The first time we've seen the fronting defense against Yao is probably when Rockets played the Warriors in 06-07 season, when they had Al Harrington on Yao the whole night, stayed in front of him, wrestled for position the whole night, and that night Yao performed horrible; now many teams are using this strategy against Yao, sometimes down the stretch to take away Rockets' offense center-piece, like the Mavericks' game at the end of this regular season, or use fronting from beginning to end like Game 2 at Portland, I believe there are several ways to help utilizing Yao more when they start fronting again. 1st, the Rockets could start with the most basic play of basketball, pick and roll, although it is difficult for Yao to roll because of his size and slow mobility, notice that Yao can still shoot the mid range jumpers, like what they are doing in Cleveland with Big Z. Yao has a good shooting touch, remember in his rookie season his mid range jumper was quite good. 2nd, Rockets could use pick and roll at the top of the key, then Yao could roll to the free throw line, and that way it creates either a miss match, or a double team situation which leaves some other mismatch or a player wide open, that way, like what Yao did against Spurs that game, we get more out of Yao than just being a defense magnet. lastly, this one might be a stretch, but I remember distinctly from a game last season against the Cavaliers, it was after the all-star break, during our 22 game winning streak, when Yao ran through couple of screens and got to the baseline with an open jumper. This is another way to help Yao, make him run through screens like a guard, although again the slow mobility came to mind, but use this for like 2 plays, then switch it up as he run through screen and suddenly turn back to post up, and then work at the low post once again. Just some thoughts, and it's my first time starting a thread like this, so yea. I will listen to advices and try to improve when I start another thread. Thanks
The lack of PnR has nothing to do with Yao's skill level. He was effective PnR players under JVG. The problem is either McGrady was the only one with the skill set to execute it or Adelman chose to abandon it.
these are all good plays no doubt. but imo i think the plays are all there, but it comes down to a matter of execution which we simply lack. Aaron is a shooting guard in a point guard's body and Ron is just Ron. When Yao gets fronted I think everyone especially those two panic and simply don't know what to do.
how about just having a little freaking patience...lets Yao wrestle for a few seconds to get in a position to receive the ball, but NO, we just immediately go away from him as soon as the other team fronts. I promise in a couple of seconds he'll get open or have a foul commited on him
Come on, guys! Leave this kind of stuff to the pro's, I don't know how many fronting-advices I've seen the last days. We're only fans, we don't understand the game enough to give the players "advices" on how to work things out. Please, no more threads like this....
we cant just hold the ball and wait for him. cuz most of the time yao fights for position and never gets it. or yao gets called for a foul cuz people flop
for some reason i see yao setting a screen for wafer and it being successful because of how explosive he is at getting to where he wants to be on the court. Whether its the rim or a jumper, he gets there quick and is tough to defend. Oh yeah Yao picking and rolling or picking and popping would be just as effective so pick your poison.
The best way to exploit the fronting defense is with a LOB PASS. The player passing the ball has to master the right HEIGHT and VELOCITY of the lob pass so Yao catches it right under the basket. At the same time, the spacing has to be just right. You can throw a pass high enough for only a seven foot six player to catch. Somehow you have to dictate what you do on offense we can't let the defense dictate where we will go. Its like a jump ball only the defender has his back against Yao. There has to be a lob pass option , otherwise we are letting the defense dictate us.
If Yao don't work hard on it, there is nothing his teammates can do to help. He should get more rebounds, especially offensive rebounds, make a few jumpers out of paint area, or get a few Techs with hard foul in that situation. In the second half of last game, Coach should take Yao out more often.
You can't throw a pass high enough because a 6 foot 10 power forward can outleap Yao for the ball, especially if he is laying in the weeds while the center has Yao fronted. Its been looked in to. Trust me. There is a perfectly good reason why you dont see more lobs in to Yao. And it aint because the other players can't or won't do it. Its because Yao can't catch it reliably enough. There is no ill intent on the part of the other players or the coach. He simply can't catch it enough. He can't jump high enough. Thats why you don't see it more than you do. How many alley-oops do you see to Yao?? Maybe a couple per season??
LOB is good for old rules, get update. The only way to let yao take more shots is : Run p&l, let yao take more 17 feet shots. This play was given up by RA, when RA found out Yao is more effective on the low post, but maybe it is time to pick up. The best way to beat front is: Like the 3rd game vs Portland, yao foucs on offense rebounds, but he is too slow, too inconsistant to do that.
This. ^^^ Yao doesn't have the athleticism/mobility to deal with lob passes. Even Magic wouldn't be able to throw it perfectly every time. The recipient of the lob pass has to be relatively athletic in order to make this strategy work. And let's assume for a second that Yao was able to go catch lob passes. I can already see him picking up an offensive foul every other time he gets the ball in this manner. Once Yao has started movement in any given direction, it's almost impossible for him to adjust his body and change directions. As soon as he turns with the ball, he'll be off balance and subject to his momentum. Any Blazer willing and ready would be able to pick up a charge.
We used to have a lot of alley-oops to Yao from McGrady. Remember all those dunks Yao used to get a few years ago? T-mac was quick enough to drive and tall enough to make the pass. He'd make the other teams pay for fronting Yao and giving him the free lane to the basket. Unfortunately, we don't have that kinda player now. Brooks drives well, but he isn't tall enough to make the pass. Just my take.
That's a good point. I was thinking more about static plays where someone out on the perimeter tries to lob the ball to Yao after Yao seals his man in front of him. Attacking the basket, drawing a big and dumping the ball off to Yao is a fine strategy. Ron has done it a few times. Lowry had done it and may be the best at it. I believe Brooks could do it, too, without having to use the backboard.
then what's the purpose of this bbs? there are pros take care of NBA, we just sit and watch? this is another way for fans to get involved in a game, OK?
The Yao Mac PnR was effective when Yao would role to the basket. I think that play may work with Wafer because of his quickness. Wafer's passing skills are questionable but I think he can make the pass if they practice this play. Does anyone else think the play would be effective with Wafer? I don't think Brooks can make this play due to his height.
Adelman abandoned it. I posted something similar on another thread. JVG used PNR all the time, hence fronting of Yao was practically never an issue, because PNR creates mismatch or at least separation between Yao and his defender. 2-3 feet of separation is enough for Yao to get the ball and score. If there is a mismatch, the mismatch will usually be with the opponent's PG - Yao simply shoots over the Lilliput.
