There was three plays that really stuck out to me on offense. 1. Yao on the left block, with the defender fronting on his left hip. He turned and started pointing to Artest and a spot on the floor. Either signaling "hey douchebag, move right here and I got my man, or hit me with a pass right here." Artest doesn't even think twice and swings it the other way. 2. Yao was being fronted on the left block when Battier swings the ball over to the right side. Yao keeps his defender behind him as he changes sides in the post. If AB would of just sent a pass into Yao as he changed sides, Yao would of had the ball about 7 feet out in the middle of the paint. Instead AB dribbles the clock away. 3. The play at the end of the half I think, where AB brings the ball up court and RA starts screaming for Landry to set the screen. Landry moves up top and AB waves him off. RA smacks his hands together in disgust like you would to a child and starts screaming at AB. AB still decides to run into the paint and gets bailed out with a fould call. For all this time I was one who fell in love with the idea that it was Yao just not working hard enough to get the space. I was so wrong. It really starts with AB, and Artest, and then RA. No more using Yao as a screener at the top. And stop using him as a decoy only.
What I gathered on this play was that Adelman wanted him and Landry to go sooner, since Portland had a foul to give. If you wait too long, they can foul you and you gotta take it out with little time left. Rookie mistake by Brooks for sure, but it has nothing to do with Yao. It was about the time on the clock, not this play or that play or Aaron going rogue. Thats why Adelman was upset.
I have been very critical of Adelman, but i think his game 3 adjustments have been superb. There were some cracks in the 4th Q, but i don't think it was coaching as much as inexperience on part of Von Wafer and Brooks.
Yeah, Wafer was 0 fer 4 with a turnover. I think some of his shots were allright, but he got into out of control mode and that cost the team some possessions.
Nice quote, dude. the Mcgrady-only-fans begin to celebrate the loss to the Blazers when Yao didn't get involved in the game, that's why they were the Mac-only-fans.
No way thats not what happened. You see RA rolling his hand screaming at Landry to get out there to set the pick. You see Landry roll out and get waved off by AB, then RA screams and smacks his hands together in disgust. It had nothing to do with how long (at least his disgust) but the fact that AB completely disreguarded the play to go into iso mode.
I loved that pick Shane was setting too. It seemed to work perfectly! Our way of destroying the fronting?
To be fair, there is no way that you are more certain than I am. We both saw the same things. I saw him rolling his hands as well and thats to get the play running quicker. Landry had already started to go back down. Aaron finally realized what Adelman was talking about and just crashed quick looking for that foul to give. They gave it, but Brooks got the shot up so was awarded free throws. Usually when you see a guy rolling his hands that means something along the lines of let's go or get moving. Kinda like a train does. I dont think its like a baseball coach giving signs. He threw his hands in disgust because he was having trouble conveying the issue to Brooks. I may be off, but Bull was talking about the foul to give and to get moving quickly.
This is one of the many reasons that AB at PG drives me absolutely bat-stuff crazy. He simply does not see the openings, and does not anticipate them developing. He is a shooter, and a good, even clutch one at that, but not really a PG. I know Adelman wants him in with Yao to provide spacing, because Lowry is not as good of an outside shooter, but AB won't get the damn ball where it needs to go, instead electing to dribble around. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the rub screens and different looks down low, and Yao has shown the ability to reverse and spin to the other side of the lane and re-establish post presence. I know he's wearing out Prissy and Oden, who have had horrible numbers all series long. But AB should look for those opportunities without aimlessly dribbling. Good point guards seem to have a 6th sense about these things, not staring down a player, but still getting him the ball when and where he needs it. AB is a pocket-sized shooting-guard, period.
