I agree that current data suggests that. But that was not Yao's game before JVG got hired, and it's not been his game in the CBA since. I do think that's Yao's fault, and I think Adelman was hired over this particular issue but Yao has looked more uncomfortable "in space" in the NBA than he ever has before. I'm fine with Landry taking more 22-26' shots, but people forget that we've had someone that used to be comfortable shooting them. Much less the mid-range game. In some ways Yao's effieciency has worked against his improvement (Morey raves about it), but Adelman's greatest deficiency here has been Yao-is-still-convinced-he-has-to-be-Shaq. What will be Rockets history is that says Yao just standing there defensively wasn't huge. Chuck is awesome, and Deke made an infinite amount of defensive plays, but if you really think Yao was unimportant, consider that RA only used those guys when absolutely necessary. JVG did too.
Yao can score from 15+ out - he hits jumpers at times. He doesn't play out there because he's even more dominant inside.
Yes, KG is more front-facing (although Pau does post up quite a bit). But that doesn't matter. Whether it's a post or just an inside presence...their ability to dominate in the paint area and flats creates a lot of space in other areas. And they are still taking very high percentage shots. The difference between a 10 footer - whether it's a jumper, a hook shot, or whatever, and a 20 foot jumper is night an day.
Yao's an above average passer for a big man, and Tmac is above average for a wing. Both are good enough to be incorporated into the system with no major problems.
Last night was a perfect example as to why we need a big man... Andrew Bynum had 17 points and 17 rebounds.... 17 REBOUNDS!!!!! There was no one that can contain him cause of his size. To compete with the great teams we need a big like Yao Ming. Period.
He doesn't play out there because he can't do anything except catch and shoot from that range. He can't put the ball on the floor facing up.
The first three Bulls championships had Bill Cartwright at the post position. They were only able to overcome the Pistons, and then the Lakers when Cartwright manned the post. During the next three, there was a period when Luc Longley, the Bulls' plodding center, had a freak accident while playing in the ocean and had to be out for several weeks. Jordan himself, in a tv interview said that they really missed Longley in the middle because of his big body and he wished that Longley could come back soon as they really needed him. There was a survey among the NBA players at that time as to who were the combination of the three most fearsome players if one were defending the fast break. The overall consensus was the combination of Jordan, Pippen and Kukoc. Now, with this fearsome fastbreaking trio, why did they still miss the plodding Longley, and he is not even close to Yao in talent. The whole point here, like the poster/s who pointed out the 40 yr old Jabbar playing with the Showtime Lakers, it is way wrong to think that Yao will hinder the fast paced offense of the current Rockets. Even Adelman said so himself. As for Phoenix, have they ever one a championship with Nash and the run and gun offense with Stoudamire, Joe Johnson, Marion, etc.? As for Cleveland, they are so ridiculously hyped up yet they have not won a single championship, and it is not smart to use them as a measuring stick for the Rockets. This post is really right on the money except for that little Bulls comparison.
It makes no sense to say use the Shaq/PHX example to say that a post-player cannot work with a fast team. The PHX team's problem last season was not Shaq slowing them down on offense-- in fact, they were as efficient as ever on that end of the floor. Their problem was that nobody on that team defended. Shaq doesn't, Nash doesn't Amare doesn't, J. Rich doesn't. I think Grant Hill might be the only one who tries somewhat, but he's old. That team's problem was that they lost Marion and then Bell, just about their only guys who would defend. Those old PHX teams were great because they were efficient offensively and at least average defensively. Last season, they were still great offensively, but was well below average on the other end.
Well their major trade was Marion for Shaq and I'm sure you know who is the better defender. All others players were basically the same, hence defence should stay the same or get better. Something obviously went wrong, they went from about 60 wins down to the upper 40s.
I think it's a bit of a reach to say Yao is an above-average passer. He's decent. And you're underrating T-Mac's passing quite a bit. Better than almost all wings in that area. LeBron is the only one that comes to mind with regards to court vision and timing. Who else can pass it like T-Mac from the wing position? Melo? Granger? Pierce? He is an excellent passer, Morey will attest to that.
Yao slows the game but can bring many points in my opinion we can keep him and add an athletic power forward/center with another clutch player (TMac ie) Yao should not be our N 1 option in offense, it slows too much our way of playing
I really probably won't matter because Yao can't stay healthy!!! What we really need is an athletic big man like Bosh.
That statement about Kareem is some what Cloudy... They also lost Michael Cooper and the biggest loss was Magic Johnson who made the big announcement... I agree with the adjustment... But I truly believe this team will not work with Yao... They have grown and moved on and they are now a running team and Yao will only slowly them down. This is where I agree with [Durvasa] with the Shaq theory... T-Mac is going to be interesting case... All I can say we can only wait and see.
Man that's CRAP!!!! The Rockets lost that game because of several reasons... One the refs made some very bad calls... But basically because THEY.... not the Lakers... Slowed the tempo down... They got the lead by runnning and hustling.. Now do we need size... Yes.. I totally agree.. But with this team you need a center such as Bosch or even a Camby.. A center that can run and also play Defense... Hell even a younger Dikembe would be ideal for this team. Yao does not fit, he's too slow, too demanding and no defense.
