And I do agree to a point heypartner, the key to team defense is for everyone to "protect" each other.
Then you are saying this team is too young, and we need time. Novel concept that seems to be bashed by most of the bbs as "an excuse." that's sarcasm, btw. I agree. But I'm not really sure what point you are making. Yao fouling out in an overtime is not the fault of the guards not protecting him against Kobe Bryant's drives. It is Yao's assigment. We were worried about him fouling out a lot this season. He's done a good job of avoiding that, but sometimes we need him to be as aggressive as possible and not worry about fouls. We need help on Kobe, and Yao is the man for the job. Yao may be too young/inexperienced, but Yao is 7'5, and that makes up for a lot of inexperience. He has to protect the guards against Kobe, and play some pick n roll defense...which he was failing to do at the start of the game and Rudy had to take a quick timeout to adjust, because Cuttino was getting screened very well, and Kobe was nailing that shot. If the defense is focused on not letting penetration by Kobe, then they have to back off him and give up those jumpers he was knocking down. The guards have to step out and get him, and that means Kobe is going to get by them on occassion and Yao and Griffin are supposed to protect the rim. That is their defensive assignment. Mobley is not being asked to protect Yao Ming. Inexperience, or not, Griffin and Yao Ming have the assigment of protecting the guards so they can go out and play aggressive D on Kobe.
All I know is there were times that even over the out-stretched arms of a jumping Yao, Kobe hit nothing but the inside of the net. I would NOT suggest giving Kobe a step. Right now, giving Kobe a step is like giving him an open look at a 5 footer.
Agreed. My only point was that we can not continously let guys like Kobe have a wide opened lane to the basket @ full speed, otherwise Yao will get in foul trouble. But we are essentially saying the same thing.
Take solace in the fact that it took 4:41 of extra time to foul out Yao, and that was a bogus call. In a normal situation, Yao had room to spare on the aggressive defense department.
Contrary to many on this thread, I happen to like Madsen and his game. I enjoyed his input last night even though he played a huge "intangible" part in making us lose. He is consistent at what he does and he plays intelligent ball, and he has always been the energizer bunny his teams (even going back to Stanford).
I can put one million dollars down and say NOBODY liked the way that trade worked out... Nobody on the Rockets side of course.
last night game was easily the best game of madsen, probably the best of his career. he's the 2nd coming of tom tolbert. like rick fox, he probably will be an actor once his playing career is over. the stanford alumn is a smart guy, and smart guys definately know how to cheat.
Seeing the Rockets lose to the "Lake Show" on Madsen's dive (not flop) was a sharp reminder of what I hate about the Jazz. Nah, I'm not bitter!!
At least Mark Madsen may rub off some of his hardworking ethics to some of our talented but underachieving players.
Not quite, Will, this is a clear-cut case of TLWGTWJP -- Trade for the Lame White Guy from the Team We Just Played. It's actually pretty common around here.
