Shaq was just as dominant after the rule change allowing zone defense back in 2001. The Lakers went on to get their ring in 2002. and Shaq remained very dominant through 2004 The other changes, like the defensive 3 second, has nothing to do with the performance of Centers. And you are saying Yao would be as dominant as Shaq if not for zone defense? I am speechless. Henceforth I won't argue with you anymore, kid. btw, it's ridiculous that you have a fixation on the idea that I am some previous poster. I am a newbie here and I come from China.
I also agree that Yao should spend more time camping in the low post. But I tend to see that as a reflection that he hasn't "got it" yet. Somehow, Yao has always appeared to me to be quite a mechanical/dogmatic learner, a hard worker but not very quick or flexible either in his movement or in his mind. So I see Yao often went from one extreme to another. He did a lot of the baseline turn to go to the basket at the beginning of last season, then relied almost exclusively on fade-away jumpers by the end of the season. This season he started out doing all the hooks. I've heard Yao has a very analytical build of mind and tend to over-analyze things. It does seem, then, many times he is playing by the books. It might just be my feeling, but the dogmatic approach explains why he tends to go to extremes and that might be why we are seeing him spending a lot of time now on the high post as well.
Hey Totti_C: This is T-Mac. I am just using dram1's computer to respond to your advice. My response? Thank you so much!....I never noticed that when I shoot more often away from the basket, that my shooting % suffers. I will attempt to dunk on every FGA next game! Thanks again for your keen eye! *T-Mac*
Are you kidding!? Give the guy a break. Just one "not too bad" shooting night and you're already whining about him taking too many shots? T-Mac's shooting percentage in this game was better compared to most games last season. He was shooting above 50% the first three games of the season so it was not a bad idea to have him take that many shots. It's not like he's not attacking the basket. He shot 10-11 (90.9%) FTs because of that. He just missed some lay-ups that's all. If he had made those lay-ups, his FG% would have been close to 50%. I'd rather have T-Mac continue what he's doing early this season while the offense isn't established yet than have the other guys turn the ball over, have their shots blocked or lay bricks themselves. I know it's a tough loss because it was against Dallas and people overreact but to label T-Mac a ballhog because of one loss is unfair. He's probably the most unselfish superstar who is not a point guard (or point forward ).
This is ridiculous. If you want Yao to shoot more, tell him to attack the double teams instead of passing out. That's not a knock on Yao but that's the only way . T-Mac does pass, and he does share the ball, but if Yao is not going to aggressively attack double teams, WHO THE F*CK ELSE YOU WANT ON THIS TEAM SHOOTING 31 SHOTS AND CONTROLLING THE BALL? When Yao attacked the double team, he got a savage dunk and a free throw. When he passes out, T-Mac has to make something of nothing and if he's not on fire, which *unbelievably* he might not be at the moment, he *could* miss the shot and he can't drive in because Yao is still there. And if you don't want T-Mac taking the shots, lets spread them over to Bonzi (1-7 last night) and Mike James (4-13 last night) or even Shane Battier (2-6 last night)... If Yao won't attack the double teams (it might be a good thing he's not always doing that because of foul trouble and turnovers) then someone else is going to HAVE to do the shooting. I agree Yao did not get the ball plenty times when he was open last night, but he does need to attack more if he wants the ball more. Give Yao the ball, let him shoot it. In this new system, he's struggling, but the team is not. You just have to hope he gets used to it sooner rather than later.
Thats what I've been saying: you gotta live with what our superstars do, since we live and die by them. Although now we have a bench and they simply did not game up. And I have to say Mike James's bad pass to Tmac was the start of the landslide
This is still why I maintain that we need someone else who can drive to the bucket instead of always shooting freaking jumpers. I think this was a game that Kirk Snyder could have played in. If Eddie Jones can still play, and in the game, then Kirk can too.
I said it before in the game thread: Anyone who thinks Tmac is any less of a chucker than Kobe is clearly delusional. Take off your homer glasses please. How many FGA's did he have early last season when he was supposedly deferring to Yao b/c he was hot? Unless when he said deferring he meant "I can't get a damn shot over the front rim." When Tmac dominates the ball and chucks as he has been for the games so far this season, he either wins it for us (UTAH), or shoots us right out of the game (DALLAS). Also, how often does Tmac pass the ball when it's not for the assist???! That should end the point forward debate right there.
I always wondered. . . if fouled on a shot attempt does that go on your Attempted shots Let's say a player only took one shot .. and missed and got fouled and sent to the line will his stat line say he was 0 - 0 for 2 pts? Rocket River
Wait...it's his killer instinct. Nvm, let's trade him for Kobe right? Or wait...he still got 8 assists. Others got shots, only Yao made his. But Yao also didn't make the best plays when he'd wait for the double team to come when he was on the block. Many things could have been done differently, just hope they make those changes starting tonight.
I think people are going a bit overboard over Yao "not getting enough shots" and playing at the top of the key. Yao played a great game last night, and he WAS posting up a lot. The problem? He was doubled almost every time. He HAD to pass the ball. Our shooters didn't make them pay for that, so the Mavs continued to do it... fundamental basketball there, folks. Oh, and he was nailing those long jumpers. The fact that he has an outside shot makes him, and the Rockets, so much better. And T-Mac took a lot of shots, but who else was in a groove? Someone else on this thread mentioned it already, but it seems like the team is just, more or less, riding T-Mac for the time being while everyone gets more accustomed to the offense. We've seen a little bit of it (Battier getting good position and scoring to start the game comes to mind), but the team clearly doesn't have it yet. And yet, despite the sub-par bench play (sans Luther), and the explosion from JT, the Rockets were neck and neck w/ the Mavs up until the last 4 minutes (at which point, nothing would fall for us). The season is young, and overall, the guys are playing well. 3-1, only losing to a team that last year won 67 games, is pretty good.
We played 4 games,how can you judge Yao or even Rick on that?! IT TOOKS SOME TIME TO ADAPT! for all players
Agree. Some of you guys just want results....only results. But you don't care we're a new team. Dallas is a top team and they have played for a long time. We NEED Time. Wait. I still think 3-1 is a great start.
It's just his style.....with his long wingspan and height, he does have the advantage of releasing his shoot right before his man with less chance of being blocked.....the sad thing is that, jump shoot from three feet away is always a less efficient way to score
Agree. And now we know we have 2 superstars in really good shapes. Tracy's been phenomenal and Yao got it.
