing it and he can't openly admit that it would burn his energy through 3 quarters at the risk of sounding too defeatist. They'll front Yao when it matters.
JVG always say crazy things. I will worry about Yao's strength(体力），keep Yao fresh, that is the key point of this serie.
He will be fresh. There is no back to back in the playoffs. The players got to execute. If they don't... it is over. Very simple.
Yes nobody can guard Yao one on one and if they do they will get burned by it. On the other hand am amazed how easily Yao can be taken out of the game by fronting him ...and they still have got no answer for it.Be sure Portland will use a lot of this fronting defense against us. But still I think the Rockets will win this series easily,they are no match to us
What Dallas did for the most part was not only front Yao but the had someone shadow him from behind at all times, and when Brandon Bass came in he played below the waist and kept on leaning on Yao's legs which made it hard for him to move, considering he's pretty immobile as it is.
McMillan should watch how the Lakers collapsed on Yao this season and see if he could replicate it. But I'm not sure if they have the bigs to keep Yao from getting in position, like the Lakers did with Gasol.
He does bring up what several other posters have that Yao has not been all that effective against Pryzbilla. I think Yao's shooting percentage against Portland is 41% this season. I suspect McMillan will do exactly as he laid out and play Yao one on one until late in the game and then will front to disrupt the offense in the 4th. It's a good formula. Our guys need to step up, take the ball to hole and hit shots.
Yao did struggle against them for no reason he missed a lot of open looks.....it was weird.... I think Yao will play a lot better. DD
He missed those shots because Pryzbilla pushed Yao further out from the basket on the catch and generally gave him a little bump when he went into his post move. These are little things, but they do cause a lot more misses. Okur does the same thing.
