As far as LA's strategy on containing Yao, I got a really bad feeling that they're going to take this to a nastier level...I got a feeling one of the Lakers irrelevant role players (one of the players LA can afford to lose to suspension) will try to accidentally bump into Yao's right knee...(if you look at the tape it definitely seems like what Kobe did was in fact deliberate) After seeing how the game was officiated (just look at what Sasha and KB24 did, and 4uc%ing NO call) I wouldn't be surprised if those LA fruits stoop to an even lower level.
I thought I heard Phil saying that they played Yao pretty good and would continue the same defense on him. I understand what he means by making Yao work harder.. but I doubt they will just front Yao.
I think Gasol does a good job defending Yao. Maybe having Gasol on Yao and Bynum on Scola is a better option for the Lakers.
Does fronting cause a major fatigue? If so then i don't think gasol wants to waste his energy on defense when he is needed on offense.
Indeed, OP you need to work on your reading. He didn't say anything about fronting and I brought up the same article in another thread. He's pretty much saying he's got to push Yao out of his sweet spot. I'm sure if he meant fronting him, he would have said Bynum's got to front him.
I believe the Portland series taught Yao how to better play the fronting D by not fighting for position right away; waiting until the ball swings around to his side to start rooting for his position down low. Also, Yao has been hitting that long jumper from the elbow which can curb some to the fronting from taking place.
If I were PJ I would just bench Bynum and have Gasol play the 5 and Yao, he's better at playing D on Yao than Bynum is. Have Odom play PF and guard Scola. Just bring in Bynum when Gasol is resting.
Well, Phil Jackson finally fronted Yao, but with Gasol. It was expected, but at least the Rockets are still scoring without Yao.
