I like what I see with Padgett... perfect fit for us. As much as I loved Rudy, I don't remember him going out and finding guys like this too often. Also, getting Alton Ford is great! He's cheap and a big body. Don't forget, he was Texas' High School Player of the year just 3 years ago. With Ewing to help his inside game... not to mention scrimaging with Yao and the ever physical Cato, he might blossom with the right opportunity. Plus he should feel right at home, being he's from Houston. Also, he would just be a senior at UH right now, so give him another year or two to prove himself.
Yes... I do agree its his fault for not getting position... I was just trying to dispel the myth that "Yao wasn't shooting." I always used to take passing the ball into the post for granted, watching Hakeem and Barkley get great position and seal their man off...you don't realize how complicated it is till the other team plays against it, and the post-up guy doesn't adjust. Yao's probably afraid to get physical to get around the fronting defense (the defense has flopped several times this season, and he gets the foul), but often Yao has position... then the player is able to get in front of him. Its that initial position that Yao needs to learn how to sustain... somebody needs to work on that w/ him to defeat the fronts.
This is some of the ugliest bball i've seen in a long long time...and I stayed up until 2:30 am to see it...
seven assists the entire half... that's not good. dallas has 22 at the half. but at least the rockets are winning
Yeah. Centers are not supposed to have to take a 19 feet jump shot. He has something to learn, or otherwise wait until the referees start giving preferential treatments to him regarding the fouls.
What you guys are talking about regarding Yao getting more physical to get position is right on. Teams are picking up that Yao can be shut down if front him. Isn't Ewing supposed to be helping Yao learn how to seal his man off when this happens? Other than that gripe it's good to see the Rockets leading. Mobley and Francis are doing great but we will be in trouble if they cool off and can't get a post game going.
Incidentally, the Rox are shooting 45% as a team, and 100% from the FT line (9-9). Cant' see the game; can't tell how "sloppy" both teams are playing. Per: Gene Peterson
The Mobes and Franchis Show is alive and well.Yao Ming is not getting the ball because the opposing Team knows to play a double team on Yao Ming,the Guards wont attempt the difficult pass as they are such poor passers, especially into the Center and they have ideas of their own game in their head as their primary option.This is not the indide outside Game its the Rudy/Francis Guard Oriented Game.I dont like it but I hope we get the 'W'
Yao can't seal off 2 and 3 players at a time. Our other players were taking the shot when they were open, and missed through the first quarter. Yao had position a few times and the passer didn't even pass the ball. Granted, Yao can improve, but it seems to me that unless Yao is in PERFECT position, the guards and forwards are afraid to pass the ball. I saw Yao fending off his man a few times, held his arm out away from him, and if a good pass was made, Yao would have the ball, and an open shot away from the defender. A lot of this post entry at the moment, is the fact that Yao has 2 and 3 defensive players camped around him.
Here's an option I wish JVG would try regarding the front defense of Yao. Spread the court... clear the paint... let Yao post up (where they will front), and set it up for the lob. Now, they will probably have the PF staitioned under the basket ready to intercept... that's why you have Padgett as your PF, and if his man lays off him, you swing it around... and you have a wide-open shot. If they're not going to double with the PF, Yao should be able to dunk over anybody else smaller. If they're not going to double team at all, the only 'skill' that will be involved is throwing a good lob pass. That'll teach them not to front. (of course, this would probably be the offense if we DIDN'T have other great offensive options like Mobely and Francis... but it helps all of us who want to see Yao dominate ALL THE TIME).
Though starting badly, our stars all play well so far. Hopefully, JJ will do a better job too later, I know he will...
France. The game started at 2:30 am. Yao is just invisible. That's the most annoying thing. He's not able to get position on the offensive side of the court and he's not getting rebounds on the defensive side. Mobley and Cat got hot in the 2nd quarter, otherwise we'd be in big trouble. Thank goodness for those 2 guys.
Was the quarter over when you made that post? Yao played the whole first quarter which I think his a first for him this season and at that time he might have needed some rest so that he might be able to get position later in the game.
