At this point Yao would surprise me if he wasn't broken around post-season time again -amaru (since everybody else is doing it)
Listen Yao is a great guy. We must at some point in time stop looking so dumb as fans and start thinking it might be time to move this guy. Before we dont have a choice. Trade would seem the best rout and most lucrative too. We could get back a major superstar with Yao as trade bait. I have no idea why people keep holding onto the notion he can make it a full season. I really dont. Even if he could? He cant take us to the Championship as much as he costs for a non superstar who doesnt dominate anymore. its really silly. But hey? For Houston fans? It always goes on and on till the guy breaks completely like Tmac or until something is too far gone? Sad sad. Thats just reality here folks. I wont say I told you so at the end of the season though. I think we have went over this too many times already for it to even matter WHEN it does happen again.
Can I start out with a rolleyes? People, it's not how quickly he can move his body - that has nothing to do with delivering a pass. Leebigez nailed it - it's anticipation. Read and react (which is the whole key to Adelman's offense). Rodman was a great rebounder because he knew where the ball was going before anyone else - not because of his physical attributes. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash are great passers because they see the situation developing and deliver the ball on time in the right spot. That being said, reps in the high post in game situations can improve Yao's ability there. He should have a natural advantage because he will be able to see over all of his defenders. His shooting percentage is probably effected by hesitation because Yao is a rhythm shooter and as a large guy, it does take him a little longer to gather and shoot. He's great when he shoots in rhythm, so his percentages WILL go up from that range as he is able to read the situation and know sooner that that he is going to shoot it. And compliments to WNBA - he correctly pointed out that Yao made two nice passes to Luis because AB distorted the defense of the Spurs both times and made it easy for Yao to see Luis making his cuts to the basket. It's what JVG used to talk about all the time - if you have guys like Yao and AB who can distort the other team's defense, and then you have guys who can properly take advantage of that, you're golden.
I pray this is not Adelman's plan... although he told me when he came here that it was... Yao is the most dominant low post player in the league when healthy. He lacks a vertical leap on his outside shot at any distance and he doesn't shoot well when he uses a quick release or forces a shot facing the basket. Yao is an excellent passer but it essentially takes your best rebounder and interior defender out of the paint to play him high post. Let Brad Miller play the high post, get Yao down deep in the 1/2 court and let him dominate. If Brad Miller teaches Yao the high post he will become a less effective low post scorer. Stop the insanity, Yao was just coming into his own as THE dominant center in the league... he is coming off injury and needs to get back to being the dominant scorer back to the basket.
