This is what I said all summer. Posters dont like it when I call it months and years before it should happen. The rockets need yao way more on defense than offfense. Since his stamina is so limited,they need him to use it on rebounding,shotblocking,clogging the paint,and altering shots inside. They need Yao to do those things and any jumper,jump hook,or shanghi shake s just gravy on top. Against the hornets, everyone was so concerned and so giddy about him looking smooth on offense that they forgot how emeka pinned him time and time again because he's playing high. When you're not bending,its a sign of fatigue and lack of focus. Emeka is not suppose to cancel yao out offensively,but thats what happened. Yao needs to shut the paint down and pick the offense up later. Look,this isnt about Yao and his poor defense,this is about the entire team and their poor defense. I bet if they use yao more as a pop shooter at the free throw line,the defense and offfense will get alot better.
Under JVG we had two offensive plays: 1) Dump it to Yao 80 times a games 2) T-Mac pick and roll we can do neither of those obviously. we don't have a go to play that we execute down the stretch, which i think is a big reason why we always lose in the 4th.
In NOLA game if we just don't let smith yes that unknown guy to get some many wide open looks we win. They actually made their run with CP3 and most of the best players on the bench. And in warriors game we didn't have Yao and Adelaman decided not to play Hill our to best interior defenders, hope Adelman keep playing Hill, his is been playing really well for us. The big problem haven't been the paint we been pretty decent actually, but the defensive rotation and the over help. We are focusing to much in helping our perimeter players and the superstars of other teams and not closing quick enough the open man. Is ok to help and trap but you have to have a great defensive rotation not to get beat, we think that can be improve with a 8 1/2 man rotation and more practice and games playing together. Another thing we can improve is getting back on defense and rebounds. Playing Yao and Hill more will improve that and we need a little bit more hustle getting back on defense. It was a hard start with a team basically still in preseason mode, trying things out while playing teams that have start really hot. BTW the more the scouts see this teams with new coach and new group of player, the better the other teams can prepare. I don't think we new what to really to expect from Warrior or NOLA. I don't think the NBA scouts have enough info find holes on this teams yet. Good thing we been playing better than the other team most of the game but we haven't close it out. And most of the problems can be fix without changing personal.
24-4. undefeated Hornets and Lakers. Warriors and Spurs- 1 loss teams. both losses on b2b nights without Yao, or a full team for that matter. and a 2 loss Nuggets squad. I haven't even tuned in to any games besides the Lakers. we will turn it around tomorrow
Schedule's about to shift to be easier... and it's due time. Now if we lose to the Timberwolves, then I'll really begin to worry (though I'm pretty worried already, especially with the injuries). The team's good enough to bounce back.
Yep, schedule will get easier, we will get some wins and the GARM will be full of idiots saying....."Look, AB and KMart are out and we win"... Not recognizing anything abou the teams we are playing..... Sigh.... DD
