Hypothetical Question: How would a Prime Yao fit into this team?

Better than Howard

 

Actually he would NOT be a liability down the stretches of games...AND he would eliminate easy baskets for opponents just because of his sheer size.

His issues would be the speed of the game the Rockets would like to play at...He just could not keep up. Oh and he would set some mean picks on the perimeter.

but nice to think about it...and yes...he would still be given bogus fouls.

 

Dominant!!!

On the high post no team would have an answer for him

Of course the most lethal effective way to stop him would be the league allowing him to be fouled and hacked to hell


Rocket River

 

Yao would not fit into todays NBA. Small ball kills Yao. The refs would also never allow Yao to punish small ball on offense.

 

Don't make me sad.

Only an idiot coach would try Hack-a-Yao.

 

Yao would utterly dominate. And, playing Howard along side him would shred the NBA.

 

Better free throws.
He just needs park around the rim, swat the ball to Harden, and doesn't even have to run much. He can just walk up and stay his azz around the paint and suck two defenders on him, Harden would have a field day every day.

 

Yao would easily shoot over small ballers.

Defense beyond the deep paint spells disaster though.

 

We would be a far better team with Yao, obviously. BUT, we will get absolutely shredded by GSW. The Warriors are basically the old Phoenix Suns on crack, and we never held a candle to the old Suns.

 

I guess everyone forgets how the Warriors small ball always destroyed us and yes the perimeter game was a big weakness. Now-a-days every big can stretch the floor and make Yao come out to guard the 3 rendering him useless on D. He's either too slow to defend the 3 or too slow to recover and go back to the paint for a block or rebound. I'm not saying he'd be a bum but he'd be worse off in todays league if only because there are too many small ball teams that are just too quick and too good at shooting 3s and because the Refs and the NBA itself just doesn't want to let back to the basket big men play on either side of the ball. It's not exciting. It doesn't sell. 100 3's per game? Now that sells.

 

we'll force teams to have at least one real center or yao will avg 100pts a game. remember when the bulls tried to stop yao with their small ball center 6'7 230lbs nocioni? good luck with that draymond

 

If they played with the tempo they do now, Yao would not be able to keep up.

BUT...if they had Yao, they'd finally have a post up game and would likely slow it down for an inside out offense to utilize the open out side shooters from the doubling of Yao.

The fast pace of the NBA now, and small ball would destroy Yao's stamina...and ability to keep up.

 

I think if a coach could get it to work it'd be awesome, especially since yao has a lot longer range than Howard. Could basically play both at the same time and they'd complement each other. That is... until the refs **** us

 

Yao did have some trouble against the fast pace Steve Nash's Phoenix Suns, but I do remember the Rockets beat them in a really thrilling game before the '07 play-offs. Great game.

 

Based on Morey philosophy, Yao will pair with Howard as a stretch four. Yao primary job is to park at the corner and launch 3s.

 

Yeah definitely agree. They'd have to play a slower pace, but... If they basically had a sure shot with Yao and ability to get rebounds it could work in their favor, especially if Howard was able to get back on defense even if Yao was lagging. The team would definitely need to work at passing to Yao, but since he had a post game they might be more likely to pass to him.

 

"It is unattainable what we can do."

-Smoove

 

A bigger and badder DMo.

 

Yao would be frustrated as hell..

He wouldn't get the ball on offense and on defense he would have to keep up with quicker Post guys and get in foul trouble with all the help defense...

I think Yao would be better in the 80's and 90's era...

T_Man