Chron -Defense on Yao is more like mixed martial arts

Ref didn't need to play that race card.

 

Not just at the end of games. Unless a center is vital to the offense, he can feel free to play more aggressively against someone like O'Neal all game and accept the risk of fouling out, because O'Neal is more dangerous in the block than at the free throw line.

 

Oden is well on his way to not only being a bust but also a goon. I guess it's frustrating to have all the expectations and not live up to them but he is quickly becoming a thug and a cheap shot artist.

I love the way Yao played last night. If they were pushing and grabbing he would just let the ball swing to the other side, repost and have the ball swung back to him. We already know the refs won't let him use his strength without whistling him for an offensive foul so last night's strategy might be a long term solution to the physical defense used against him.

And the comment from Rick about them holding his arm while he goes for offensive rebounds is spot on. Every time I saw him try to grab an offensive rebound it was with one arm because the other was in an elbow lock applied by Pryzbilla or Olden.

 

I think basically it measn Yao should try to sell the foul? So it makes it more obvious for the ref to notice them and call them?

 

But Shaq was allowed to abuse his defenders, with his sholders, with a lot of moves/bumpings that are sure to be offensive fouls if those were from Yao.

But even today, if Shaq does the same thing, he would be called for a lot of offensive fouls. Shaq got a lot of benefits from that during his champaignship years.

 

Even with that considered, do you really think Dwight Howard gets fouled TWICE as often as Yao? At least Howard can create some space for himself. Yao has to make shots with two guys hanging from his arms like monkeys.