http://yaoming.sports.sohu.com/20041108/n222883165.shtml According to this article, Yao said: 1. He was surprised that T-Mac is such a great passer, and T-Mac is so tall that he sees the field really well. Yao still need adjust to T-Mac's pass, because it is fast like a missile. 2. When discussing with teammates, Yao thought he should not do too many P/R at high post right now, because he has difficulty to catch the ball when running to low post after pick, and his mid-range is off currently. Playing at low post in Kings' game and getting it going, he feels great. 3. His stamina is improving. It took 5 minutes to feel kinda tired previously, and now it improve to 8-9 minutes. He had a good rest before Kings game, because he didn't get much chance to play with Memphis. 4. His goal of rebound this season is more than 10, and he think he will get it.
I hate the PR. From the Kings game, JVG clearly used less PR, especially in the 2nd half. But Yao really needs to keep his feet moving instead of wrestling with his defender in the low post because when he is in motion, it forces the defense to adjust.
If you noticed, the PnR was used a lot in the first two games because Detriot and Toronto did a lot of front and disruption of Yao's low post positioning. So using the PnR made sense in order to get Yao more involved and also nulify their double teaming. The aim also is creat mismatches and allow Tmac to creat for his team mates. So it has its use and benefit in the game. But make no mistake about it - JVG and Yao know that they will make their money in the low post and that will come. When Yao starts knocking down his 15-footers, he will be hard to contain because the PnR will be more effective then coupled with his impending low post dominance. I am very glad to hear this. Double digit rebounds per game says you are a true big man. Although height and rebound are not necessarily correlated per se, it will be a good thing to be a dominant rebounder. Rebounding well has all to do with timing, positioning and stamina and Yao Ming has shown improvements on all three fronts so far.
Pick and roll, when done correctly, is still one of the most effective offensive plays ever invented. But, it requires the right players and the right timing to pull off. If it is done well, it is nearly unstoppable because there are so many options available.
Yea, I think Yao and TMac could be a VERY good pick 'n' roll duo once they get on the same page. With TMac's slashing and passing skills along with Yao's great touch from mid-range and his size, this can be a VERY hard play to guard for the opposition.
According to the original article, Yao mentioned that when he was comparing the passes from SF3 and those from T-Mac.
Did Yao mention why his mid-range shot is off now? Is his elbow bothering him when he tries those shots? Last year when Yao's open for a jumper from 15'' it was usually money. Now it's almost certainly a clank.
he mentioned during the postgame interview after the Kings game that it had been bothering him a little previously, but it felt just fine during that game.. considering the work he has been doing onhis upper body and then the injury...it would be safe to guess that it has had some effect on his shooting. but since he says it doesnt bother him anymore, lets see if it remains a problem from here on out.
Yup. It's been effective for decades and is still one the of the key plays that team go to. I think Yao can be very effective once he gets more comfortable with it. In the past he was more of a pick and pop type player, and that's good and all, but the pick and roll can give much more high percentage shots. And from what I've seen this year so far, Yao's roll is much better than before. Instead of going around the guy he's screening, he does a pick and then rotates back the other way and then just kind of slides towards the basket. Way less wasted motion from what he used to do. I think the thing he's having problems with is the fact that defenses are so boxed in, and there will usually be a guy waiting in the lane so Yao has to catch the ball in traffic or worry about a charge. I think running the P-n-R from the wing would be a good adjustment. That way Yao would be coming in from the baseline and might have a clearer way to the basket.
I think the pick n roll between TMAC and Yao is unstoppable just cuz Tmac is too quick and the opponent had to rotate to double him and that leave Yao wide open for a jumper. That's why last night when the ROX and Kings were tied up and had a chance to win with the last shot ...i don't know why they didn't do pick and roll using Yao. Instead they let Tmac hold the ball and go one on one. I think pick and roll will surely be more effective in that situation. Someone will definitely get a open look with pick n roll using Tmac and Yao.
What's so great is that Yao started his career here in love with flashing outside and shooting the midrange shot. Now we here is more comfortable down low. Remember last year when half the BBS was in an uproar for JVG "sticking" Yao in the low post? Looks like the bald guy knew what he was doing.
I read the orginial article and here is my comment: 1) Yao said that his stamina has improved significantly. Previously he was tired after playing 5-6 min in the first quarter. Now he can go for 8-9 min before needing in breather; 2) He is confident that he will average double digit in rebounding this season. He is not sure of averaging 20 ppg mainly because this team is so young and it takes time to mesh and get familiar with each other; 3) His elbow had been bothering him, but it felt better in the game vs. the Kings. When he got the hot streak going in the 4th quarter, he knew that he was fine. 4) Yao loves TMac. He said that he is not surprised to see him getting 30 point a game. The thing that really surprised him is his passing. It might take time for him to get used to it since TMac's passing was vastly different from SF3's. When they are comfortable with each other on the court, watch out; 5) Yao has told the teammates not to run too many P&R to free him for an outside jumper right now since his outside shooting is off. I firmly believe that the 15-18 foot jumper will come back for Yao after he is comfortable with his new added bulk and his elbow gets better.
great news.. and im astounded at how insightful the posts on this site are... Thank you to the people who translate this stuff for us.. J
Yao said that the injury wasn't really bothering him much. I think that he is probably still adjusting to the bulk he added over the summer. A lot of players have to make adjustments to their shot after bulking up their upper arms.
I can already hear ole' Geno on the mic..... T-Mac has the ball....across mid court moving from left to right......pick and roll left side MAC - to - Ming.........."SLAM DUNK YAO MING......OH WHAT A PLAY" .....did you see that pass by T-Mac...OH MY!!! Heck if you think Stockton to Malone was unstoppable (which it was....lol) just wait until our dynamic duo work out the kinks... BOOOYAAAA!!!!
I would love to see some Shaq-esque PnR alley-opps to Yao. That leads me to a question I've had. What is Yao's vertical? I swear it seems like he only gets a few inches on his jumps.
