And what if, while Yao is contentedly boxing out his man, our guards get outhustled or overpowered? Sure, Yao technically did 'his part', but he could have done more. It's just a bad habit to have. Block out, let someone else grab it. Any center can do that. You know, it is possible to box out AND go for the rebound. He should be doing that a helluva lot more.
Starting lineup usually playes with starting linups of the opponents. Backups play more against backups. While Yao is not necessary dominant against start center on other teams, Deke is waaaay better in rebounding than others' backups. Guess that's the reason why Deke's +/- against opponents is higher. Although stats alone won't give you the whole picture, Yao definitely needs to improve on his rebounding skills. He probably would never be a Barkley like rebounder, but there is no reason he can't average 10 rebounds. Sealing off, blocking out, and helping teammates to get rebounds is a good thing, but sometimes you do miss rebounds to other teams' guards etc. It's always about balance, which is harder to control. I guess that's why most of the good rebounders trust themselves more. I think Yao should do that as well. Just look at the ball, and go get it firt. Sealing off is good for a shorter and strong guy. Yao is 7'6, his main focus should be getting the ball first.
I don't really have an opinion on the effect of Yao on rebounding, and I don't disagree with your main point that Yao does not make the team a better rebounding team, but I find it a little irritating the way we're interpreting some of these numbers. There's no statistically significant difference between 49.9% and 51.1% and between 6.4 and 6.5 rpg. You're right to argue that Yao doesn't help the team in rebounding, but you can't also say that the team is better without him or that T-Mac is getting fewer rebounds this year.
I agree with what you say -- my point in showing the numbers is merely to counter the claim that Yao is making the other players on the team better rebounders. Clearly he's not... which is the point in showing the "negligible" statistical difference between 6.4 and 6.5 rebounds - not any better.
I don't think I'm arguing that Yao should be among the league leaders - it'd be great if he was, but I don't hink he's a good enough rebounder to be (please prove me wrong Yao!!). My basic point is that Yao doesn't make his team-mates better rebounders - as someone posted earlier in the thread. I am also curious to see the stat that shows Yao outrebounding his opponent each night - more for the sake of seeing how other players fare in that regard!
I dont care to argue stats when I can use my own eyes instead. It is obvious to someone that picks over every game(like I do) that not only is his technique gotten better thru the course of the season, his level of desire has too. It is documented by the player/coach interviews that the Rockets have made better rebounding a high priority inthe last month or so....and I believe that shows in how many games we lead in that catagory in the last month. Im sure there are stats out there that probably show this trend...but Im too lazy to go look them up.... They still have some work to do, especially Yao and Jho, as far as getting those rebounding numbers up there....but they are without a doubt a far sight better at it than the beginning of the year....
I don't care about all these analysis of numbers. What I know is what I see and that is Yao can definitely improve on the boards. He loses about two rebounds a game because he can't hold onto the ball. He has two more stolen by the opposing team because he doesn't react quick enough. OK maybe he'll never be quick enough due to physical limitations, but at least learn to hold onto the ball. That way he can easily get two more rebounds a game.
I think isolating Yao to just his center-opponents is kinda deceiving. That's not what happens on the court. Yao is competing against not just the opposing center, but the PF, SF and Guards. What we want is for Yao to TAKE AWAY rebounds from *ALL* players...just like Shaq, KG, and Duncan. Just like any center or PF for that matter. It's all men for themselves. Maybe, Yao could institute some type of plan where he can tip the ball to one of his teammates on occasion. But that's a risky plan. It's better that he just GRAB the ball himself. Secure that thing! Tiping is too random. I'd be interested to know how many balls Yao tips to our opponents. Not only how many he tips to our team. That's a factor too. I'd also be interested in how Yao fairs against other Power Forwards or Small Forwards. Also, it could be that Yao tips balls away from opposing centers (thus the lower % for them), but the ball just ends up in the hands of our oppoents: PF, SF or Guards! That could be the case for not only Yao, but Wallace, Shaq, Okafor, Duncan.......with the exception those other centers grab more rebounds than they *TIP away from opposing centers.* That's why they are over 10 per game (Yes, they get more minutes...but there's more below....) Another question (I'm on a roll ): How many more rebounds could Yao get if he could manage to play 35 minuets per game (he's at 31 now). I'm sure that would increase his rebound count. As it stands now, he just get too tired to stay on the court to get them. One last note: Dwight Howard and Drew Gooden (PFs) average 32 and 31 minute per game. Yet they get 9.8 and 9.7 rebound per game (respectively) . Tyson Chandler (PF) averages 27.3 minutes per game. Yet gets 9.3 rebound per game.
