As of now, I already believe Tracy McGrady is a Houston Rocket. If this deal doesn't go through I will be crushed as many of us here will be as well. The team makeup so far is : Starter Backups Center: Yao Howard/Pickup PFrwrd: Howard Taylor/ Weatherspoon SmlFrd: Jackson Nachbar/ McGrady Guard: McGrady Jackson/ Piatkowski Guard: Fisher/Barry Lue I personally love this lineup. Though we don't have stars in all positions we have guys like Howard, Taylor, Jackson, Nachbar, Piatkowski and either Fisher/Barry are able to hit the open looks that will not allow defenses to sag on Yao/McGrady. Both Yao and McGrade are good passers. I've watched McGrady and seen that he has an incredible feel for the game. His stats have been hurt by his lack of talent around him. He creates offense and has amazing court vision. Some say he lacks fire, but in the playoffs last year and the year before he was phenomenal. Much of the problem in getting the ball into Yao was that we had 6'2 Francis, 6'3 Mobley and 6'5 Jackson throwing it in and now we'll have a 6'8 McGrady that can see over the defense to get it inside to Yao Ming (like Horry to Dream). Though McGrady is not a spot up shooter like a Ray Allen that would better serve McGrady, he requires so much attention that double teams will be very limited. I think McGrady is going to feel less on the ball pressure and will have more room to operate than ever before. When he was with Orlando, his only consistent shooter was Garrity and Miller, who were on/off in terms of health. I think more motion in the offense will allow Yao to find his place and not have McGrady be a spot up shooter which isn't his strength. He is a better outside shooter than a Kobe, but that is not his strength. I think Juwon Howard is actually someone we really need. He was very good in Denver last year and is a good midrange shooter and passer and is a much better defender/rebounder than Taylor. He would de very well in a motion passing offense as well, as would Jackson and Fisher or Barry. Fisher was in the Triangle and it would limit him having to create. Barry would be a better fit with his passing and great range on his shot and 3pter. Just some observations.
All we gotta do is pull out Rudy's old playbook. Put Yao down low on the left block, Juwon Howard free throw line extended right, Fish and JJ in the corners and McGrady up top. Throw the ball to Yao, let him operate, if the double doesn't come, Yao scores, if the double does come, Yao throws it to the corner or up top and watch the defense scramble like mad trying to shut down the 3 point shots from the perimeter and/or the drive by McGrady. Throw in some pick and fade with Yao and McGrady. Bring in Nachbar for some more shooting and slashing to the hoop off the entry pass to Yao. If Howard's man cheats off him to help on Yao, Howard spots up for the 10 footer or goes to the hole for the pass from Yao or the rebound of Yao's shot from the weakside. We're gonna go right back to that offensive style that everybody hated so much which is get it inside to the big fella and then work off him. I think it is a beautiful thing to watch the ball swinging around the perimeter to the wide open shooter. The other variation will be when we put both bigs down low and let McGrady post up from the elbow. The turnaround dagger, the fake and one bounce dribble drive, with a layup or a pass out to a wide open 3 point shooter or to one of the big men fading outside to leave the lane for McGrady. Ahhhhhhhhh, sweet indeed.
For his size Mcgrady is a pretty good ball handler. I see us using him and Yao in alot of pick and roll scenario's. Yao is probably the best passing ever to come out since Olajuwon. he's very underrated in those aspects. Yao is best suited on the high post. He's more of a finesse player than a banger. If he devlops at least one more post move he could be even more dangerous. I'de love to see him polish a hook shoot from the middle of the paint. Or maybe a fadeaway baseline jumper ala Hakeem. What I have noticed last season is he's finding the ball quicker as far as rebounding goes than his first season in the league. Also he was nailing those top of the key 15 footers with ease near the end of the season. His stamina will get better and allow him stay in games longer with playing over the summer. Let's face it Yao really hadn't experience the rigors of playing an 82 games schedule ever before so the longer he plays the more mentally prepared he'll be to last 40 mins a game. Overall this season he's proven he can be motivated to put on terrific games,and as long his endurance grows the more that will be a regularity.
Well with T-Mac aboard, I think the rox should have 3 main sets. 1. Set up Yao in the post. Have T-Mac throw in the entry pass and then cut quickly to the basket, hopefully for an easy layup. Otherwise just let Yao operate and draw in the double team and pass out for the open three ball. 2. Run the pick and roll with Yao and T-Mac. T-Mac has one of the best first steps in the NBA and he'll love getting a massive screen from Yao. And Yao can either fade for an open 12 footer or roll for the layin. By all accounts, Del Harris will be working on the pick n roll this summer on the Chinese NT so I'm sure Yao will get plenty of practice. (One thing that Yao can definitely work on is "slipping screens". It's an easy way to get a basket if the two of them are on the same page.) 3. Put Yao at the high post and play the two man game with Mcgrady. T-Mac can use Yao's big body to cause separation and Yao can give him a handoff for a drive or an open shot. Yao can fake the handoff and hit a cutter or shoot an open jumper. It's not complicated. It's basic basketball. But when you have physical talent and precise execution, these play can be absolutely unstoppable. And i'd like to see the rockets bring in a pg that can push the ball. I can definitely see us being a very good fastbreak team if only we can surround T-Mac with a few guys that can run the floor. That's why I'm hoping that Boki start getting some major PT, because he can definitely fill the lane better than JJ. I'm not sure if Howard is much of a fastbreaker, and Yao probably isn't but if Yao can just start controlling the boards and break out those great outlets that I see him do occasionally, then we can drastically improve our transition play.
