Yao is performing great as a post-up guy when he's not being fronted or hounded by the enemy. when he is being shut down like this, he should be making them pay from mid-range a la Duncan or Garnett. he has an excellent "jump" shot (not much of a jump). That would also keep the enemy's tallest defender away from the rim and open things up for swift or mcgrady or any of the guards to drive. what do you guys think? does this work?
Yao shooting mid-range shots is just bailing the defense out. There is no reason why we should not be able to get Yao the ball in the post. If they are doubling him without the ball, then we need to pass to the open man and force rotations, if they are fronting him then he needs to seal them and we can swing the ball to the top or lob it into the post. I think the Rockets are the only team I have seen that consistenty has problems getting the ball into the post.
It's a good idea. he can also revert to a bit of pick and roll with tracy. he is pretty much money from the mid range.
I disagree. Yao is 7-6. His greatest advantage is not his jump shot, it is his height. He brings the Rockets more of a advantage when he stays in the post. If the defense collapses on Yao he can dish it out to the open man for a easy jumper. Keep the big guy in the post.
Against shaq , variety is the key. sometimes you have to hit the outside shot to get shaq out of his comfert zone.
I thought I was the only one that brought up Yao's shot in this forum. I'm glad someone else see the light. THANK YOU! Yao had a great outside shot when he played for China. He came here and it disappeared. I'm not going to waste time talking about how it was right for the Rockets to teach him how to post up. I will say that it's a complete waste to not work on his shot and keep it up. Opening up the lane by allowing Yao to hang around the perimeter would really benefit other guys on our team. And one BIG advantage this would give is REST for Yao when he's winded. He could stay up high and post a threat for a 15-18 footer, and not go band down low. So I'm not saying turn his game into a shooting game; but I am saying that the team could really utilize his ability to make the open shot. And one more thing. I have to say it while I'm complaining about the team wasting talent. Did any of you watch Yao's first year in the league? He was an amazing passer! And what happened? Oh yeah, 24-7 on the posting up, not working on the passing. Houston has really wasted some Yao's true talents. Where's his passing now? It's nothing like it used to be. What's the point of a height advantage if he doesn't use it. There is NO WAY this guy should be averaging less than about 12 boards a game, but he does. And since he is so tall, he can't jump on his shots, which really equates him to a 7 footer who can jump. He hasn't learned how to use his height yet.
JVG still believes that the day Yao becomes an automatic monster under the basket, the days are numbers for the opponents. As such, Yao will not be encouraged to pop up mid range jumpers like he did under Rudy T......at least when he plays for the Rockets.
Once JVG stops asking Yao to chase guards and let him play like Shaq is asked, Yao will be unstoppable. He is much more skilled than Shaq.
Yes. You are right. Yao should be shooting. He is an excellent shooter. JVG, however, has some mental block against this. I think its some kind of small-man's macho thing. He needs to project his insecurity about his manhood on Yao, forcing him to woof and bang in the post. This is like forcing water to flow upstream. This makes him feel like a big man, but it is really a sign of his weakness. He is the reed that does not bend, but breaks. Some of our posters have this same macho insecurity.
look, some of you fellers seem to be misunderstanding what i said originally. if yao is totally being shut down posting up, then mix it up and let him shoot. if nothing else this will change the way he is defended the rest of the game so that if he's hitting his jumpers he can go back to posting. mix it up. i'm tired of watching them beat a dead horse trying to get the ball to yao when he is shut down in the post.
I agree the part we should swing the ball to the top or other side and let JH or Swift to attack rim when they front yao. The problem is how to move the ball to other side fast and I feel Yao is not a good catch so it will change to many TOs when lob to him. I can feel frustration of our guards. But I still prefer some TOs then guards shoot bricks. Who can caculate TOs when we try to pass to yao and our guards not hit which is better for team. And also why not sometimes let yao shoot some 3s, I thinks KG, TD all do this(sure no shaq)
Um...newsflash...Yao CAN'T play like Shaq. JVG has "asked" him to by asking him to improve strength and conditioning. The fact is, either Yao doesn't understand how to bang down low (in which case, we hope he learns), or he just doesn't have the personality/mentality (in which case, he probably never will; it's hard to change someone's personality). I can wait for him to learn, but he should still be utilizing his other skills in the meantime.
Yeah, ... IF he becomes that monster. And you're leaving out a HUGE 'IF'. And you don't waste previously developed skills to try to develop something that may never happen. Teach him, grill him over and over, sure; but don't ignore his other talents and let them atrophy. At that point, if he never becomes that monster, now he's become just another good center. Not great.
Yao will be utilized fine tonight when he goes off on Tim Duncan tonight and the Rockets regain their swagger of last year.
