[Philly Inquirer] 76ers have to knock over Rockets with young talent (UPDATE: 1/13)

Every center/shot blocker gets dunked on. We only hear about Yao getting dunked on because he's so tall. You could make a 15 minute highlight reel of Deke getting punished. That doesn't mean he's a terrible defender, it just means he was THERE trying to block the shot.

Yao is an average defender. The fact he gets dunked on is evidence of nothing.

 

if this happens i would be soooo happy

 

Kindly note the Rocket's defensive statistics this season vs 2008-2009. The difference is most palpable. This is a direct result of losing the services of Yao Ming defending the Field Goal.

Chris Bosh has never been near the factor, offensively or defensively that Yao has been.

 

LOL Deke is one of the most prolific shot blockers in the history of basketball, of course he's going to get dunked on from time to time. What is Yao's excuse?

 

The difference is that their current center is the smallest center in the history of the team. If you replaced Yao with Kelvin Cato on defense, the difference would be non-existent.

Bosh averages 20 and 9 for his career, guess what Yao has averaged? 19 and 9. Some people might say that's somewhere near the factor or maybe more than the factor or something. Yao kool aid is dangerous stuff. Don't drink and drive.

 

No, everyone would take Bosh's potential over what Yao can do, considering he is injury prone. When healthy, he has been the better player, on both sides of the ball. Bosh has good numbers, but he doesn't have Yao's impact. I don't see how anyone who has seen both really play would say anything different.

Now considering that Bosh is healthier and Yao has major concerns, then it's obvious which one you take. But don't discount Yao's production when he played.

 

Chillax, bro.

Centers get dunked on the most in the league.

You can say that Yao is one of the smoothest 7-footers to ever play the game. What's Mutumbo's excuse?

It's not like Yao doesn't go for the block.

 

are u kidding me?? yes bosh does put up good numbers and the impact he brings is not nearly as close as yaos... i mean the only reason a gm would take him over yao is because he is a few years younger and yao is injury-prone.. but yao is def the better player (esp for our offence) since he can draw double teams and kick it out for the wide open Js.. and he achors our D in the paint as it has shown in the previous years...

 

QFT

By the simple act of Yao standing vertically in the vicinity of a basketball hoop, teams are forced to take much more difficult shots. Their inside shots are either affected by Yao or more often they don't even attempt them and end up taking longer shots which have less of a chance of going in.

There's has been a 5-point increase in points allowed per game. and a 2.5% change in opponents FG%. To put it in relative terms, last season the team was 5th in opp FG%, this season they are 21st. In points allowed the Rockets were 7th last season and currently they are 18th.

This huge decrease in defensive efficiency is not because we lost Ron Artest or because we play more uptempo basketball. It's primarily because opponents have layup drills any time they get anywhere close to the rim. We have no one who can challenge a shot.

Yes, it was team defense that made the Rockets so good these past few years, but this season has shown that Yao was the anchor, the cornerstone, or whatever the hell you want to call it.

 

Bingo. This is why I am intrigued by the possibility of adding Chris Bosh. With Yao and Bosh next season, we have a huge anchor and a great weakside, athletic defender to pair alongside of him. This is exactly that, as good as Scolandry is, it is worth splitting them up and sending one of them to Toronto to get Bosh here.

Hopefully Morey can land both Bosh and a primary SG such as Iguodala or Kevin Martin by trading McGrady and some of our pieces. McGrady, Cook, Ariza, Lowry, and one of Scola or Landry are all worth giving up for Bosh and Iguodala, Kevin Martin, or a shooting guard in that class.

 

Actually in a high post-oriented offense, Bosh is a way better fit, he's deadly from the top of the key/right elbow area shooting about 60% from there.

 

What was the defensive fallout all the years he went down and deke had to play? Thats my point. You won't get any argument about Yao's impact on defense and I've said that when people ont this board was crazily talking about shane being the reason the rockets have been a good defensive team. They were wrong because the rockets were a good defensive when wesley was playing the 2, but the rockets are suffering now not only because yao is out, its because they have a 6'6, non shot blocking center. It happened last year when yao would go out and adelman wouldn't play deke and it turned into a layup drill. You can get a guy like Dalembert or Mbenga and put them next to boch and you will be just as good defensively and be more versitile defensive team. Against utah, the rockets would give it up at a high rate even with yao. Its good to have yao defensively when you play shaq,howard,bynum,or oden, but when teams need a basket, they put yao in pick and roll situations and get any shot they want because he's poor in space. Of course he will be poor in space just like on offense he's going to clog the lane too. Its give and take, push and pull.

 

I would take Dalembert's contract. He's the center that this team needs. He's playing really well now, and coming to Houston it would be an extra motivation for him. He has what we are looking for at the center position.

Anyway, if he comes here, doesn't fit for whatever reason, and you don't want him for next season, he's a big expiring that you can trade. If he plays good:

Brooks - Lowry
Iguodala - Budinger
Battier - Ariza
Scola - Landry
Yao - Dalembert

The roster is done, you don't need more moves to go for a ring. And next summer Samuel's contract expires and you can resign him for a more reasonable deal.

 

I still think the problems on this team are not on D but on O.

DD

 

You forgot though, if we were to aquire Dalembert and Iguodala, you can likely kiss goodbye to Lowry and Scola.

Dont look for this trade to happen unless Philly doesnt include Dalembert and/or a third team can be found to take on Dalembert. Morey wants no part of him.

 

The below avg d puts pressure on the offense. This team doesn't have enough versitility in its players. Guys are either good defenders and below avg offensive players or good offensive players and below avg defenders.

 

I agree, but my philosophy is that it is better to have great offensive skills than it is to have great defensive skills.

Because I think you can teach an offensive guy to be adequate on defense more than you can teach a great defender to be adequate on Offense.

DD

 

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If we got Iggy/Dalembert. Is it possible to buyout Dalembert's contract or revalue it/resign for lower or something?
If that is what is on the table that looks like a championship team.

Iggy would be half-McGrady/half-Artest.
Dalembert would be Mutombo 2.0 with improved offense.

 

How many teams win with an "adequate" defense? The Warriors are FILLED with great offensive players.. and "adequate" defensive players. Look how far they've gotten.

The Rockets defense this year is TERRIBLE. Martin would only make us worse. You're turning into the Mike Leach of the NBA.

All the great teams start and end with defense. That is what wins you championships. Not frail bodies who jack threes and miss 20+ games a year.