You can not build a team around Yao, he is too fragile and even if he does come back will never play enough minutes to be "THE GUY" ever again. So, Yao will be a super role player.....IF he comes back.....and yes, he can adapt....to this style, he can learn the 2 handed outlet pass and man the paint on D. DD
Lets reduce our best player to outlet passer so we can more effectively run Rick Adelman's precious sacred Jedi offense? I think not.
You have to protect Yao by not overplaying him, so I doubt he gets more than 28-30 minutes a game... And you don't reduce Yao to anything, you look for the break early and if it isn't there you take it back out and set it up for Yao as he comes down the court. Think of how Kareem played with Magic....if the break wasn't there, they went half court, same here. DD
That's my take on Yao. Best case scenario, for Yao to remain a Rocket, he takes a lesser role. Similar to a franchise player getting older to where he is a piece but not "the guy". Big Z in Cleveland is a good example. He probably was never the franchise player but was a big piece and lost his prime due to injury. Up until now he has still been serviceable and has been a huge role player for the Cavs. I always felt Big Z was pretty underrated and could have shown more had he not lost so much time early on. In Yao's case, he showed us alot but unfortunately his best days or franchise player days, are over. Yao could still be a player in this league and a really good one at that!
I'd feel great about that if we had Magic Johnson, I guess. This is all going to come down to salary cap issues for me. How much can you commit to Yao going forward if you can't count on him to stay healthy...and you need that money to give to other key components to keep you competitive or even have a shot at the championship??
The team needs a low post threat and Yao has to be the best in the team. His injuries are unfortunate but until He is deemed retired, He will be the focal point on offense with the Rockets.
More likely than not, he's on his last contract here and in the NBA, so this question will probably resolve itself.
Run and gun? The Suns never won a championship with it even though they had the talent. It is fun to watch but the Rockets will never go anywhere with it.
You can always get rid of Yao, thats the easy part. But get rid of Yao doesn't equal to championship, brother. you will be the biggest laughing stock next to Sterling if Rockets is your team.
Super role player indeed. Yao has one of the sharpest first half offense (before Defense collapse on him) in NBA. Use him correctly is the only way Rockets can get any playoff success. Hint: don't pour the ball to Yao in 4th quarter
I rather get rid of a 30 year old injury prone max contract big man and KEEP Adelman. He's done a great job here so far but our player's just can't stay healthy.
I am assuming Les is married to the $$$$ Yao brings in and will never part with him, so, I think you build a team that he can be a big part of but will not fall apart if he gets injured. Yao is a great guy, and a hard worker, his body is just not built to play basketball year round....and for many minutes on the floor, so cut his minutes WAY back, utilize him appropriately and move forward building your team. He can still be a great team player, just not the focus anymore, and I think Yao would be fine with that, unlike other injury prone ex stars on our team. DD
This is what seperates the lakers from the Rockets. What would the Lakers do if they were in the same situation?
Yeah something like this. I don't mind him coming back (at a fair price), but the days of building around him and being the go-to guy are over.
Yao will be back and the move to bring in Andersen will be even more genious! Yao needs to lose weight and he'll be ready for next season. Not sure where the Adelman hate is coming from but he is a top-tier coach. He isn't going anywhere.
All Yao lovers... Please, how many times does this guys foot have to break before you get the message?? No matter what the style is - chances are when he comes back guess what-- ITS GOING TO BREAK AGAIN!!! I mean all this argument of what offense we should run is really ridiculous. Doesnt matter if his minutes decrease, stall the offense, whatever... For all intensive purpose his career is OVER! Right now Aldeman and Morey have to synch on the style of the offense and trade/draft/entice free agents accordingly. I mean really to Yao lovers.. What is the final number the foot has to break before you will admit its over??? The fifth? sixth? TENTH??
