Playing without Yao

Cleveland is a pretty good illustration of how having a massive body in the middle can curtail player movement and a free-flowing offense. Last year (Orlando series not withstanding), the Cavs offense had a great flow to it. Lots of cutting through the lane and ball movement. They're struggling to find that this year with Shaq on the floor.

 

But come playoff time, you need that low post option to throw it down to. Which is why Cleavland went and got shaq.

 

The fast break Lakers had a 40-year old Kareem. They didn't go anywhere when he left.

Yes, it's an adjustment, but the adjustment is to be able to play two different styles at the same time.

The Rockets can still have this offense even with Yao. But just as many have demanded that T_mac adjust into this new offense when he returns, so must Yao.

And the fact remains - to win a ring, you have to have those half-court anchors. A fast-break offense is a great asset to have, and will help you win games, but it's nothing without the anchors.

 

Here's a discussion on how Cleveland can achieve better offense with Shaq. Relevant for us, I think.

http://basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=766

 

Maybe when they were playing crappy teams. When it counted it became Mike "the offensive genius" brown patented 1 on 5 offense.

 

One advantage of a Yao at end game is he hits his free throws. You know he will either get a decent shot or get fouled. Surprised that Brook's FT shooting has dipped significantly this year.

 

Can you name the last NBA champion that didn't have a premier post-up player?

It was the Bulls. every team since then has had a very strong post player....either Shaq, Duncan, Garnett, Gasol, or Rasheed.

Without Shaq or Gasol - the Lakers could not win a ring. Without Duncan, the Spurs are lost. Without KG, the Celtics couldn't even make it back to the finals.

Boston is the overwhelming favorite this year and off to another sick start - why? Because it has BOTH KG and Rasheed...you throw any decent guards in there and you got a great team. You throw Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, and it's just not fair.

A skilled big man like Yao does so much damage. Not just that he shoots 50%, but in that he gets to the line and shots 80 plus percent effectively bring up his fg percentage even higher.

Think about it - in today's NBA, teams that shoot above 50% or near it, are going to win a lot of games. That's why post men are still valuable, the good ones shot above 50% and that is an awesome threat. If you don't have that...a guy who can create their own shot at above 50% - it means the opposing D can focus on everyone equally and that means everyone suffers.

You put Yao on this team, and everyone will have an easier time.

Will it look as pretty? Maybe not. But who cares - you will still be getting a lot more open shots for people. But I think if this team establishes this style then when Yao comes back...

What you will see is that Adelman will run two offenses basically - and it will only make us more dangerous. A running free-wheeling style that generates shots of off the ball picks and cuts ala the Princeton offense he ran in Sac-town, as well as the JVG-style star draws the double team and dumps it to an open man.

That's two weapons...and that's what you want. Make defenses work that much harder.

 

First tell Tmac he owes the team and make him play at the vet minimum

Then why cant we have both offense running, based on whose on the floor. Is it hard to remember two patterns? Play a passing guard (dont know if Lowry is staying) with Yao and Brooks with the fast pace team.

I think this will lower Yaos minute and I would hate that but it would lengthen his career.

But teams would have to continuously adjust to our offense and I think it will tire them out faster then it would us.

 

Yao or Tmac?

Both are mega-injury prone, but only one has heart.

You figure it out

 

Shaq was just dominant beyond comparison.

As to the rest, can't really compare Yao to those players. All of them can face up and score from 15+ feet out. Yao has to be close to the basket (within 8 feet) to be efficient.

 

KG and Pau Gasol arent really back to the basket players. they're more like very versatile PFs, who can face up, and take you off the dribble. Duncan too. Hakeem also fit this mold but he was a Guard/Foward/Center all mixed in one. With Yao he can only play one style, thats back to the basket. He can't face up, wont take you off the dribble, and his midrange J is average at best.

 

Yao is an excellent passer with a nice 15-18 foot jumper and I have a feeling the new version of Yao will be more of a high post type player which fits Adelman to a tee. There will be times where we have to go half court(illustrated by last night) thus Yao would be ideal along with his ablity to clog the middle and block shots. Yao is needed badly and will excel if they STOP trying to dump it into him and instead play around him to draw out defenders from underneath the basket.

 

no yao isnt gonna run the floor well with the fast break squad but if we get into an overtime or close game, then you need that option. i would rather have yao shooting than most other rockets. and if he is fouled then its automatic points.
and yao can be effective facing up jvg just never used him that way. i think a lot of ppl are forgetting that yao can play high post low post has a good midrange shot and is very capable of hitting the 3. yao is also a very good passer.
we can have both run n gun and half court O adjusting to the situation.

 

a good big man is a necessary ingredient for a team to achieve ultimate success. very few exceptions. look at the lakers for example. bynum is not really a very good big. so w/o pau, they're going nowhere and don't look remotely close to a champ team.

for us, this big man is yao - if he returns to his form. otherwise, we shall look elsewhere. the current makeup of our team is fundamentally flawed.

good posts, Sweet Lou 4 2.

 

I remember after the Portland game, a lot of us were talking about how impressive the difference in games between the way the starters played for the Blazers and the bench. Why can't the Rockets do that when Yao returns?
When Yao is in, run occasionally but be more of a half-court team much like last year. Yes, have the Adleman motion offense but still run the offense thru Yao. When Yao hits the bench, play a lot more like we have been this year. Specifically when Lowry is in the game. I think that would be the best option for us next year.

 

really early to be making decisions. let's give it 20 games and then see how we are playing