I would play a 1-3-1 zone. Rockets don't have enough baseline scorers to exploit the weakness of that zone. Obviously, we lack the shooters as well. What this zone would do is cut off pretty much all penetration by Francis and Mobley. The linchpin of the 1-3-1, is the center who is the in the middle of the zone. The center would cut off Mobley or Francis on penetration, as well as "fronting" Yao, when he's posting up.
This "fronting" Yao problem has to be solved with better entry passing (timing) and a stronger Yao next year.
Kidrock8, The problem with zone is that it is too easy for outside shooters to bust it open. 1-3-1 will stop Ming from getting the ball. But it could give too many wide open jump shots to our guards. What I had in mind is a modified man to man defense where the power forward plays a one man zone. He will stay around the free throw line. With the center (or a backup power forward depends on the personnel) fronting the Ming, that shall be enough to scare our parameter people from lobbing the ball to Ming. The guards will stick to their man no matter what. The main task to the power forward is to offer the first line of defense when our (Rockets) guards beat their man. While the small forward plays the passing land (for the wild pass when Francis or Mobley jumped up in the air and had nowhere to go). See the purpose of this defense is to create an environment for Francis and Mobley to show off their dribbling skill. They will always have people in their face and every shots will be contested. DavidS, I am not sure Ming being stonger will help. It wil only make him slower. When fronting a player, you want to push Ming toward the basket so to make the lob pass difficult. But that is not what I see. In the Heat game, they are willing to front Ming all the way to the 3 point line (well, almost).
I know that... In my post I said that the Rockets lack the shooters to do that. The main gap in the 1-3-1 zone, is the open baseline. The Rockets don't really have anyone who is comfortable with shooting/scoring along the baseline.
Kidrock8, It may be a little difficult for the center to go from fronting Ming back to the position of being the center of 131 when Steve or Mobley penetrated. But, on the other hand, our perimeter player's passing is so deliberate, it might be possible. But I do think the advantage of your scheme is that since it is just a minor variation of a 1-3-1 zone that, for teams used to play zone, it can be adopted easily. The scheme I had in mind is so gimmicky that it is probably only effective against the Rockets. It might take some practice for the players to get it down. It might be only useful in a playoff series. But again, if Rockets can make the playoff, I would consider a successful season.
By fronting, I don't mean that he has to be making contact with a posted up Yao. I mean that having a 7 ft guy in the middle of the 1-3-1 zone, would make it tough to throw entry passes into a post-up player. Like all zones, it has its flaw. But the Rockets are the last team in the NBA who is capable of exploiting another team's weakness. Any kind of gimmick will work against the Larry, Moe, and Curly trio of Francis, Mobley, and Rudy T.
I think you will surprised next year. Rudy has mentioned that Yao likes to favor one leg for jumping not both (for power). Plus he uses bad technique when holding off the "fronting" player. He's not in the right position to lurch toward the hoop for the lob. His legs are in the wrong position, leaning in one direction. And there's no way for him to switch direction with all his weight leaning on the "fronting" player. The staff will correct this next year. If you have game tape of Hakeem, watch how he locks the "fronting" players in, and then is ready for lurching toward the hoop. It's almost like Hakeem's back is toward the "fronting" player, not toward the hoop. They have other strengthening techniques' that help power (fast twitch muscle group). This doesn't make you slow. Yao has to make sure he doesn't get fat during the off-season after he starts putting on new muscle. That's when big guys start having foot/knee problems (Shaq). They get a lot of muscle, but in the off-season they gain fat, and when they come back they hurt themselves trying to work off the fat.
