A myth??? I personally witnessed Yao making 3s in 2002's WCB games, and I saw Yao draining midrange shot after midrange shots in his rookie season. Was I dreaming? Anyone else also saw those?
I think our problem with our secretary is that she can only type about 20 words a minute. And it's too late to get a more competent secretary now. The idea is, maybe if the secretary doesn't have to type that much, she can help the lawyer do other things that are important for his lawyering. Again, for those overreactionists, "freeing Yao" is NOT parking him outside. NOBODY is saying that. It's just a suggestion that maybe adding an outside element into Yao's arsenal would help. Also, freeing Yao is not fixing Yao's game. I agree that Yao's game is fine now. But it is about fixing the team's game. Since our perimeter guys can't hit open shots, maybe pulling Yao to the high post once in a while would free up the lane for some guard penetration. Maybe it would just confuse the defense a bit to allow Yao more freedom to operate in the paint.
Nice post. I'm all for doing this as an occassional wrinkle to keep the defense honest, I just want to see Yao remain primarily in the post. I guess there is a middle ground.
Well said. Most people here remember the Dream/Robinson/Ewing era and don't seem to remember why they developed outside games: and it's the same reason TD, KG, Amare, Howard et al don't play center. The more you play in the low block the more you get beaten up and it does get to the point of diminishing returns, especially if a team relies on a center for a high percentage of their total offense. There is this idea that since Yao's 7'6 he should just eat people and not be affected by the constant wrestling, kidney punches etc. in the paint. In the end it's up to each great player to guage what's most effective for him and Yao's not quite there yet. Thibodeaux bringing it up though makes perfect sense to me.
We are on the same page. I just don't want to try it this season. To me, the last 15 games are a training camp for Yao to work on the low post aspect of his game against everything the league throws against him. He needs the practice and the habits it will instill. Sorry to say, but I'm just about to the point of making the rest of the season a lab experiment of Yao working in the post, Luther getting more minutes at the point, Chuck Hayes getting PT to see if he's a keeper, etc, etc. There still has to be a focus on winning games because, otherwise, the players will not put out a good effort.
Very good post. Most people don't remember how many jump shots Dream took during his peak years. Watch how many jump shots he popped against Shaq in '95. But, as I remember it, he didn't move outside very much until his inside game was fully developed.
Quoted in the Chron today, JVG said he's not into developmental mode. He was going to play the players who would give them the best chance to win. So, sorry, no experiments until the next preseason.
Anyone remember the first game Yao break out 20 points against the lakers, in which he shot perfectly? Those are mostly midrange jumpers. When the coach who works most closely with Yao Ming brings up this (let him shot a couple midrange), I know he has a point. I trust him more than the stats. He knows Yao's game. When is it time to let Yao do it? Now that's up to debate.
I know you're aware of JVG's comments in the Chronicle about his only "real" roster decisions: "how much to play Stro, Hayes and Deke"? I'm all for the laboratory, but I don't want Yao to be head rat. If he hasn't proven himself in the last two months he never will and "training camp" is looking a lot more like Navy Seals training at this point. I'm all for keeping Yao on the floor, but at least experiment with ways he might be effective without absorbing maximum abuse.
Of course JVG will not and cannot publicly admit anything of the sort. He's not going to "tank" the remaining games like many want, but there will be some tinkering looking forward to next year.
I hear you, but it's only 15 more games, and Yao hasn't played the whole season. If this was December and there were 65 games left on the schedule, that would be another story.
But what if the legal brief must be finished tomorrow, and the secretary is too sick to help? Then the lawyer has to start typing. As I wrote long ago, if Yao is abusing the other team in the paint, by all means let him continue doing it. But if our opponents are able to triple team him with impunity because our role players can't hit an open shot, then it's time to adjust our offence.
Great posting. Yao gets hammered hard every game; he will break down rapidly if he never gets any relief from the punishment.
I didn't catch your last post before this one (slow 33bps dial-up connection out here in the boonies) and I replied. Otherwise I just would have said: Agreed.
Another thing to consider is Yao has a very slow release on his jump shot. I don't know how comfortable he is taking a face up jumper during the game when he's been trained to run/jump/react as fast as possible while in the NBA.
I don't buy that Yao's "slow" about anything. Everything has been said about Yao's game being "slow" that can possibly be said. And for every critique there's NBA footage that refutes it. There's a lot about the so-called "Ewingization" of Yao that just makes sense and it's helped him become more decisive. In terms of a turn-around j or a set shot that he wants to get off that's not a problem he just needs confidence, and apparently a "green light".
I'm not saying Yao has a "quick release" by any means. That doesn't mean it's slow either, but the point is he can get a jumper off almost anytime he decides to. The ESPN geeks would be happy to point out it could still possbly get blocked on occasion. Boy, howdy Dream blocked even Jabbar's "unstoppable" skyhook a few times. The argument that Yao can't shoot from 15' in rythym because of his "slow" release is ridiculous. Dream was as quick as a cat but never had a "quick release". And yes. NBA footage from this season of inbound plays called from the bench with barely seconds on the clock and Yao's hit a couple of them. In Yao's rookie season he quickly fired off more than a few as if he were shell-shocked. Well, he was. One by one Yao's debunking all the myths, it's funny to me so many here still buy into them. I'm glad Thibodeaux doesn't.
Ok, if you say so. I know that Yao doesn't shoot a great percentage on those face up jumpers despite his free throw touch. It could be some other reason.
