I think Ming was trying to convey this point in a recent article! "If I am being constantly double and triple teamed then my ability to score will be affected" that doesn't mean, however, that I cannot be used on the court! You can still get me the ball and I can pass out to the open man..If my guards had the ability to drive or hit the open shot..then the double teams will not come so quickly.. then maybe I won't be so useless on the court!" Hell..If I was the coach against China.. I would double Ming and make the 5'9 chinese kid try to win the game..the way to combat a double team is make the other team pay by getting the ball to the open man.. pass it to Ming..the double/triple comes and then pass, rotate, and hit Glen Rice for the open three..problem is Rice ain't out there.. it's some CBL reject that would ride the pine in college.. The Rockets won two championships this way..the big man was Olajuwon..the players hitting the open shots were Horry, Elie, and Kenny Smith! I am excited because this is Rudy T's type of offense.. and we'll have Francis, Mobley, and Rice to play the shooter roles! Not to mention the pick and Roll! I think Rudy is the perfect coach for an offense run through a big man..he's got two rings to prove it!!
I agree with your post. However, will Francis, Mobley, and Norris be happy with being spot-up shooters? I doubt it... We've won a title using this type of offense, however, the terrible trio will probably resort to their old dribbling tricks.
Drexler did not stand alone and shoot, neither did Cassel, there is room in the offense for all kinds of players. DD
My point is that..the offense should be run through Ming..I would never encourage that two of the best penetrating guards in the NBA (francis, mobley) become spot shooters. I would let teams defensive strategy determine the Rocks offense strategy. Maybe like this.. If teams decide to double/triple Ming..he can pass out to the open guy for a clean 15 ft. shot..three point etc. maybe the defense will play straight up ..in that case Ming could score..or Francis, Mobley could drive and dish after they break their man down and the defense closes..pick and roll...now the Rocks can react to the defense and attack the weakness!
It's Rudy's basic inside/out offense..He's been doing it for years..except for the last few because of no inside game..now we switched to the small ball running game.. I think he will go back to what won the championships before..only this time we have a better backcourt! The Lakers use the inside/out game..even if Shaq doesn't score..he keeps the defenses honest because of the threat to score!
I can't even imagine how many points Cat and Franchise would have if they got to go one on one. I don't think there is a player in this league that could cover those two one on one.
Exactly you are so right! this means gradualy the team wiil move to a Center Orientated Team. This is the best way to use all our components to their full potential. Of course this means more passing,less dribbling and a big increase in assists. All this, together with a NBA leading tandem of Shot Blockers,-THE WALL- Griffin and Yao Ming will improve our defence. Rockbox:- won't have to go one on one, the ball will be in the hands of an open shooter. That is of course if Yao Ming is double and tripple teamed!
With the last couple of years under the Cato regime, I will be happy if he commands a single team. Mobley said he would be a spot up shooter if Odom came to the Rockets on the BDSS Period.
A center oriented game does not have to be the old "inside/out" with the center down low and the other four guys standing around the 3point line. You can have guys slashing to the basket. You can have guys spotting up at the arch. You can have guys running the backdoor baseline route. We got at least 3 slashers in Steve, Cat, and Boki. We have spot up shooters in Rice, Cat, Boki, and Griffin. And the center doesn't have to be in the low post either. You can put him up high, with the PF down low threatening the inside attack. With Ming's agility and shooting touch, he can pass, shoot or drive from the high post. Rudy has so many options now. I bet he's losing sleep just trying to get down all the plays that he can run.
I agree Easy, I believe Rudy will primarily use Ming up high to set screens and pick and roll type situations. However, the only problem with that is Ming will not be in position to get the rebound. Hopefully Rudy can figure out away to solve that problem. Go Rockets!! It's going to be fun this year.
I don't think there is a team in this league that can win with that style of play. Did you watch the Rockets at all last year?
When was the last time the Rockets exactly did this? Of course, they can do it, they just never do. I won't believe they will move without the ball, until I actually see them doing it.
I hope T uses Yao the right way, becuase China didn't used him at all. There dumb guards couldn't even give him the ball at the post. That's just weak!
