Bill is saying run some offense where Yao is at the elbow....it is exactly what they should be running. Mix it up with the Post offense....shake it up a bit...it would stop all that annoying zoning from the weakside. DD
I've noticed also that Yao seems more comfortable facing the basket in the post. I wish he would do more of that. I noticed Duncan doing the same thing the other night and it is very effective againt double teams. If Yao is looking straight at what the defense is doing, it will keep them from doubling so fast and then he can either operate one-on-one or just shoot a jumper.
mogrod, Great point. Tim Duncan faces the basket on the wing and then shoots or drives, Yao would benefit from that as well. DD
The problem is Yao has no driving ability. If he faces all he can do is shoot it or maybe find a cutter.
bingo but even if he could Simmons can't lament him taking fadeaways "[because he's] 7-6!" - implying htat he should be closer - and then in the same breath advise him to go even further away. If that's what he's going to do then he might as well be 6-8. Hell just let Padgett do it then. He can shoot and drive a bit.
The way I read it, I think Simmons means that Tracy only plays with an all-around game (i.e. assists, rebounds, defense) when he's the focal point of the offense and is taking a lot of shots. I don't know if I agree with that. He's gotten guys some good looks but sometimes the shots just don't fall. But I will say that he seems to play much better when he has the ball in his hands. With his midrange game and "catch and shoot" ability, I was sort of hoping that he would move more without the ball and try to get to open spaces. And regarding Yao, the problems with his post up game are when he gets denied the ball, and if he does get the ball, when he waits too long to make his move, giving the defense time to double him or a guard to sneak in from behind. When Yao can get the ball in the post, and he makes his move right away he's been virtually unstoppable. His jump-hook has improved this year, and he's using the glass well when he's got an angle on short jumpers. For me a perfect world would have Yao alternating between the high and low post. Start out on the block because it's still the most high percentage area for a big man. If they are really denying him the ball, then run him to the high post where he can hit cutters or hand off to T-Mac so he can do the step-back jumper that he likes. And then when the defense loosens up a bit, fake a pass to Yao in the high post and then have him dive into the lowpost. I don't see the point in trying to force-feed Yao if it isn't working. It just bogs down the offense and causes turnovers. Instead, why not go away from the pressure and give the opponents a different look, so they aren't just zeroing in on one strategy.
I think the issue about fadeaways is that they completely take you out of rebounding position because you are, basically, stumbling backwards away from your own goal and have no chance to gather yourself in time to go after an offensive rebound. A 15 foot jumper allows you to pursue offensive rebounds.
Here's an idea, have the 300+ lb center stop getting pushed 15' away from the basket by players 2/3 his size. Yao needs to plant himself on the low block and make the other team foul him if they want to get him out of there. Lower his center of gravity, broaden his base, hell, have him crawl to his spot, just put him in the block and you should either be able to get him the ball or take 2 defenders out of the play, giving the Rockets an open shot. After he learns how to get position, then he can learn how not to get the ball stripped by guards. He needs to build the strength of his hands and arms so he can hold onto the ball even if it gets slapped. He needs to move it around a bit as well so the slapping guards might foul him instead. Third, Yao needs to recognize when he is getting jobbed by the refs and just starting ducking his shoulder into his defender every play when it starts happening. Dare the officials to foul him out doing a move they let Shaq get away with every time. He isn't going to be effective when he is in foul trouble all night anyway, so either force them to change their calls, or expose them and let someone else who is not getting jobbed take over.
A 12' fadeaway shot is harder than a 15' straight up jumper. So Simmons' suggestion makes sense. (I'm not so sure about the other parts of the article.) I've been advocating using Yao more at the high post since his rookie year. I know he needs to establish position down low. But mix it up. Have some varieties.
