Bob sura has become a focus of discussion these days. Some fans acclaim him as X-factor, source of energy, last year's JJ, etc., while some other fans keep complaining his lacking of ability (or intention) to pass to Yao. For me, I think it is not a problem of Sura. It is the problem that this team, right now, doesn't have enough skills and good play sets to pass inside. It is not about Yao, either. I don't care about his stats if rox can win. However, Yao is the second offensive option of this team and almost the only inside presence of the team. If rox wants to go further, they have to utilize his ability and skill to the best. Yao has his own problem, he can only seal his defenders within a short time window, sometimes his position is not good enough. He has to work on it. But I don't think he lacks of demanding of ball this season, and some of his physical weakness is hard to improve even in the future. That even ask our perimeter players to catch a better timing to pass the ball. So far, T-mac is no doubt the best entry passer of this team. But he is usually in double team, which increases the difficulty to make a pass. As for others, both Sura and Wesley are not good at passing inside, they have to learn it because it has to be one of rox's main play down the road. There is at least one problem that has nothing to do with talent imo. Players, especially sura, are very hesitant at passing sometimes even yao has a good position. The issue is the more hesitant you make the decision of passing, the more likely a turnover is intrigued. Secondly, I am sort of confused sometimes, some basic play designs, like post-pass out-repost, or switch the ball to defeat fronting, rox runs it very slow and without determination, it is like they seldom run it in the practice. It seems very weird to me. Another trend I think I notice is that some player think passing inside is risky or somewhat beyond their abilities, so many of time they would rather choose shoot jumpers or simply put the ball in hands of T-mac. But the problem is that you have to learn the entry-pass skills to make it less risky and more effectively. Last night Jon barry shows his flash of greatness to pass to find open teammates. Hopefully we can do it better and better with more chemistry. -Littlefish
Both sides are going to have to work at this. 1. Yao needs to seal his man off for a little longer and hold his position better. 2. The rest need to pass into the low post faster. Too many times do we hesitate to pass and the window closes. Yao's sudden surge of offense has come on faster shots for him. We need to get Yao the ball earlier in the offense and not allow the defense to fully set up around Yao.
Two things I think will greatly benefit the Rockets and Yao. 1) Post, Pass-out, and re-post. 2) Pass into post in motion. I saw some successful play of both in the highlights of last night's game. I have to say I'm encouraged.
i think yao needs to EARN the repost. when he passes to the perimeter, he needs to post again, harder to get better position. lots of times he only gets the same position, and what's the point in that?
The best entry passer into the post hands down is Jon Barry. He finds Yao at great position and gets him the ball. The guy is a high percentage shooting machine. If he's sealed off his defender, then he should almost always get the ball. That is smart basketball. As much as I love Sura's heart and fire, he at times passes up post-ups by Yao to take lower percentage shots. I talked to Sura at Joiya Lounge two weeks ago and he said "That big f*ck needs to step it up". I think he sees all that ability and that lack of fire and it can be disheartening to one who is as fiery and pushes themselves as hard as Sura. I also heard Mark Jackson on NBA 2 Night and he stated that Yao Ming doesn't bring it every night. But Yao in those instances needs to CALL for the ball. The Magic came back into the game when Yao was taken out of it. Though they began double teaming him, he passes out to open players every time. Sura's game is not a set shot or catch and shoot player and he does not thrive in that offense. And so he forces a more crazy tempo. I'm fine with his tempo, but if Yao's open and he's sealed off his man he NEEDS the ball. Going back to Barry, I love his basketball smarts. He rarely wastes time with the ball and those tap passes rock. He's usually very aware of where the players are and makes amazing decisions. Even Wesley is starting to grow on me. He's a better than expected defender and is a great passer/ of the screen and catch and shoot player. Overall, i like these three acquisitions very, very much.
