Has Yao Ming attempted a face up jumper from the outside peremiter yet? I don't think he has. So why is every play that is set for Yao a post up with his back to the basket? When will Rudy mix it up and design plays that encourage Yao to face up and shoot from the outside peremiter? In the World games Yao seemed to consistently hit that outside shot. So whats the deal, why not mix it up and pull him away from the basket and have Yao pop some easy jumpers. Divac, Wallace, Webber, Duncan, all these guys face up out on the perimeter. We have to mix it up, every play can not be that same post up play down on the left side. Am I the only one waiting to see this? I hope not because the offense could really start to evolve when Yao gets the ball and a green light to shoot from the peremiter.
I dont think that people can be pleased. At first everyone was saying how Yao will be a 7'5" spot up shooter, and now we have him acclimated to the NBA post-up, and yall complain because he doenst shoot enough jumpers I think Yao is just fine, if they learn how to stop the Post, Well then we have to worry .
The only face up jumper from Yao this season is the one against Duncan. In the 3rd quarter, Francis passes the ball to Yao, who posts up Tim Duncan on the right side outside of the paint (opposite side of Yao's favorite spot on the left side). Yao immediately goes up for a fallaway jumper that hasn't been falling tonight like it normally does (see shots 1, 3, 5, 7, & 8) and BANG! Count it! Yao pumps his fist after breaking the dry spell from outside! And he did it in Tim Duncan's grill, who couldn't do anything but watch Yao's untouchable shot! The crowd is loving it! Yao is dominating. He's now 5 for 10 from the field. The Rockets have extended their lead to 42-33. After this play, Spurs analyst Mike Dunleavy says, "Boy, he really extends up. He's 7'6" already, and then when he extends, he's got such a soft touch. You really gotta do a good job of forcing him away from the basketball." "It makes so much sense to put the ball in his hands, with all his skills." Back to the point of the original post, I think Rudy T is intentionally asking Yao to focus on his post up game right now, because it was his weak point. Everybody knows Ming can shoot face up jumpers and there is no one can block it.
Texas Stoke, At this point in time, I think Rudy is really trying to concentrate on Yao's development in the low post. There are things he still need to work on. I think over time, youll see Yao start to take a couple of face up jumpers as well as a three pointer or two. Everything is still so new to Yao. Gotta work on one thing at a time. Baby steps.
Why do you insist on ruining a potentially good discussion with a lame ass Sofine, I want to see the offense evolve. We seem to be in a bit of a rut right now. I remember Hakeem opening up the offense with his abiltiy to hit that outside jumper. Yao can do the same. The Shanghi kid seems to have the abilitiy to make defenses pay from anywhere, not just the low block, just like the Dream. I want to see the offense progress. IMO having Yao face-up out high ala Webber is the next big wrinkle to add in the Rockets offense.
Im sorry you feel its lame, but as I said, its just that everyone on the board and around the league were saying that they wouldnt waiste the no. 1 pick on spot up shooter. Let the offense grow at its on pace! Its like a budded rose, you can force it open, and some of the petals will stay, but could have been is laying allover the ground. but if you let it bloom all on its on, its a thing of beauty! Let it come up on its on, and it will be something we can be proud of.
im an impatient basketball fan, im ready to add a lot of mulch. All Rudy has to say is 'you know what, this Yao on the low block every damn time is getting old, teams are starting to figure us out, lets mix it up, Yao take your ass out high, we'll swing the ball to you and if the defense sags off you, even by a hair, you pop that jumper with no hesitation, oooh man that will really open things up for us.' just how many springs does a fan have to wait for that simple ass play to bloom
I agree with Texas Stroke. It would be nice to see Yao have some plays run where he gets it in good position to make a face-up jumper. I wouldn't worry though. The offense is still evolving and I'm sure we'll be seeing it soon enough.
I completely agree. Rudy is an idiot, he's soft. Yao's pre-NBA scouting report shows he has nearly 3 point shooting range. To have him practice exclusively in the low post is stupid since his game becomes predictable. He has to bring the opposing center out by taking mid-range shots in order to exploit the low post game. I've read reports where they compared Yao to Novitzki's game. Let him shoot a few 3's while he's at it too!
I can see this in up coming battle with Shaq. Yao's post play is based on the mismatch Rudy and Co. see. While post play strengthen Yao's experience down low, it is also where Yao can launch high percentage shot. It is not say Rudy dosn' t want to take advantage of Yao's deadly face up middle range jump. To face Shaq in couple of weeks, I bet some of set plays for Yao will be away from the post. In order to win, we can not let Yao to bang with Shaq in the post all game long. I will say maybe 1/4 of set plays will be face-up jump. Especially, if Yao can hit them early on, Shaq have to step out of post. That is the way Rockets beat Laker.
I'd like to see Yao shoot more from the outside as well, as he is open a lot. There are many times when he is at the top of the key with the ball, looking to pass it, as does Cato, but if he's open, why not shoot a couple? Even after Yao sets a pick up high, which is very often, have him roll out, or stay put, drive to the basket, and dish it back out to Yao. Up to this point, he's following the ball, which is usually in Steve's hand, and trying to get the rebound. The problem is, the whole defense is following the ball as well, so nobody is open down low. Just imagine if Steve looks behind him and sees a 7.5 ft tower hangin back with nobody on him.
Good points. Pull out the opposing center, and look for cutters for easy passes and assists. I'm looking forward to it more and more.
I think this has to do with Yao not knowing the offense. Playing low-post basketball is very easy, and at this point in his development Yao needs all the easy he can get. If he were to get the ball at the elbow and face up he'd need to know where the cutters are coming from, he doesn't. He'd need to develop timing with everyone, he hasn't. Not because he can't, he hasn't had time yet. Forcing a new phase on him too soon will not produce the results we all want to see.
I bring up these points about Yao, Rudy, and the offense, not because I like Yao or dislike Rudy, thats not it at all. I bring up these points about how Yao can be utilized in diffrent ways to improve our team offense because I want to win more basketball games dammit. I hate to see trash like the Blazers and a less talented team like the Suns ahead of us in the standings. It disturbs me as a Rocket fan. I want to think of ways this team can improve. So when I see guys like Divac, Wallace, Webber, Duncan, and Lafrentz unhesitatingly taking outside jumpers and then see Yao pass them up because he has what looks like a design set play to abide by, I want to know what the damn deal is. Yao is a potentially better shooter than those guys! His touch is as good as it gets, so whats up. I could of swore Rudys team motto was "never pass up an open shot" So these are my questions? Does Rudy know Yao has the potential to be just as effective from the perimeter as he is from the low block? And if so, why is he not encouraging Yao to face up and shoot from the perimeter at times?
We have plenty of perimeter shooters, with Cat,Stevie,Eddie,and let alone G-money, we dont any more outside shooters. You cannot win in the league without that dominant inside presence. I dont mind Yao facing the basket now and then, but he demands the double-team down low and other teams must respect the 7-5 Wonda from East-unda. Rox World Champs in '05.
Yeah the Suns are really less talented than you guys. I wish we had such a great talent at PF like Eddie Griffin, an unselfish SG like Mobley, an unselfish PG like Francis and a core of players that are all between 20 and 25. Damn, Suns are really less talented , that is why they are ahead of the Rockets.