The problem with Yao is his inconsistency. One night he looks like the next Tim Duncan, the next he looks like he doesn't even belong in the NBA. In his third season, this should NOT be happening!!! The article makes greats points on Yao and how his passing skills aren't being utilized at all, in fact since JVG has arrived he has not used that skill. I remember his rookie season, he wowed us with amazing creative passes that made your jaw drop, now he gets flustered and turns the ball over. Just like Steve said last season, everyone is looking over their shoulders and worried about every minute thing they do...JVG needs to ease up and allow his players to express themselves on the court with their strenghts, not try to grind it out and level the playing field. There's no reason why the Rockets who have T-Mac, perhaps the best scorer in the league, should not be able to get a shot off or let the clock run down to 4-5 seconds against the CBA New ORleans team!!!!
Listen up people. Yao will never be Shaq. He's more like an in between Shaq and Miller becauese Yao has some good post moves as well as nice touches from the outside. Guess what, Shaq plays exclusively in the post, and Miller almost exclusively near the elbow and beyond. Don't you think it's only nature for Yao to play in both positions and simpily "mix things up". A wide open 12 footers is almost always better than a fadeaway or jumphook in the low post, unless your name is Shaq, who has no jumpshots to speak of. Yao can play facing up. He can drive to the basket only if the opportunity is there. Positioning near the elbow gives Yao the opportunities to direct the traffic, to preserve his stamina, setting up picks, taking open shots, and believe or not, rolling to the basket for offensive rebounds. The irony here is that even the most adamant advocates never said Yao should play exclusively in the high post, but the naysayers believe Yao should be "CEMENTED" in the low post at all costs.
Oh, I almost forgot to mention that it will also open up the games for T-Mac. I'm sure that will please many naysayers of Yao in this BBS.
Hey, those of you laying blame on Van Gundy's system, I hear you. Lord knows he's made it impossible for me to defend him this year. There are definitely things he could do to make the games easier to watch. But the majority of the blame lies on Yao. Why would you want to turn him into a Bill Waltonesque high post player? When he's had his head screwed on straight, he's been absolutely unstoppable in the post throughout his career. This isn't a case of trying to force Kwame Brown or Michael Olowokandi into the paint when they really just suck and have no business down there. Yao has as good of an assortment of post moves as any big man in the game. He's 7'6, bulk is no longer an issue, he has great footwork, good hands, a good touch, and can shoot the hookshot with either hand. His problem is that he's been a giant p***y. Go up strong. Don't let guys half your size block your shot. Lower your shoulder and plow through these guys. Sure you'll foul out in the first quarter but you're doing that anyways right now. Sooner or later the refs will recognize that this is your game and will adjust their calls. Right now they think you're a giant p***y, so any show of force from you is viewed as uncharacteristic so they're blowing the whistle. I'm tired of hearing the excuses made for this guy. We got rid of Rudy because he didn't get Yao the ball. We got rid of Francis because he couldn't get Yao the ball. They hired a guy who said Yao was his top offensive priority. They traded their whole team for a guy who said he'd sacrifice his scoring titles to play with Yao. The entire offense is built around this guy and he's only averaging about 18ppg. That is simply not going to cut it. Yao has all the tools to be great. We've seen him be great. At some point, he needs to look in the mirror and ask himself if he wants to be great.
I have 2 problems with Yao around the elbow. 1. He gets the ball taken from him EVERYTIME he puts it on the floor. I am not sure I want him driving through the paint. When a guy 7 and a half feet tall dribbles the ball is at chest level for most guards just waiting to be stolen. 2. I would think that moving him away from the basket would negatively effect his rebounding (which isn't great to begin with). Yao has pretty good first step quickness, but I would think smaller players could use thier quickness to get in front of him to box him out.
You Low Post guy have apparently forgotten how effective Yao was in the the High Post. It's all about results. Put Yao in the High Post, where he is most effective. Let him go Low when he wants - don't force him there. Ideal set : we want the power forward at the left low post. We want Yao at the right high post. Tmac at the left high post, or extended. Boki (or other) above the right low post, Sura (or other) brings the ball up the middle. The point can go left or right. If he goes right, it goes into a triangle with Yao, the small forward and point. Yao can see over the defense and shoot. Sura and Boki can cut. If the point goes left, the ball goes into a 2-man game with Tmac. Tmac can create. If he has trouble, he can reverse the ball via the pg back to Yao. That's what's going to work. What we have doesn't.