what a cheap way to to take a jab at Brooks in an Adelman-praising thread.. Yao fan freaks say "great analysis", I say idiotic analysis, no offense of course.. what game have you been watching man? and if it is indeed the same game I'm watching, did you happen to have the Yao-colored-sunglasses on? because those can have serious adverse effects on one's ability to think.. there hasn't been A SINGLE position where Yao comfortably sealed off his man for the entrance pass to be easy.. AB has been nothing short of straight up MONEY in this series, without him, we wouldn't even be here.. but that's not the priority, the priority for y'all isn't winning, it is to have your BBF 7'6 countryman score as many points and get as much global exposure as possible to prove that the Chinese could indeed be great in sports.. but it's not tennis my friends, it's not tennis.. it is basketball, and it takes five. and if I'm on a team and I don't score a single point but I help my team win, I am more than happy.. Yao has been nothing but class, he's awesome, and he has sucked in the blazers defense for our guys to operate in addition to standing tall on the defensive end for us.. he doesn't need to drop 70 on the Blazers, he doesn't even need to drop a SINGLE POINT as long as we're winning, and that's Adelman's philosophy: "we take what they give us".. that's why Jeff Van Gundy has failed miserably the past 3 times we've been in the playoffs, because he ignores the opposing defense and stubbornly sticks to one play, "beat it to Yao".. Adelman on the other hand, sees what's available, and makes sure we take the best available shots.. he doesn't go out of his way to "open up" Yao Ming, if Yao is there, and there isn't a better shot, you give it to him.. if he's covered, Luis and Carl have the midrange down.. if they're covered, AB can penetrate and dish out, Battier could post up his smaller man, Lowry and Luis could run a PnR.. that's what basketball is about, strategy, not your favorite player scoring a bazillion points and proving that he is better than Bill Russell.. chances are, Yao will never be mentioned among the all time greats if he doesn't actually WIN in the post season.. and if we follow your advice, kick Brooks off the team and beat the ball to Yao every time down the court, well, the chances of this "winning" we talk about aren't very promising.. and the chances of him having a double double in Turnovers and shots blocked are very high..
First of all, I could care less about labels of "X player" fan only. I am a rockets fan you dweeb. I want success from all players, not just one. With that said: I have absolutely no idea what game you are watching, but short of a nice span in one game, AB has absolutely been poision to this offense. It has nothing to do with the number, or lack there of, points AB scores, but everything to do with not only making the wrong decisions over and over, but making piss poor decisions. Several times I watched Brooks get switched with Yao having someone like Blake on him, just to watch AB crash the lane and get stuffed. Then there was the play were the switch happened and Scola had Roy on him, deep on the right blocks. Not even an attempt to get him the ball. Or the few times AB would penetrate and instead of just shoveling off a pass to Yao, Artest, or Scola underneath, its throw up some wild mess or run it back out. Let me make it very clear to you. AB is NOT playing PG at all. He is Von Wafer without the size, and lack of ability to finish at the rim. Nuff said. As for once again that play we keep referring to. Adelman was WAIVING Landry over to set the screen, not rolling his hands to move the play along. Brooks waves him off, and RA blows his top at AB for refusing to run the play. I still have the game recorded rewatched it, and not only does RA give AB the "you freaking idiot" stare, AB knows it while he is shooting his FT's and you can see it all over his face.
Hak34 is right. All you blind AB defenders need to open your eyes. It's the PG's job to run the offense. AB is our starting PG, so he has to run the offense. Even I saw Scola with great position but Scola was ignored by AB.
And to further this thread, I would like to add: RA, great job of finding even more ways to free up Yao. I also saw that the players for the most part tried to let the play develop as Yao was finishing off his seal and putting themselves into better passing angles. Outside of AB completely blowing it time and time again, I think I saw one maybe two missed opportunities from the rest of the guys where Yao was open.
I can't believe that no one has started a thread mentioning Adelman's adjustment that ended up being a huge factor in the win He knew Roy was going to drive at the end so he put Chuck in knowing that Chuck would take the charge. And it worked. Yao stays in there is a chance Roy draws a foul Huge moment and a good adjustment by RA
Actually I would say it was a no brainer as they went small with Outlaw at the 4 and Aldridge at the 5. You maximize your defensive motion and switching capabilities if you take Yao out. But I am glad he did it!
it's "possession", not "position". it's "entry" pass, not "entrance" pass. and ab has been *money* in this series has gotta be a JOKE. (sorry, i stopped reading right there, so i can't offer more education to you.)
It sure felt that way... I was about to spontaneously combust in the Toyota Center...good thing I'm not a coach.
