With today's rules for guarding perimeter players, ie no hand checking, and allowing the offensive player to basically carry the ball it is impossible to stay in front of your man without some active bigs to close out on the PnR. Our perimeter D will look a whole lot better when there is no incentive to drive by them because there is a 7'6" center guarding the rim. It will force more mid range, and long range shots making our defense INSTANTLY better. Players got by Battier and Rafer last year at will too, even Tmac...but Yao was there....making up for their mistakes. AB and Martin will get that same treatment next year. It will happen....everyone just sit back and watch. DD
I think he will. Can anyone look up the Rocket's DRTG back in the Francis/Mobley era? Having a solid defensive big almost always results in better D.
I believe it will... Yao makes alot of our players better defenders, and this is how i see it: Battier, seem like his D isn't as good this year, it's because major part of his D is playing smart by redirecting opponent into Yao (the roadblock to the rim). But this year he had no body to redirect to, and it usually end up being a layup. I see the same apply to Trevor, even Martin, both are smart defenders but they need the great wall in the paint. Yao might not be the best one on one defender, but he makes the entire team defense better. With Yao in the middle, Houston slows the game down and dictates tempo. Without Yao, this will not be as feasible. Opening up the middle, opens up the entire court for opposing offenses. Yes, Houston is much worse defensively now, but they sure can get up and down the court and score a little bit, they are more charismatic and fun-to-watch....but a worse team nonetheless.
Well he's certainly not going to "cure" it, but don't you think players think twice before driving in against a guy his size?
um OUR backcourt will destroy ALL others.. I'll take the automatic 50 that our backcourt puts up every game and gladly bank on them outscoring the opponent backcourt. With yao in there cutting off penetration they won't look as bad as they have this year with a 6'6 rim protector. Yao + Hill + Scola + added Backup C (hopefully Camby or Greg Monroe) + Jeffries is very good defensive depth in the frontcourt
He puts us back into the top 10 easily. He's not an incredible shotblocker but his presence as that type of threat is all that counts. Don't forget all the rebounds he brings and more importantly the easy rebounds he boxes out for his teammates. Considering how improved our offense is/will be that should be good enough to contend. If Battier is still getting significant minutes, I'd even say top 5.
If Brooks/Martin and the other perimeter defenders don't stop the penetration or at least slow it down, Yao will be in foul trouble all game.
Yao will definitely help, but our D will never be top 5 again...the imprint of the JVG era is gone. You can see it in the way players close out...the mentality just isn't there anymore. If it will come back with Yao, it will also need to be led by guys like Battier and Hayes getting Martin, Chase, Brooks, and other new guys to buy into team defense and challenging every shot mentality.
Yao will help with the penetration - but we need more intensity from the other guys to tighten up on the perimeter. I just don't think Adelman will focus on that as much as his offense.
Yao will make us at least average on defense while he's on the floor, perhaps above average. It's not just our backcourt that is getting exposed, it's the entire perimeter. This suggests to me that our problem is interior defense, especially considering the quality of some of the perimeter defenders we've been running out there. The problem is, Yao will probably only be on the floor a maximum of 30 minutes per game. We need a backup center for when he is resting or in case he gets hurt again.
To me he will improve our defense, but if we allow dribble penetration and turn the ball over the way we have this season, he wont improve our D that much. Dribble penetration will inevitably get yao into foul trouble. Thats ok if we have a shot blocker backing him up. But transition points off of turnovers is something yao cant do anything about. We need to stop turning the ball over in the half court. Say what you will about mcgrady but he was able to control games with his ball handling and passing. He was a low turnover guy. Im not sure we have a player with the decision making and ball handling skills to run an offense without turning it over.
Totally disagree. There has been no hand checking since they outlawed it after Doc Rivers perfected it in 1994. This team has lost its identity as a defensive team. The players on the roster may be the same. But the philosophy isn't. And no slow footed, often hurt, 7'6" player will remedy that. Teams will draw Yao out from under the basket. And then, let the fun begin. The philosophy has evolved away from a defensive mindset....PERIOD.
If Yao plays with Ariza and Lowry, it could happen. With Scola/Martin/Brooks all in the lineup, even Dwight Howard can't cure Rocket's D. It will be inconsistent.
