Are you saying Yao is below average defensively or rebounding wise? Rick loves to get easy baskets, I still see the run first attitude. Yao more towards the latter half of the year and especially during playoffs. But I'm seeing Yao doing more rebounding and sending outlet passes and not getting the ball until the defense is set or in the high post. Yao will get plenty of touches when he's in because,... well he's a beast and more than anyone can handle. The way Scola runs the floor I see him getting a lot of baskets and touches and Scola is likely to get a lot of touches on the block himself. I just don't see Yao as the number one option on this team. Why slow the the offense down? If Brooks, Martin or anyone else can get out, that is your number one option. On different nights it'll be different guys, depending on what the defense gives them. If they run: Brooks/Martin/Scola Half court: Scola/Yao Bread and butter: Yao low post And high post
wnes, long before u thouight about being a rocket fan, us old schoolers used the sig bet vs straight cash or gambling. So u may not think its worth anthing,but most just use it as a "I'm right" type of thing. In regards to your statements about the 09 offense vs last yr, with chuck hayes at center and shane on the wings, you would expect the offense to be trash,but i think its truth serum that with 2.5 non threats to produce more points than they have since like 97 is pretty good. I've said it before, Yao's biggest attribute to this team is defensively,not offensively. The offense will be smoother and more effecient when miller is at center vs yao. Thats not to say miller is a better offensive player,but his passing,bbiq in the offense, and willigness to take the 17ft jimmy works very well in this offense. If yao could understand the passing angles quicker and pull the string on the mid range shot more,it would really make the offense really good. If yao hesitates on the jumper, which normally results in a miss and miss the cutters because he's not anticipating the cutter, adelman will put him back on the blocks and the offense will be outdated and and avg again.
You have no idea when I first became a Rockets fan. I can tell you it was before this thing called "internet," in other words, before any fan site was created. OK, so it's Chuck Hayes and Shane Battier that are the problem of Houston offense when Yao is not playing. Problem is (for you), both Hayes and Battier were actually rated better offensively than Brooks last season. Further, I don't know you are such a Golden States Warrior fan. You gotta love them, 'cause the Warriors have been top 2 points producing team in the league since 2007.
The most talented scorer will always get the most attempt simply because they are able to do that more than his teammates. I expect Yao, Martin, and Brooks to get most of the shots. But in Adelman's offense, you don't necessarily look for the guy first (which I assume is the definition of being the "first option"). You read and react. You take what the defense gives you. That's how you get the best scoring option. And that's also how you loosen up the defense on your best scorer.
Whats the point of arguing with Leebigez??? His old signature already mentioned he prefer Yao leave the Rockets. And his past posts, suggested trading him for peanuts....does anybody actually think he will say more than 1 sentence of postive things about Yao. If AB averages 14 FGA per game and continues to launch 6 3 pointers in the game and not have a high FG%. We may as well be ready for the draft. I rather see KM average 16-19 FGA per game because he is the better scorer.
Praise Albert Einstein I agree with DD. That said, Yao has got to step up and be a SUPERSTAR before it is all said and done. Yao will have to carry this team on his back at some point If we want to break through and become champions, imo... Get healthy for the playoffs big Yao, get us through the season Brad Miller.
I have no idea how you want to do the signature but if Brooks is taking 14 shots a game then this team isn't going to the playoffs.
They're both terrible offensive players and thats not even worth debatin. None of the playoffs teams had offesively inept players to the degree of chuck hayes or shane battier. The rockets problems in the playoffs have always been scoring and then it reflects back on their defense. Judging by your comments, you would rather have lowry, start last year since he was more effecient? If that would have happened, the rockets would have been even lower in pts diff than what they were in the 1st qt. BTW, i cant stand gsw and I have never liked nellie coached teams. Its more of streetball than basketball. Dave78, they might not make the playoffs regardless of if he takes 14 fga per game or not. This team is a boderline playoff team anyway even with yao because of the uncertatinty to me.