with SF3,it's getting the ball to Yao with T-Mac,it's sharing the ball Howard's fine,77+ games a year in the last 5 seasons,sweet J,exceptional FT,quietly accepted 4th option role in Dallas,did his best to be the go-to guy in Denver,I wouldn't mind trading Cato for him straight up. MoT'?after Howard,he can't provide any varieties off the bench.to conquer,not just contend,this team need one more major piece.please dump this fat contract. backup C not my major concern,PG is.we need a guy to help the team sharing the ball,to mutualise T-Mac and Yao.Fisher?Barry?no need to bring more fire power to starting lineup.take it slow,don't break the bank right now,via trade or draft,things come cheaper,and maybe better,and restore the bench carefully. inside-out can no longer be the primary game plan,JVG must install a much balanced offence.let Yao operate,let T-Mac operate,let the whole team operate,be wise,be precise,be aggressive,now this is bball.
Yes I agree..hopefully and I'm pretty sure the trade will happen. Then wow...it should be very exciting!!! Patience. I'm gonna miss Stevie and company. I like everyone's posts in this thread..
Minor point: Taylor moreso than Howard would be a back-up center, I think Mo is a little stronger. If the trade goes down as talked about--with Cato and Lue included, there are two main weaknesses to the team. #1 the big men are pretty slow and lack a physical presence, especially defensively. #2 the PG spot is shaky. A 3rd minor weakness (darn letting Posey go) is 3rd swingman to share quality minutes at the 2 and 3 spots, especially Jackson who we probably wore out last year. (I am not confident in Pike nor Boki being anything less than a dramatic fall off at their positions) Assuming Cato is gone, my ideal acquisitions would be: *Camby, Swift or Etan Thomas (full MLE from 3 to 6 years) *vet PG for the vet min or 1.5 mil exception (Alston, Fisher, Hudson) *vet minimum shooter/swingman (Peeler, Bowen) Alternatives include Barry for the MLE and vet min for a back-up defensive C like Foyle or Hunter or Corie Blount. As we saw in Minny last year--who might have won the title had Cassell and Hudon not been injured, you can change a team one year to the next and make a run for the title. Once this trade goes down, with a few tweaks, the Rockets could be right there. Sure would liek to keep Cato though, then we only need to worry about the 1 spot and go for that 3rd vet swingman.
No no no. You have two great options. We've seen this work with Shaq and Kobe - but OUR guys are even better at passing and shooting. Play the triangle. It's not so complicated, it works like genius with stud talent. Yao is at the high post and makes a triangle with Barry and Nachbar on the right side. Tmac and Howard set up on the left side for a two-man game. When Barry brings the ball up the court, he gets to decide to flip it directly to Yao, who goes to work, or to Nachbar for the entry to Yao, or to Tmac, who initiates the two-man game with Howard. It all depends on what side the defense overloads. If the defense sets in a zone, collapsing on Yao, Yao backs up, Tmac works with Howard. If they front Yao - Tmac. If they double TMac - Yao has the nifty 10ft shot. If it's a slow set up , we can drop the ball to Nachbar who can see over and drop it to Yao. Yao can see shooters in Nachbar and Barry on his side and Tmac on the other. He can hit slashers. He can direct the ball to attack the weakest defense. All of the passes are short. No crazy lazy cross court heaves. No dribble penetration probing. Just zip zip bucket. Zip pivot, zip, jumper. Zip zip bucket. http://espn.go.com/ncb/2003/0128/1499926.html Now, the other set we should really investigate is the UCLA cut. http://espn.go.com/ncb/2003/0212/1507738.html You see right away that Yao is in a very nice place at the free throw line. It's not so hard to get him the ball on the move there. If Tmac comes around and gets the pick, I feel really good about us getting two points on that . I really like that we're getting bigger and smarter and better at setting up fast and moving the ball and shooting. With a few more players, we should have a nice arsenal of talent to attack with. I'd like to pick up Tmo for more size at the 3, and insurance. Having a tall entry passer there that can hit a mid-range shot is very helpful. His defense and rebounding would be nice, too.
Desert Scar, Concur. But I wonder, too, about having Juwan Howard, Maurice Taylor, and Clarence Weatherspoon on the team. Given that there is no market for Weatherspoon, and probably no takers for Mo's contract, I imagine another home should be found for Juwan. Granted, his contract will run until he's about 35, at which point he'll be pulling in 7 million or more. But Minnesota and others tried to sign him last summer. Maybe he can fetch us a backup center, point guard, or small forward (in that order).
