First off... Yao is not the best player on this team, that would go to Brooks or Martin... SINCE THEY ARE PLAYING!!!!!! Trying to compare Yao to Kareem is just ludacris... Even in Yao's best days he was probably not as good or as mobile as Kareem when he was 40. In the later stages of Kareem's career he re-invented in his game and part of that was accepting that he was not the main focus of the team and it didn't help that he was surrounded by some GREAT PLAYERS!!!! Adleman's offense is totally different then what the Lakers ran and what the Rockets ran even a year ago. I think DD mention that Adleman stated that it takes about 3 years to fully understand his offense. When Adelman was in Portland he had Duckwort and Cooper at the Center Position... As big as Duckworth was he was very quick for a man his size.... Both of these guys could step out set picks and they were NOT the main focus on offense.. Which means they ran the court on the offensive and Defensive end. In Sacramento Adelman had Divac and again you have a center that is not your main focus, can pass, set picks and very mobile. Yao was not mobile before he got hurt so no way he will mobile when he comes back. Adelman's offense requires motion and that is going to hurt Yao and also the team... I will give you 2 players who struggled when they came back and were in a motion offense.. Chris Webber, struggled when he came back surgery and he looked bad, very bad within Sacramento's offense. Bill Walton, struggled with both Portland and LA Clippers motion offense... so he went to Boston where there were a lot of veterans and not as much movement AND HEWAS NOT THE MAIN FOCUS.... Now if Yao can come back and adjust his game and handle not being the main focus he may have a chance... But I feel it may be a limited chance... Barkley has stated this on TNT... It's for older guys to understand that they can't and aren't the same player they were 5 or 10 years ago. So if you don't re-invent your game you will not be able to make it. Yao will be 31 when he gets back and coming off a major surgery... Most big men start to fade around this time and that's without having a major surgery... Now as I stated before Yao is even worried about fitting in with this team and what his future holds for him.
He'll be 30, and he's a huge part of the Rockets' plans for next year, so it might not be a bad idea to get used to the idea now.
y the hell does Martin goes to the bench!@?#>!@#?!?#! if anything trevor and battier will be splitting minutes.
Kevins last three games: 33, 32(would have been 40 had he played the last quarter and a half), and 28. Trevor or Battier are headed to the bench. Im thinking there going to let Battier come off the bench, Trevor needs to develop. Bud's minutes are going to go down.
Yao's game is not based on his athletic ability. Age will not be too much a factor with this guy. As hard a worker as the guy is, he still can be a top 3 center in this league for several more years.
I am not worry at all at this point. What we need is a 7'6 right in the middle who can alter shots after shots. Who can draw double team nights in and out. Age shouldn't be a problem for him because athleticism was never part of his game. IF he returns with a HEALTHY body, i can see him average about 18ppg/10rb with around 4 ast with ease. He doesn't need to average 20+ anymore because AB/KMart will be taking a lot of WIDE OPEN 3's next season. Also, Luis Scola will be benefit by the return of Yao as well. Overall, i don't think age and athleticism will bother Yao that much. He just has to learn where KMart favorite spots are and dish the rock to the right spot.
Unless Yao lost a few inches of height from the foot surgery, I don't think he needs to completely "reinvent" his game. His shot is probably as reliable as before, and he never really relied on agility anyways.
Like I said... "Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it" Ask Portland and Sacramento
Not really surprising that we blew them out when they have guys like Rasho and Reggie Evans in their regular rotation Not to mention they play absolutely horrendous defense. Can't remember how many times they left AB open beyond the arc last night... to collapse on Chuck Hayes LOL
Its like others have said, a couple of games where AB and Martin score well, and all of a sudden we don't need Yao anymore because hes going to make us worse... you're ridiculous
If Yao failed to accommodate to the new offense system, the organization, I guess, will trade him away for other 7-footer with quickness, who is able to run RA's offense. And Bosh is the perfect guy. Take a look at Yao's Adjusted +/- ranking, you will find that yao is below average in offense, but far above average in defense. I mean Yao is a decent defensive player with extraordinary height. Maybe, the organization will use the same method as the Cavs'. The offense, with S. O'Neal on the court is different from the one without him. Cavs did it successfully in mixing two different offense.
Like I said... "Those who don't learn from the past are doomed to repeat it" Ask Portland and Sacramento