-Chat will David Aldridge from ESPN.com going on right now: http://dynamic.espn.go.com/espn/chat/chatESPN?event_id=2320#bottom Jie (West Lafayette): How do you think Yao Ming did in his first three games? It seems that the Chinese team is not getting him the ball enough. And why is Yao not mentioned as an MVP candiate for the first round when he averaged over 20 ppg, 6 rpg and 5 bpg? Thanks! David Aldridge: (1:04 PM ET ) I agree that the Chinese are doing a poor job of getting Yao the ball in the post. That's one reason why I think he'll do better offensively in the NBA than he's done in China. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rudy T ( H-TOWN ): Im remembering DA picking Caron Butler if he had the #1 pick. After seeing Yao "real deal" Ming in the worlds, who would u pick now. And plz Dave, be truthful, its ok to admit when you're wrong... David Aldridge: (1:05 PM ET ) I'd pick Caron Butler. Nothing I've seen here changes that. Butler is the most ready to play in the NBA right now.
There have been some good points made: Ming can be used in so many ways.. the thought of him up high on the blocks makes me smile because he should be able to throw a mean pick.. besides the fact that Francis can slash anyone out of their shoes by himself! I see Rudy bringing Ming high past the free throw line perhaps out to the three when he is facing the Shaq's and Duncan's who could easily push him around..but then next game when he is facing Joe Pryzbilla put him down low! I DO NOT think that Rudy T will simply put Ming down low and put everyone else on the three to spot up.. I know Rudy likes the SF to spot up at the three..just ask Pippen and Shandon Anderson.. In that case Rice is perfect..then when it's time to slash..and penetrate because Ming is posting high put Boki and Griff in! try these lineups.. Power post lineup: Ming (post up, pass out on double team, REBOUND, BLOCK!) Motay (anchor down low, bang bodies, rebounds) Rice (spotting up for three's begging for a Ming double team) Mobley (12 ft. wide open, spot up for three, penetrate) Francis (pick and roll,slash dish to Ming etc.) Slashing speed lineup: Ming (out past the high block, draws out big man, hit some15fts.,maybe some threes) Griff (rebound underneath, block, move w/out ball) Boki (slash, drive, dish, shoot, disrupt) Mobley (do what he does best) Francis (being Franchise, makeing his own shot, coming off pick)
Rudy has definitely been thinking for a while the best manner to utilize Ming...it will be exciting to see it develop!
Are you implying that from game 1 of this season Ming will be the focal point of our offense? In time, yes I definitely see our inside-outside game dominating more, but hey remember when we had Dream? Even Dream wasn't getting the ball from our guards as much as he would have liked. What makes you think our back court will be looking for Ming all the time? And why should they right now? He's still the guy (or one of them) who has to pick up the balls after practice.
I think at the beginning of the season..Ming will be running around just trying to get into the flow of things and maybe even survive.. but as the season progresses..he should become more of a part of the offense scheme..as the years progress he will score more I think.. but immediately I think teams will have to pay attention to Ming and all I am saying is right now the Rockets should play to that strength..Some might disagree but If Ming is NOT double teamed I think he can torch 80% of the centers in the league! Franchise will always be the guy..but all the other players will benefit directly if Ming is in the offensive plan! I think before this season is up a Rudy T setup will be give the ball to Ming and see how the defense reacts..double team him and he will pass the ball out and the boys will do the rest..don't double then let's see what the tall Chinaman can do.. Let's face it ALL plays start with Franchise.. that's obvious.. Ming can be the ultimate team player..does that mean 20 pts. a game NO WAY.. but 10pts and 14rbs is respectable..and on defense all Ming needs to know is BLOCK that short dude and REBOUND to Franchise..that is my opinion!
Once the Rockets get cook'in (around game #50), this is what you'll hear from the announcer: "Francis with the ball, pass inside to Ming. Ming, fakes left, looks right, back out to Mobley, Mobley inside then back out to Francis for AN OPEN THHRREEEE!!!!!" and.... "Mobley outside, back to Francis. Francis inside to Ming. Ming, turnaround jumper, GOOOOOOOD!!!!" and maybe a little.... "Francis up high, penetrating, no-look pass to Ming for a SLAAAAAMMM!!!!!" 'Ya like that? Get used to it.