Hum, depends on the deal. I like the Howard/Mot 4 spot OK--both can shoot and understand the game. Couple them with quickness on the wings (darn missing Posey to form a trifecta with T-Mac and JJ) and Yao/defensive back-up, I think they can hold the fort at that position. I see Weatherspoon as a non-factor however, I really don't want him playing significant PT under normal conditions, only serving as injury insurance. If we don't have Howard, we need another 4 to share duties with Mo, even if they are largely redudent. If we could get Camby, Swift or Thomas with the MLE--then yes trade Howard if there is a comparable talent at a more needed position. But right now I don't see Howard as a luxury. We still need a back-up C (preferrably defensive oriented), but that is a seperate issue in my book (use vet min or 2 mil non-MLE exception for Hunter, Foyle, Corie Blount, Skinner, Ostertag) unless we get a 4 and defensive back-up 5 all in 1 package like the guys I mentioned for the full MLE. Camby is an injury risk, but he would not have to be a workhorse for us (lowing injury risk) and might be perfect, I wonder if a 3 or 4 year MLE deal would do it.
Van Gundy says to Tracy: Take this basketball and put it through that basket. If anyone gets in your way, pass it to the really tall guy over there. j
With Yao's ability to consistently hit shots at 15', we could also run him in the high post on a give and go. TMac passes to Yao at the elbow and runs his man off Yao's screen. If Yao's defender tries to cover TMac, Yao has an open path to the bucket or a wide open jumper. Yao has the ability to see over the defense so if TMac sees daylight, Yao feeds him for the dunk or short jumper. DEVASTATING
The thing I worry about Yao is whether or not he's the type of player who can sprint from the foul line to the goal in high post pick and rolls. We may have to settle with him popping 15 foot jumpers instead.
www.chron.com Rockets Discuss Moving Yao to Point Van Gundy talks of Yao as his floor general. By JONAS GRUMBY Copyright 2009 Houston Comical Since the first mention of a possible pairing of Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady in Houston, coach Jeff Van Gundy, well known for his defensive IQ, has been busy devising a devastatingly new offensive vision. Who would be at the center of that vision? Yao. When Jeff Van Gundy spoke of the Rockets offense, he gave fans some hints as to what to expect. "What I'd really like to do is get Yao running the point where he can shoot the open three, dribble penetrate, and set the tone for our half-court offense. What's the point of... heh heh, I made a pun... playing at center when he can REALLY exploit his size advantage running the point?" Dallas forward, Dirk Nowitski had this to say: "With his size, Yao will have no trouble shooting a high percentage above the arc. Just look at me and my success. If I weren't purposely playing out of position shooting 3s over players four to six inches shorter than me, I'd be back in Europe by now. Did I mention that I'm German too?" Van Gundy also raved about the anticipated pick up of Tyronne Lue. "With Lue at the five position, we'll have mismatches every night of 'David and Goliath' proportions. Sure, opposing centers like Shaq will hurt Lue big time, but how fun would it be to see a squirt like Lue go up against the giants? Not since Mike Tyson's Punch Out has there been such an epic story in the making. And besides which, just think of the TV ratings!" When asked what he thinks of losing Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley, Jeff Van Gundy turned demure and had this to say. "Those two are two of the finest players you will ever find in this league.... PSYCHE!" "For the record though, I actually wish both of them the best. It's unfortuantely that Steve didn't buy me that extra Super Bowl ticket like I asked, but what can I say? C'est la vie." Meanwhile in China... Fran got a hold of Yao at a local McDonald's in downtown Shanghai. Here's a transcript of the meeting for all the online edition subscribers to the Houston Comical. Fran: "hi Yao." Yao: |munch munch| "mmmm Chicken McNugget is very good." Fran: "So what do you think of the proposed trade that sends Steve Francis to Orlando?" Yao: |munch munch| "mmmm mmmm mmmm Quarter Pounder with Cheese." Fran: "And what about playing with Tracy McGrady next year?" Yao: |BURPS| "oooo ohhhhh too many milk shakes make Yao sleepy. Z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z.z" Fran: "Well, there you have it Houston. Yao really does LOVE his Mickey Ds." theSAGE
I have seen him do it. It seems easy for him because it only takes 2 steps. With someone who is looking to get Yao open shots (Barry, Fisher, Van Exel) and someone else who commands a constant double team (TMac), Yao will be able to roll to the basket OR shoot the shot from the elbow. If we have a 4 that can shoot from 12-18 feet (Howard), defenses will not be able to sag as badly to try to double Yao. We could be VERY dangerous for a lot of years with a lineup of: PG - Barry, Fisher, or NVE; Lue SG - TMac; JJ SF - JJ; Boki PF - Howard; Taylor; EG (If he gets his head on straight, he is going to be a special player.) C - Yao; FA; EG In addition, a lineup like that makes us a MAJOR player in the trade and free agent markets. Half the league seems to live here in the offseason, playing at WTC. I know it might be a long shot, but perhaps Webber might like to lead a lineup like that in a quest for a ring. He has already played out his max contract and may be willing to do a year or two at the MLE to compete for a championship. Are there any good free agent SFs out there who need some hardware?
