After finally able to catch a couple of games over the thanksgiving break, I can't seem to understand why Yao doesn't get enough plays calling for him. I would first like to state that I don't have a huge problem with our guards, they actually give up the ball enough. What I do have a problem is that a lot of times when the ball don't through Yao, it ends up in the hands of Jim Jackson, Maurice Taylor or even ocassionally Kelvin Cato and let them make a move to the basket 1 on 1 against another player, I mean what the heck is that? I think the offense on the Rox is trying to accomadate way too many players. I think every play should go through Yao, Steve and occassionally just to mix it up mobley. But I see way to many plays going through our 4th, 5th or 6th options.
Ok, I see 141 views and four stars but not a single reply. I honestly believe that a major problem with the Rox is that we run too much plays for our 3rd, 4th and 5th scoring options. The games that I have been able to watch, I see very heavy improvemetns from the guards as far as not forcing too many bad shots (not that they don't but it's definitely far superior than the past few years). But when I see the ball not in the guards hands, a lot of times it still doesn't end up in Yao's hands. Am I the only one that sees this?
true but the bigger/underlying problem rests upon poor passing. our offense is very one dimensional. shots are not being created via our offense but through individual play. i dont care how dominant a player is (shaq included), but no one can go one on five in this league and win coosistantly.
I think the plays are there for the taking. They just have to play smarter, and start showing confidence in one another while on the court together. It really just boills down to one thing. EXECUTION! Go Rockets!!
This is not exactly the case although it looks like it. Firstly do you realise that Yao Ming is not playing his natural position by being in the low post, he is accommodating his Coach [JVG] by learning to play there.The problem starts because for some strange reason our guards are dribblers and not passers, they love to dribble the ball up the court. While all this is taking place Yao Ming is getting into position and staring to indicate he wants the ball, Steve is now on the arc and is seeing what his options are, the defending team Center is taking up position, pushing on Yao Ming with two hands,Steve dribbles one way then another on Yao Mings side, then the defending Small Forward or Guard is moving to defend on the other side of him[Yao]. Steve looks at the clock'5' seconds, his defender[Steves] is right on top of him , he makes his mind up, Yao Ming is smothered but still calling for the ball, Steve says to himself will I take it, no, pass to JJ on the wing. JJ has only 3 seconds to make up his mind, he passes to Yao Ming who has two seconds to try and overcome the five of six fouls already committed by his defenders and increasing pressure as a third defender is moving his way.He notices that his team-mates are standing arround, not well spaced and they arnt trying to get open either, so up goes a low percentage attempt which is blocked by the third man covering him who is a great leaper.the Ref didnt notice the tackey fouls or that the defending Center was holding onto Yao Mings arm preventing him from making much of a jump, which he doesnt try to do most of the time anyway. The Guards are waiting for Rebounds and love to dribble down the Court. Too much valuable decission time is waisted here and often results in rushed low percentage shots by players not in position to take the easy shot, there is little to no time to have ball movement and finding the open man is not an easy problem to solve, as its often Calvin Cato and not a reliable scorer. This condition is repeated in many different forms at least ten times a game and we need to improve this situation.
This is not totally true either. From what I have seen, the guards dribble up court. Yao is fighting for position. In order for the low post, inside-out offense to be effective, the big man MUST get position down low. Often, Yao is being muscled out to about fifteen feet out. He is often either outright doubled or being shaded by other defenders. Because the low post man is fifteen feet out instead of seven to ten, this destroys the spacing of the play - allowing help defenders to play in a middle ground where they are close enough to Yao to disrupt the pass but still close enough to the passer to challenge the shot. That extra five to seven feet makes a lot of difference. When Yao does get the ball, he instinctively examines the defense to loo for doubles and check for passing lanes. Then he starts to try to back his man down. As soon as he puts the ball on the floor, the help defense comes over to disrupt his move or steal the ball. He either has to cut his move short, or try to pass it back out. The low post game is predicated on spacing. When Yao gets the ball down low and makes a quick move, he is almost unstoppable and the play works out nicely. When he is forced out, the guards hold the ball too long trying to dump it in then either swing it around or try to dribble. That's when a majority of the bad decisions happen. The spacing is also hurt because you have a player in Cato that is not an offensive threat at all and this allows an extra defender to guard the lane and cut down on any penetration/low post opportunities. A lot has been said about Sacramento's offense, but if you look closely, they never put someone out there that can't shoot and their spacing is always excellent.
while watching the last several Rocket games, it seem Yao is playing more minutes, I get the sense that JVG instead of resting him on the bench, takes him out of the offense to rest him on the floor and play exclusively defense for a spell. It maybe JVG wants him to play 48 without tiring him.
See, the thing is if Yao's not gonna be the one plat revolves around, I want the guards to be the one the play revolves around instead of JJ, Mo T and Cato (why does he ever post up). One thing I do notice a lot recently however is that it seems Mo T gets the ball in the post a lot because he position him self real fast. That's something Yao has got to learn to do. I can even remeber a play where cat was the top of the key looking into Yao, but Yao just wasn't getting into position, and they swung the ball around and posted up Mo. Yao's got to learn to postion himself better and the guards got to make it less obvious that they are gonna pass to him when they do. I really want to see the guards look to pass to Yao, and IF that option is taken away, ATTACK the freaking basket instead of swing around and end up setting up a play for our 4th, 5th or 6th option.
Very seldom do Francis and Mobley pass into Yao Ming, when he is in a scoring position, Mobley just avoids it if he can and Francis passing isn't good enough and the ball often goes through someone else.The Guards when they do pass and its a quality pass it's been telegraphed and Yao Ming is about to be doubleteamed with little time on the clock.If we keep the same system and players there must be a lot of practice and Coaching in this area.
Simple. 1 billion YOF's. I hate the term as much as the next guy, but it's YOF's that can easily distort the system. It's something we'll have to deal with I guess.
I don't think I can agree with that in the games I've watched. Most of the game, I see the guards are not holding on to the ball when on offense, atleast a lot less than the past few years. The only thing that pisses me off is that a lot of times the play is being runned on the opposite side of the floor Yao is on. That really boggles my mind. Another thing I realised is that Yao seemed confused a couple of times while our guards have the ball on the same side. It seemed he was sure if he was suppose to move to high post to set a pick or try to establish position and post up. While the hesitation might only be a second, it can hinder the successfulness of the possession a lot as it gives the defense to recover and adjust. I really think the Rockets shouldn't go completely away from 1 on 1 play (not iso but just the guard taking on their man to the basket) when we see Yao being swarmed. I think it will really throw another play the defense have to adjust to and it also play to our strength. I personally think it'd be a heck of a lot more than running picks that amount to nothing and the ball eventually ending up in the hands of our less skilled offesive minded players.
Let's face it. JVG is still learning how to attack the zone. Before he left the Knicks, he never needed to worry about the zone defense. He has to learn how to design the play more efficiently.
Yao needs to learn a move besides the fadeaway jumper and sissy layup. Also, a 7-6 player should never have his hook shot blocked by anyone. EVER! When Yao starts playing better, maybe he'll get more plays called for him. So far, his game has taken a massive step down from last year.
