[Video] Yao vs Lakers

The team really needs to make their 3s in this series. One thing I remember from the games is Kobe roaming on defense and leaving Artest or Battier because he could.

 

a lot of the double team came from baseline, which confused yao.

it is also hard to see when you have a 7 footer behind u.

 

Thanks Durv,

Lots of missed wide open opportunities in there.

DD

 

Yao is the key. We can keep these games competitive, we just need to get Yao touches in the 4th. We seem to fall apart whenever he doesn't.

 

Thanks, durvasa!

I think a couple of keys to the series will be Battier's willingness to shoot the ball when he's open. That will keep Kobe home on defense and not let him sit in Yao's lap when the ball goes into the post. Also, Yao has to be VERY careful when he puts the ball on the floor against the Lakers. From the clips, they like to play straight up when he catches in the post, but as soon as he puts the ball on the floor to make a move, the double (and triple) team comes. Yao is especially prone to a defender coming from his blindside (Bryant or Fisher).

I think in this series, Yao needs to be more decisive in his moves - get the ball and do something with it - pass or shoot. The more he dribbles and tries to back down Gasol or Bynum, the more TO prone he will be.

The coaches should look to use Kobe's aggressiveness on defense against him. Either run curls and cuts against him or keep him isolated away from the ball side. I think this will work against Kobe's instincts. If you curl Ron or Shane around a Yao post-up, Kobe might think he can pick off the entry pass once the curler vacates. Additionally, keeping Battier on the opposite corner from Yao will make it more of a gamble for Kobe to double from the blindside because Battier will be wide open on defense and the rotations won't be able to cover all the shooters.

 

A couple of things from the video:

1) Gasol seems to pull the chair out from Yao all the time. Yao really needs to do some intel on the Lakers' bigs, and watch tapes of these previous four games. Against Gasol, he needs to move forward a step or so to catch the ball, so Gasol can't move back.

2) Like another poster said, we really, REALLY need to make three point shots. If Yao gets doubled, Battier and Artest need to be confident enough to take that three.

3) I don't know if there's any communication going on out there in the court! When Yao gets the ball, and looks over towards the top of the key, Bryant usually leaves his man to try and strip the ball; not double teaming Yao, but trying to STRIP the ball. There needs to be so much more communication in this series.

So basically:

1) Yao needs to do his research on the Lakers' bigs. That includes third string seven footers like Mbenga too.

2) Those 3 bombs have to fall!

3) Communcation, communication, and a bit ore communication is necessary.


By the way, has Yao played against Bynum at all this year?

 

we need hit open 3's.

 

Very nice clips. Thank you.

gasol pulls the chair on Yao numerous times in a game. Why dont Yao do that to every single fronter?

Pull chair-> fronter falls down -> catch and shoot

 

Mbenga really was showing some crazy fronting~

Lakers' defense is very active and includes lots of rotating to double team and recover; if we can do some more reposts and take care of the ball instead of throwing into those wild defenders, we might have a chance~

go rox

 

If kobe isnt going to bother guarding shane, its going to be a quick series. If he gets to sink in yao's lap everytime and not respect shane as a offensive player, its a sweep. Its really not about making 3's as much as it is dribble penetrating.

 

Also Yao needs to convert all of those point blank shots he is missing.

 

can u explain that? Shane got alot of good looks from three in those clips. To me he has to knock down that shot when Bryant is playing off of him. I dont see how its even possible for Battier to penetrate when Bryant is already in the paint with Yao and Yao's defender.

 

Well, to me, it seems that Yao is playing with a drive and a passion that if he is going to be guarded straight up, he's going to hit the shot much more often than not. Of course, with that being said, Yao will not see many games where he will be guarded straight up. Perhaps maybe the Lakers will make the same fatal mistake as the Blazers and leave Yao one-on-one for the first game? That would be my dream.

Will they go with fronting or with a double team? They seemed to favor the double team during the regular season, and I'd expect more of the same tomorrow. If, and that is a big if, our guys can hit the open three, LA could change quickly to fronting Yao. When this happens, Pau is bound to get a bunch of fouls, and we'll see increased Bynum/Mbenga play (think Oden/Frye... a good thing). Also, Pau is a very potent offensive threat, and getting him out of the game would be very nice.

Of course, as Charles Barkley once said, "You don't live and die by the three. You only die." We can't sit back and hope we make our shots, becoming a perimeter team like Portland. One thing we all saw in Game 6 was Ron Ron actually taking the ball to the basket, rather than dribbling around for indeterminate lengths of time and taking an off-balance jump shot. When Ron drove, he had 27 points, and it opened up the offense. Aaron needs to continue to drive and dish and play with swagger, and Lowry needs to push the issue.

Hopefully, all these things will fall into place, and we can make this into an exciting series. Imagine all the bandwagon fans that would hop on if we pulled this one out!

 

Battier wasn't draining his 3's... Artest was not playing team basketball... so its different now.

 

no.....KOBE is the key. Don't kid yourself. He will go off for at least 30 every game. you can count on that.

This series will solidify him as the league MVP

 

Get over it. Lakers run around doubling Yao, Rockets need to show patience and repost. Also, instead hosting threes need to drive to the rim and get agressive instead taking too many outside shots.

Kobe can get 30 but I doubt he will average 30.

 

As long as Kobe scores thirty, and we shut down the rest of the time I'll be happy.

 

Fixed.