I agree TMac is still the key to our team, and he is the biggest mismatch anytime he is on the floor. It's more of a question of how to integrate Yao and Tmac overall. Is it as efficient to keep running the offense through TMac when they go small? I'm undecided on this.
I don't think Yao/Deke can be on the floor when Dirk is at center. This leaves Yao to cover someone who is definitely quicker than him, which will allow penetration or easy jumpshots. Please remember what happen when Devan George started raining 3's on the Rockets in the 2nd game. The best Rocket lineup against Dallas small ball, which by the way is when Dallas starts blowing out Houston and my wack brother-in-law starts calling me from Dallas. Dirk = Juwan or Kirk (Dirk has problem with smaller, athletic defenders) JHoward = Kirk Snyder (Kirk is long, quick, and plays good D) or Shane StackHouse = Shane (Shut down on Stack) or Kirk Devan George = Tracy or Chuck JTerry = Rafer (Rafer, please send him left, he never makes a shot going left) or Tracy. We can create our own mismatch with TMac at the point I'm not sold on Bonzi and his defensive abilities, he doesn't look like he will get in shape anytime soon. Also, you can see the mismatch for Yao against this lineup. There isn't anyone on Dallas team he can guard.
There's also noone on Dallas who can guard him. the zone would also work against small ball since small ball's stength is in quickness and paying them man to man would give the quicker guys the advantage.
I was referring specifically to the Dallas small lineup with Dirk at center. I'd be happy to see them play Diop or Dampier. Yao will own either one. I agree our man-to-man matchups are better this year than 2 years ago, but we haven't done too well so far. I think the jury is still out on whether Hayes/Battier/Bonzi will be able to handle their guys 1v1. Interesting point about Wade being way more effective than Shaq. I think you could be onto something. Even if we have a mismatch with Yao, we iso TMac and let him drive. Then let Yao crash to boards or wait for the pass. If they play small, Yao will score 30 just off of offensive rebounds and feeds.
I can't agree with this Rocket lineup. Dallas has an advantage at every position except versus TMac. Yao >> Deke. The only solution is to find a creative defensive scheme to use Yao's shot-blocking abilities.
Ya'll should quit trying to figure out match-ups without Yao on the floor. Dallas absolutely can't play Dirk at center when Yao is on the court. They would give up easy buckets while tiring and accumulating fouls on their best player. Dirk doesn't play much at center as it is, certainly not versus the likes of Yao. Bigger and stronger players have enough trouble with Yao. That said it may not be easy for Yao versus Damp/Diop and a swarming Dallas D. It isn't like Yao gets them one on one with plenty of time to find the open guy versus slow doubles. They ate Shaq for lunch last year. You can pretty much assume the mainstay lineups will include...for the Rockets...Yao, Battier, Tmac and Alston are on the floor, and for Dallas Damp/Diop, Dirk, Howard and Terry on the floor. The unknown plays for us are whether we end up having Battier or Tmac playing a lot of PF (less time with Howard/Hayes in there), and for Dallas the degree they play Terry & Harris (basically two quick PGs) together or Terry & Stack (bigger and better shooting from range). There is no way if Yao is remotely healthy we won't be a mainstay (even if we run more of the O through Tmac), and Dallas absolutely has to have a real center out there or their whole defensive strategy to disrupt him is shot.
Okay IG, I see your points, however, we will need a small lineup without Deke to rest Yao. Dallas small lineup kills because we don't have scoring at all 5 positions (Chuck misses way too many layups and Deke pump fakes 15 times for 3 seconds). We must keep a scoring 5 on the floor at all times against Dallas, which limits the minutes of Chuck and Deke. I love Chucks offensive and defensive rebouding, however he's 6 fouls waiting to happen. Deke is atrocious on offense and please don't bring up the Bobcats game, doesn't count for playoff. The rotation looks like the following, which keeps 5 scorers on the floor. Yao/Howard Tracy/Bonzi Battier/Snyder Howard/Battier Rafer/Head Deke/Chuck allows Dallas to double team our other scorers.
