The 5 man game is coming along real well. It seems after the movement, whoever is playing center catches the ball at the top of the key and has 2 main options. Either toss to the PG and run a screen and roll or throw into the post to the PF and let him make a quick move against one on one defense. Early in the season, the Rockets were running this with Cato catching up high, but it works a lot better with Ming. Most times, Yao will catch at the top of the key after the motion and give it off to the guard on the right side to go for the screen and roll. This seems to work better than an initial screen and roll b/c the middle of the defense is not stacked after the motion. It seems like the screen and roll run in this fashion results in Yao getting the feeds for easy scores we see when he finishes plays with dunks. The other interesting play on offense occurred a few times in the Hornets game. Yao would catch the ball at the top of the key and Glen Rice and Steve Francis would criss cross around him with Steve going to the right and Rice to the left. I didnt see the first half against Philly so not sure if they ran with Mobley criss crossing to the left of Yao. I couldnt help but think how effective it could be with Mobes b/c has the ability to take the handoff pass from Yao, take a few dribbles and stop on a dime for a high pct mid range shot or continue on to the rim. The third difference I have noticed is that the Rockets have tried to make it easier for Yao to receive on the left block. It seems the idea has been to send an initial cutter in front of him before he receives the ball. Not exactly sure what this does, but somehow after that intial movement, he is able to get position and receive the ball in the post.
