If memory serves correctly, Yao was suppose to have been a pretty good 3 point shooter in HS. However, at his height and with his efficiency, you really want him in the paint or midrange where his shooting skills make him near perfect efficiency. Yao is just a great shooter when he takes it in rhythm. It is when you force his shot that he puts up bricks.
JVG burried them for Yao's own development. Before JVG yao was a good post player, with many crafty post moves, but he was never a dominant force inside. He was not used to constantly banging for position, and when he can hit that shot from 15-18 feet, he doesn't have to. He was a good player, but by no means dominant. JVG forced him to battle inside, and it took him a couple of years to finally get used to that. That's when Yao finally became such a dominant force that practically cannot be stopped one-on-one in the low post once he posts up and have the ball in his hands. Had JVG not do that, Yao could still be a very good player, like Brad Miller in his prime, but he would in no way be the best center/low post player in the league as he is now.
That was the right thing to do without a doubt.Now that he has developed into a low post force,he needs to keep on getting better as a high post shooter ala Z over the off season because of all the fronting that he faces. This will not only make him more effective but help in extending his career as well. I'm not implying that he should abandon the low post by any means,that is and always needs to be his biggest strength.
It is true that Yao's shooting percentage will always be better at the low post than outside. The assumption is that since his low post shots are more efficient, you should never ask him to shoot outside. BUT, people forget that he and the whole team have to work extremely hard to get him the ball at the low post, risking turnovers or wasting the clock into hurried shots. If you take into account the lost of possessions because of unsuccessful entry passes, the outside open shot might not be less efficient than the low post shot. The only difference is that the low post game draw more fouls. And is the biggest reason why it is still the most important game for Yao.
The biggest difference between Yao under JVG and Yao under Adelman to me is turnovers. Yao's turnovers are way down under adelman and his shooting percentage is up. The one thing i dont like is that he isn't getting to the line as much, but I dont think that is a coaching thing. I'd say thats more of a consequence of facing fronting defenses almost every night.
I've noticed it, too, but he should not be looking for that shot. If he gets the ball out high, the shot clock is ticking down, and there are no good opportunities to pass, I am happy with him shooting this shot. It should never be the shot they run a play for, or a shot Yao should look for. He should continue his 5-10 feet hook/jump shots.
His right handed hook is unstoppable this year. He is increased his range on that shot to about 10 feet and it almost always goes in. Teams double him and force him baseline, but his shanghai shake is pretty nasty too off that left block. It really is a luxury to have a guy that can score down there on the block and also get to the line and make free throws. He is also a good passer out of double teams. Yao is such an efficient offensive player. He really has gotten better each year. I still think he's the best C in the league.
Yao under JVG: vs Utah, 18 FGA, 44% , 4.7TO, 3.9 PF per game. never passed the 1st round. labeled as soft, liability, the most unclutchest player. Yao under Adelman: can beat the Blazers by not even touching the ball. shooting 11.5 FGA, 55.6%, 1.57 TO, 3 PF in playoffs out of the first round as a leader. Yao should be glad that JVG is gone.
Yeah, this is why they should never look for the outside jumper. If it's the only thing available at the time, it's a huge luxury that he can knock it down, but there are a ton of better options with Yao. The deeper he is, the better.
I hope his mid-range game becomes more accurate and efficient next season. It's only sub-par at this point, but he's being forced to and Aaron Brooks and Yao are running pick n pops. We all know Aaron has no capability passing on a pick n roll.