That was my first thought. If he's open in the corner, take the shot, but if time remains, keep moving the damn ball. Same thing if Chuck is in. You don't want him taking the shot, unless he's under the basket. "First open shooter" sounds good in theory and may work often in practice, but you really want to move the ball around to the best shot, if time and the defense allows. If Adelman's offense is clicking, it should.
I think Martin has a breakout year assuming he stays healthy. (25 ppg, 45% shooting) If Yao stays healthy, Martin can move without the ball and Yao can find him.
My rankings: The focal points 1) Kevin Martin - one of the most efficient players in the league, despite being traded to a new team Martin thrived in Houston as opposed to Sacramento and led the team in points per game. The Princeton Offense is made to make things easier for shooters like Martin but with the only post up threat being Luis Scola, we were never able to see how he would fare with a legitimate frontcourt. Yao will be the focal point of the entire offense as he draws so much attention to himself but Martin will be the top scorer on the team. 2) Yao Ming - as I just stated above, Yao's main job will be to draw as much attention to himself as possible, which will lead to more opportunities for his teammates. However, it shouldn't be forgotten that Yao is still the most skilled center in the post. He'll get plenty of touches in the 25-30 minutes he's on the floor. 3) Aaron Brooks - like Martin, Brooks can certainly stroke it but he lacks the ability to drive in and force contact and with Yao back he won't be able to play freely as he did this past season. However, the moment Yao is on the bench its the Brooks/Martin show. Despite the fact that I'm listing him as the third option, expect him to get more shots than Martin when the game is on the line as he's proven to be more effective than Kevin in crunch time. Interesting situation here, it may not make a whole lot of sense but this is the way I see it. The closest comparison I can make is probably Chauncey Billups. Supporting cast 4) Luis Scola - very talented down low but unfortunately for Luis, he will have a reduced role with all the talented scorers on the team. Scola's main role will likely be to play off Yao much like he did back in 2008, and to get Houston buckets in the post when Yao is on the bench. 5) Chase Budinger - with the Ariza trade Chase will see a bigger role this season. Bud is excellent off screens and picks much like Martin. Another sharp shooter on the Rockets, expect a strong season from him.
If you ask me, i would put Scola over Martin and Brooks, at least by design, as Scola is the fastest guy to run the court in most cases, and also shoots a higher percentage than Martin and Brooks. If he fails in that role, reduce it, but reducing it just for the sake of lower % shooters having most shots is a nonsense to me.
Most of your posts, are a slap in the face, to the Rockets organization. You're basically saying the Rockets don't know WTF they're doing. I believe the organization put this group together very carefully. Everyone within the Rocket's organization is really excited about this coming up season. And no...... the Rockets are not a borderline playoff team. I'm willing to bet the Rockets make it to the WCF. $100 to tip jar and sig bet of your choice. Don't be scuuured.
Really, I don't bet against my team and that would just be stupid. As far as $100, whats that to a man who makes mid 6 figures? Take your emotion out and read the sentence and understand what I've been saying for awhile which is something you younger people seem to have a problem with. I ahve said from the beginning the rockets are no higher than a 4th seed. They are anywhere from 4th-10th, but I'm pegging them 5 or lower. I think they have issues and last year 50 wins was a 8th seed which was boderline playoffs. It will be harder than people think to try to incorporate a player who is as needy as yao after a year in which they had other players have adjusted their game.I've maintained and will do so that his scoring chances will be alot different than before. I highly doubt adelman will go back to doing things the old way ball stopping and clogging the baseline after seeing last year with a limited cast. I think yao will be more pick and pop both at the ft line extended and off the blocks to create easy and open shots. Its up to yao to pull the string and take those shots. When yao doesn't hesitate, he is a knockdown shooter from 18ft or so, but when he's thinking and looking around before he shoots, he's terrible. If yao takes those shots, it will big a huge boost to the totality of this offense. This is not what best for yao, its whats best for the rockets team in general and what will make them function better. Understand this, but if you don't, there is a website dedicated to only fans, but this isn't one of them.
Why do you have to bring Yao into this? The bet is for the Rockets as a team, make it into the WCF. You don't believe in this team.... that's your problem... You fail by trying to paint me as a YOF to prove your point. Truth is, you need to man up and put your money where your mouth is...
