[nba.com postgame interview] Yao himself admits he needs more touches

There is no consistent effort to get the ball to Yao last night (game 3), even though we win the game by just barely. You can argue that if the team wins it doesn't matter, actually it does matter because Portland and other team would figure out that you can just put two guys on Yao and Yao would not get the ball much from team mate. They want other guys on Rox to beat them. That being the case, our system becomes more predictable, so opposing game plan would be to shut down Yao.

Just watch what a difference in game 1 where Yao got the ball consistently, we blow them out and everybody's game become so much easier. In short, we need Yao to establish himself as a scoring thread, that creates much better result and spacing for the other Rockets.

Yesterday Yao was ignored multiple times, he's asking for the ball putting up both of his hands, and he did not get the ball when he got good inside position. Usually it was either a score or free throws.

We need consistent effort to find Yao, the reason is simple this team is built around him and getting him the ball makes everybody better.

In my opinion, letting the opposing team neutralized your best player is a very bad idea. I just can't imagine Rockets beating more experienced team playing this way. Such as the lakers. The last regular season game against Mav is a perfect example of how an experienced team could take advantage and sink you.

Don't get me wrong, I'm very happy about the win. As a fan and as a bball player myself, I can't help but worry if we don't get Yao the ball consistently, the opposing team have a much better chance to beat us.

 

We somehow won and Im very grateful for that. Well done to Shane! keep it up. I'm willing to move on with 2-1 and a home game to come.

Bottom line is what Yao said. He cannot just score 7 points and expect this team to get anywhere. Some of the players on the team are very low IQ or they dont want Yao to shine for some reason (why? god knows). Thats the only explanation I can come up with.

Review that tape and just remember, if you guys keep playing this way.. you will NEVER make it out of the first round, let alone win it.

 

It's not like we are blowing them out tonight. We barely survive, and if the game is 10 minutes longer, we could have lost.

I wonder if Rox lose tonight, what will you guys say?
Are you guys still going to post things like it's ok Yao doesn't get too much shot, we were very close anyway and had a chance to win?

 

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absolutely, sometimes i feel sorry for those self-claimed TRUE rox fans, it will definitely save them lots of brain cells if Yao chose to leave...

peace, finally...

 

There is a difference between passing and forcing the ball. Game 1 was a blowout because Portland allowed Yao to catch the ball one on one.

Games 2 and 3, Yao was fronted by his man at the Center position with the PF position sliding down on the lob side making a nice Yao sandwhich. Portland is giving up the wide open looks at the PF position and on Game 3, Landry and Scola were making them pay.

Games 2 and 3 were very close games and Portland is 1-1 using the Yao sandwhich. Until Portland gets blown out again, the blazers will not abandon this strategy so don't expect Yao's touches to increase in Game 4.

 

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oh well, how in the world it's so freaking hard for the haters here to have some kind common sense is simply beyond me.

 

Protect your star or you lose him
Yao has refused to re-sign with the rockets TWICE! If you think it is not a WARNING, you’re risking losing him next year. He is not young anymore, he said he want success, and maybe fame as well. Yet in the games, he got punished by refs, by opponent teams. He got wrapped, wrestled, grabbed, and all kinds of illegal defenses. If he initiated the contact a little hard, or raised his elbow a little higher (naturally since he is high), that’s an automatic foul! He stands there still, any no-name guy just bumps into him intentionally, and that’s a foul on him! You hate Cuban, yet he won’t let these to happen on his star players, even role players. Stand up NOW, to support your star! Collect some clips, send some complaints, to the newspaper and TV and media, to all depts of NBA and stern. If you got fined, that’s perfectly fine. He has done anything he could to help the organization, now it is the organization’s turn to do something for him. If you don’t stand up for your star, he will find another organization that will. Warning signs have been there, do something NOW, or just keep some of your pennies and lose your biggest treasure.

