This offense is built around both Yao and Mcgrady the same way the Lakers were built around Shaq and Kobe, where every single play is run through Yao or Mcgrady. If Van Gundy is going to run his offense like that with Yao playing a similar role to Shaq, people are going to have very high expectations of him. Just look at the way this offense has been run in Mcgrady’s absence. Every play is initiated with Yao. Every play consist of Yao in the low post and 4 players standing on the perimeter looking to give him the ball. Like the Rockets used to with Hakeem. It seems to me that Van Gundy is the one that is expecting far too much from Yao. I mean, you don’t see the Spurs try to turn Manu Ginobili into Kobe when Duncan went down to injury. If he wants people to lower their expectations of Yao, then he should give him a role similar to Brad Miller or Zydrunas Illgauskas.
He averages 12 or 13 shots a game when TMax is playing. SO he touches the ball, so does Juwon, DA, and Head...does that mean the offense is built around them?
Yao is not good enough or quick enough to be THE MAN, but he is a great wing man. So, losing Tmac is far worse than losing Yao. DD
Exactly. The strategy is simple. Make everyone else but the best player on the floor beat you by making him give up the ball or not get the ball at all. Hence, the Rockets need both threats to be effective.
Number of shots is not the only thing considered when deciding how much an offense is built around a player. Watch the games. Everything revolves around Yao and Mcgrady. Getting the ball to Yao in the low post is the first thing the team tries to do once it gets into the half court. I don't know how you could even compare Yao's role in this offense to Howard or Head's role. Yao's role is basically to create a scoring opportunity for himself or create all of the scoring opportunities for his teammates, like Shaq or Duncan. Howard and Head are basically there just to park out on the perimeter and hit open jumpers.
