The Rockets have a good team, but a great team with Yao. To beat the Rockets though, you MUST get Yao in foul trouble. I would have every player in my team run right at from the start. Eventually he'll get 2 fouls and sit out till late 2nd quarter. What i noticed last night and after a couple of games (Dallas and Laker game), is when Yao is allowed to get off a few shots, he'll start pushing down low for position to ask for the ball. If by the beginning of the 4th quarter Yao has 2 or less fouls, watch out. I notice that during the first 3 quarters, he rarely leaves his man to help out and pick up cheap fouls, but in the fourth quarter he does when not in foul trouble. when a 7'5 guy comes over to help, you simply pass or get blocked. When a 7'5 guy with skills starts asking for the ball, you give it to him. Keys to success for rocket opponent: Get Yao in FOUL, FOUL, FOUL!!!! trouble. Yao is becoming a top 10 player, you just don't want a top 10 player in the game late, especially a 7'5 guy with fouls to spare.
i'm surprised yao hasn't had more trouble with fouls...the fact he hasn't shows a ton of discipline and basketball intelligence...when hakeem first came in the league, he fouled out constantly!
MadMax: Yao also isn't getting the standard "rookie treatment." Most of his blocks are clean, but there are some that are "iffy." Usually, the benefit of the doubt goes against the rookie. Yao doesn't seem to be getting preferential treatment, but he's definitely never getting the rookie treatment either. I'm not complaining. Besides him being a Rocket, I've always that the "rookie rules" were r****ded anyway. But, imo, that's part of the reason why he's getting so few compared to other top notch rookies of yesteryear.
HuH? Yao has also gotten better at not swatting at everything that comes at him..the only way he gets fouls now are when the other players run into him. I agree tho..he isnt getting the standard rookie treatment..but I aint complaining.
Rudy's radio interview said that that was one of two major concerns addressed and worked on with Yao. He said "it's amazing how fast the kid picks up on things" which is a testament again to Yao's high B-ball IQ.
If I were an opposing coach, I would: 1. Attack the big fella and try to draw fouls. 2. Hit the glass, hit the glass, hit the glass! The Rocks are fast becoming one of the most dominant rebounding teams in the league, and will destroy you on the glass if you're not careful. 3. Press and trap the Gs. They're inconsistent at breaking traps, so don't hang your head if they break it a few times. Plus, it slows down their half-court game, and keeps the ball out of Yao's hands. 4. Stay composed and focused. The Rocks haven't figured out how to maintain momentum yet, and will allow you to make a run. 5. Try to make it a shoot-out, an open floor game. Their big men are more effective in a half-court game, both offensively and, in particular, defensively. Their bigs are definitely the anchors of the defense. 6. Mix in some zone, and play the passing lanes. They have a nice # of sets, and yet they're somewhat repetitive. Don't be afraid to anticipate passes, and release on all steals.
We need alot of help on pick and roll defense. Yao gets caught on the switch way too much, and I don't want to see his ankles broken again.
This is not something new. Ask the guy from Miami, he was rejected twice, got hammered on another play. I don't think he'll ever try that again in the future. When the Pistons, the Knicks were at their prime, they punish whoever dares to drive to the basket, that's called intimidation! Another example is Shaq. I'm sure every coach wants their players to drive into Shaq, got him in the foul trouble. But the fact is you don't see many of those happening in LA games. The players have their career in their mind other than winning the game. Collision with Shaq can jeopardize you career. I'm not suggesting Yao hurting anyone, but if he knock couple people down hard, the message will be quickly delievered around the league.
The key to beating the rockets is get Francis in a pissing contest. That way he hogs the ball and tries to show the opposing PG up and stops concentrating on D. Thats what Jwill, Andre, Payton, and bobby jackson did to him.
Yep, the key to defeating the Rockets is not about Yao but about Francis. If you can get him to play a wild game, the Rockets will have no chance of winning--forget about Yao.
The best way to beat the Rockets is to get Yao Ming to foul out? You can say the same thing about Shaq and the Lakers, or Duncan and the Spurs, or Garnett and the T-Wolves. It's easier said then done.
Is it possible that the League set up this special treatment for Yao, which is drived by the commercial reasons?
You are right... But I think his underlying assumption is that, Yao is not used to the defense in the League now. It is only his rookie year anyway. So even it can take some temporary effects, I don't think it gonna work in the following seasons.
Yao is so funny. Talk about pickin' up the game fast. Have any of you guys noticed how Yao reacts to whistles now? A Whistle? A Foul? Nope, we don't get any Divac melodrama here. Instead, Yao does his impression of the "innocent" child who got caught stealing from the cookie jar. (I could've sworn Yao even pointed to EG once to pin the blame on him! ) heh heh theSAGE
Because of his height, Yao does not have to move much (kind of like a tree swaying before the wind) so the refs can't (although they have) call fouls on him. When Yao does go for a foul, ask Caron Butler what a Ming-Zing foul is.
IMO, the key to beating the Rockets, is really letting the Rockets beat themselves. The Rockets have definitive strengths and weaknesses in each of the following categories: 1. Tempo 2. Guard Speed 3. Total ppg 4. Opponents ppg Make the Rockets play a different game (e.g. Grizz), and you can make the Rockets beat themselves. Looking back this season with PHX, GRIZZ, NO, CLIPS twice!, the Rox beat themselves by playing to the frenetic pace of their opponents. theSAGE