 

Even though Yao didn't score 30, Scolandry made them pay! That's how special and important Yao is, he makes the team better even without touching the ball!

 

Yao helps the team players make easy jump shots. (game2 FG% -50% and game3 FG% -46.4%)

 

i keep seeing this.

he wasn't doubled last night. at best, a guard would sag down (like Roy did quite a bit) to be closer to him....but it wasn't a true double and it certainly wasn't throwing 2 centers at him at once like we saw the other night.

most of the time it was oden pushing him around on the block keeping him from getting the ball. we can all whine about that being a foul, but we've also all seen it before in the playoffs.

yao is gonna have to win the battle for position at some point. he's created a situation where i think the team assumes he's not open....and they only have 24 seconds to work with.

 

Where to start...? Yes, I'm happy getting a win with only 7 points from Yao. I'm not thrilled about it though. I would certainly prefer to see Yao putting up the points. People who think Yao will lose his confidence due to this need to look at the other end of the court though. If Yao was getting down on himself his head wouldn't be in the game and his 13 rebounds and 2 blocks would be very hard to come by.

Now, thanks to a power outtage I only got to see the second half so my apologies if I missed anything that would change the facts I have. I did see Yao getting doubled from the weak side. Yao either has to make a move right away to get in front and seal off his man or he needs to push his man out so he has room to maneuver going after a lob pass. Of course someone actually has to throw a lob then.

On the topic of passing vs. forcing the ball: One thing I was getting frustrated with was that the Blazers would leave Yao standing alone outside the paint as the offense was setting up. Why not PASS the ball to him then to at least get the ball in his hands and see what he could do? We all know Yao doesn't need to be in the paint to score. If his man starts closing in he can try to make a move and/or pass back out. If his man doesn't close Yao's got the range to take an uncontested 15-18 ft shot with a good percentage.

I'm glad we're up 2-1 but right now I don't feel the team is doing everything it can.

 

I think you are confused. Our starting center is not this man:



What kind of "move" do you expect Yao to make off the low block? He can catch and shoot, he can wait for a teammate to come to him and give him the ball, or on occasion he can make a high-low pass. Did you mean we should look for him to shoot face up jumpers more often? I don't have a problem with that ... may be worth a try in the next game.

 

I think most fans here are content with passing the first round, and we can do that with 7pts and 13rebs from Yao. But we will probably be sweeped by the lakers if we play the same way.

 

I'd be surprised if the Lakers defend the Rockets as the Blazers have. Their strategy is to give Yao his looks in the first half, and then shut him down in the second.

 

If they want to front and double Yao all game, there's not much you can do but have your other players make them pay. Simple as that.

We're not going to be able to kick it in to Yao when he's commanding all the attention. That's why we need Scola/Landry/Battier/etc. to hit their shots. It punishes Portland. That's good basketball.

 

Lakers guard Yao differently. They play behind him with Bynum/Gasol then send Fisher/Kobe around his backside to strip him. I don't know how many times I threw my remote at my TV when Kobe would come around baseline and strip him easily.

 

No, I think you are confused. I'm not talking about getting him the ball on the block. That's what everyone else wants and is what portland is denying. Yao is big enough if he gets the ball early before the defense even sets on him and he makes a quick move he can take 1-2 steps and turn and get position and already HAVE the ball. Or yes, he can choose to shoot the face up jumper. Either way get the ball in his hands and make the defense react instead of trying to force it through their defense.

 

all the planets have to align for yao to get the ball when being fronted.

you can say he's open for a "brief" moment, yea if you have magic johnson throwing crispy and perfect passes. we don't have those players.

so unless yao can make himself a big target, it is what it is. do something about it.

 

Where exactly do you want Yao to receive the ball? If you're talking about him getting the ball 15 feet away from the basket (I thought that's what you meant), then I don't think he has many moves out there at all.

 

this offseason, developing a jumper from there would REALLY negate the fronting defense b/c no big man likes to go outside the paint.