ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Grizzlies 11/5/2004

Not the great ones, the 2 handed set shot went out in the 50s.

It is not Yao's elbow, but his lack of balance that is causing the problems.

You use your arms to moderate your balance, and teams are causing him to be off balance a lot, and he is having to flail his arms to catch his balance, and it is hurting his ability to finish.

I did like the High Pick and roll that JVG got going last night with Yao and Tmac, more of that, get Yao moving, now if Yao could only catch the lob....


DD

 

Exactly. I was talking to people about the Rockets, and the raw talent on this team is unbelievable. This Rockets team is big, deep and talented. They are hanging in games on talent, you can see that they have no clue how to play together yet. The first part of the Memphis game was a snippet of what this team will be like. They were moving the ball like crazy, hitting shots, and destroying Memphis' message board. But they have to learn how to adjust offensively, they did later in the game. Once they get that down the Rockets will be a serious player in the league.

 

No doubt, and if Yao had a broken left hand he would be sitting, he has a slight left elbow strain.

The problem is not the elbow, it is that he is getting into foul trouble and it is causing him to play tenative.

Yao needs to learn when to challenge and when to get out of the way to save himself a foul.

This is his 3rd year, he should know that by now.

Also, this team is slow of foot, eveyrone except McGrady has a quickness disadvantage.

DD

 

nice win... i like how our role players did the small things to win.. Maurice Taylor- 7 rebounds in 20 minutes... Boki 4 assists in 15 minutes.. im liking this.. keep it up rockets =) Now all we need is our "franchise player" to step it up

 

Even the great ones need one arm to balance the ball and the other one to shoot it.

 

LOL. Yeah, well, at least he got the score HALF right...the Rox did score 89, too bad he overestimated the Grizzly's score by 24 pts.

 

Agreed, and a small strain should have minimal effect on the off hand and balancing the ball.

Quit making excuses, he has struggled, we can all see it.

Yao will adjust.

DD

 

The fact that Yao has stunk so far should be encouraging if anything. We've got 2 years of evidence showing he's a much better player than he has been these last three games. This approach with T-Mac handling the ball and opening up the floor is going to work wonders for Yao's game. He won't be stuck in the low block getting fronted all day and his midrange game will really shine. If only we can get him to stop missing dunks and 10 footers!

Do not worry. As long as T-Mac does his thing and looks for Yao when Yao's open, we're eventually going to be the best team in the league.

 

Yao needs his jumpshot to be much better to draw out the center from the paint area. Make the job easier for TMac. Even before his non-shooting elbow was messed up, he was bricking jumpshots like Cato was teaching him how to shoot.

 

In Los Angeles it was Shaq first then Kobe, I think for the Rockets to succeed it has to be Tmac first than Yao.

DD

 

Yep.

McGrady, gets most of the offensive load/playmaker
Yao, the anchor of the team; inside weapon; defensive deterrence

 

The problem is that it is not just a small strain. He has a torn ligament in his elbow and on top of that he has a very large bulky brace on his damn arm.

Don't be naive just because you are pissed about his production.

 

bullsht DD that a ligament tear in the elbow wouldn't affect a player's shooting accuracy.

He is playing horrible, but alot of it has to do with that bulky brace and his injury.

What I do like (in first two games, anyway) was the fact that he's rebounding. IF only he improves his stamina/ and stays out of foul trouble, @35-37 mpg he can get his 20-10. THis is all contingent on him playing a whole lot better and taking charge in the near future (see: next game)

 

Yao couldn't do much against the Pistons on offense but he did look aggressive while going for dunks and attempted a jumphook but I was very disappointed with him going for a soft shot instead of trying to dunk against the Grizzlies except on one occasion.
I think the ligament tear is affecting his shooting which should improve when he gets healthy.

 

JVG was on radio talking about Yao's injury and he said Yao's elbow should not hamper him and should not be an excuse, I think Yao said the same thing that it is an annoyance and nothing serious. JVG said he is just playing bad, but that he will come around. He also wants Yao to go strong to the hole instead of doing that p***y finger roll or layup that seems to take forever and allows opposing players to block his shot.

I don't want Yao to just come around, I want him to erupt. It is early in the season but by the end of the year if we don't see mammoth strides in his game, I think 17-20pts, 8-11 rebs is about the best we can expect from Yao in a respectable but not stellar NBA career.

 

I really think a lot of JVG says in the media is to push his players...to show there shouldn't be excuses...just basically challenging his players.....it's a bit of a mind game to me and if it works then more props to him....that's how i have seen every comment he has ever made.

 

I don't want to say, "I told you so." but.... um.... actually, I do want to say it:

I told you so.

 

Well said!