http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/jack_mccallum/news/2003/04/04/mailbag/ ... I'm not questioning the Rockets coaching staff, but wouldn't it pay some dividends to teach Yao Ming the right way to roll off a pick-and-roll? I keep seeing him set a big screen, then get lost in oblivion with his back to the ball. Also, what kind of system should the Rockets install to ensure that Yao will get the ball more often? Any 7-foot-5 player that can make a step-back fake, step under, off-glass shot against Shaq deserves the rock 75 percent of the time. Houston should trade Steve Francis back to the Grizzlies, along with a box of tissues to wipe his crybaby tears! --Justin, Alberta, Canada Uh, oh, it turns out Justin hasn't forgotten that Stevie once dissed the good folks of Canada, right? But I do think the "system" that would get the ball to Yao more would consist of replacing either Francis or Cuttino Mobley. Trust me: The R's ain't about to unload Stevie. Cuttino, however, could go. Also, keep this in mind, Justin: How many centers work that pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop successfully? It isn't easy. Over the years have you seen, say, Dikembe Mutombo run it effectively? The Nets center is one of the smartest guys in the league, but he can't do it. For that matter, do you see Shaq running a high pick-and-roll? It's about footwork, it's about making the shot, it's about committing your big man to coming out from under the basket. Having said that, I think Yao will be one of those big centers who learns how to do it. But it's going to take time. ...
Heh. He says Cuttino might be the one to go. But still, that won't make Yao learn how to play the pick and roll. He needs a good coach to teach him how.
THe 'Answer' is Moses Malone. He is the one to teach Yao Ming NBA footwork and positioning. The Rockets need to get off their seats and ensure that Yao Ming and Moses get together! Moses should go to China with Yao Ming!
Yao doesn't know how to pick and roll? What games have you been watching? Yao can be wide open mobes wont pass, Steve might pass about 20% of the time on a pick and roll situation. Yao, however has been guilty of dropping the ball on this play, which might be cured if they pass to him more consistently in this situation.
I don't agree with the questioner's assessment. I actually think he has it backwards. Yao rolls to the basket just fine. What he doesn't do well is set a solid screen. He often begins to roll before the guards defender has run into him, and thus, the defender easily avoids the pick. Still, more times than not, Yao's man switches so that the Rockets' guard is double teamed, so a quick, but difficult, lob or bounce pass should leave Yao wide open cutting to the basket. Our pick and roll sucks, but it's not exclusively Yao's or the guards' faults, but rather, a combination of both.
