Why? Lets look at our weaknesses, which caused us to lose the last two games: 1. Defense. Specifically, in the first half. More specifically, in the first quarter. A little better in the second, but still bad. 2. Rebounding. In part, Yao's rebounding. In part, the other guys. Obviously. 3. Turnovers. Not necissarily the amount, just the timing. Specifically, in the first half. Or in today's case, in the first half, and that one with 10 seconds left in the fourth. I love Lue, but she is a pretty bad shooter, and that pass over Yao's head was horrendous. In fact, with 10 seconds left and you're down by 3, why the hell was she passing to Yao who is in the paint? You'd think she would be thinking of a 3pter by then. Hm. On further examination, i don't love her so much anymore.. 4. Slow start. This is a combination of lack of energy, lack of preparation and points 1. and 3. 5. No creator. Watching JJ try to break down his defender is like watching chinese water torture. And watching Ward take it to the hoop with his little floater is like watching chinese water torture on JJ. 6. No finisher. Especially in the last two games, when the games are close and it comes down to the final seconds. Yao can dominate in stretches, and in today's case, almost all game long. However, with 10 seconds on the shotclock, or 10 seconds in the game, there's not enough time to get the ball to Yao. This also ties in with point 5. In order to become a finisher, you need to be a creator. Now, to address these points: 1. This was the MAIN reason why Minny scored 36 in the first quarter, up 11, and Lakers got their 22 point lead. With better defense, we wouldn't have had to come back from the huge deficeits to have a chance to win. This "problem", however, is the least of all things that occupy my brain power at this particular juncture. -> In Gundy I Trust.<- 2. In the last 2 games, we have been outrebounded. And Yao has averaged 6 rebounds. Do you see me worrying? Not even breaking a sweat. That may be because of the eternal optimist that i am, Or... take this into account- in the past 2 games the opposing teams has focused their entire defense on Yao. This means two things: a. the entire opposing team is boxing out Yao. b. Yao has to scorer over 3 people. And he HAS to. If he doesn't no one will. a. directly causes Yao to not get as many rebounds, and b. causes Yao to wear out. Since he is carrying the offense, he is too worn out to rebound. Sorta like how the Orlando Tmac was too worn out to play defense. In fact, to further prove my point, before these two games, Yao has averaged 10.5 rebounds everytime he played above 31 minutes, when he wasn't in foul trouble. So yeah.. I'm not too worried about him. As for the rest of our team, Tmac will give us a big boost in rebounding as a SG, when he comes back. And Sura will give us a big boost in rebounding as PG, when he comes back. So yeah.. I'm not too worried about them, either. 3. I am convinced that this is caused by a lack of concentration, assertiveness, preparation, cohesiveness and decision making. Cohesiveness will come with time, since this is still a new team. Concentration, asstiveness, and preparation is on JVG. Because obviously he said something to them to make them stop turning it over in the second half of these 2 games. This isn't a inate problem as in the case of Steve and Cat. They were just TO prone. Our current TO problem is highly fixable. In the last two games we have averaged 13.5 TOs. But we need to cut down the untimely ones. Decision making is even easier to fix. Give the ball to Tmac. And waive Lue. Ok thats too harsh. Just put him in the doggy house. 4. Again, this is a combination of points 1 and 3, and its on JVG. I am confident that he will come through. This team will be much better in these things with time, and a healthy does of JVG. 5. Insert Tmac. To a lesser extent, insert Sura. 6. see #5. *whew that was easy* Obviously a bruising, rebounding, Otis Thorpe, Elton Brand, Ben Wallace type PF would be nice. But Otis is in a home, and Elton is getting the max, and Ben i think is injured, so we'll have to get back on that one once he's healed. Also a sweet stroking 3 in Peja, and a spotup shooting, no look passing PG in Nash would be nice. And while we're at it, lets trade Tmac for MJ. Its nice to dream, but no team is perfect, and every team has holes. Unless your San Antonio. That team is just sick.. My point is, personel adjustments will probably be delt with in the future, the points above are our most immediate porblems, and how to solve them. As of right now, lets just live with our team. Encourage them when they are down. Cheer them when they are rallying back. And forgive them for their shortcomings. And forgive Lue. She did her best. On a side note, today is a personal milestone for Yao. Yes he played very well. Yes he was dominant. But even more importantly, he made Grant his b****. For those of us that have followed Yao's career, Grant in the past 2 years have always been somewhat of a Yao-stopper. Reason, he is quick and good at fronting. And also, he is a dirty ho who elbows Yao in the back and sometimes in his special place. Today, Yao was just ridiculous. I mean, this was domination in Shaq-esque proportions, no exaggeration at ALL. In fact, i don't think Yao dunked ONCE, yet he still dominated as well as Shaq ever did. Grant 18mins 6 fouls Mihm 15 mins 5 fouls Cook 15 mins 5 fouls What so impressive is not only how many fouls these chumps got trying to guard Yao, but how FAST they got them. Grant was able to last the longest with his 18 minutes. And how about that shove from Grant after he got called for his 4th. He just threw up his arms and gave up. Thats what I'm talking about! Its ok though Yao. Don't worry about Grant and his temper tantrum. You know how when you back hand a b**** and she's like, "Oh no you Di Ung!" And then she kinda gnaws at you but you can't feel a thing and you just drop kick her in the stomach and she tumbles into a corner and starts crying. That's kinda like what Yao did to Grant. Congradulations Yao, you have conquered your demons and defeated the dark templar, young grasshopper. Next stop, Eduardo Najera.
This is like Yao Ming and the Chamber of Fear... Stage 1: Brian Grant. Thick limbed with the art of fronting. Stage 2: Eduardo Najera. Agile and nimble beyond humanly limitations. Stage 3: Shawn Bradley. Gigantic and long limbed. But a slow-witted beast. Stage 4: Theo Ratliff. Ancient and deadly. His mastery of the shot block is deceptive. Stage 5: Ben Wallace. Fear the Fro. Stage 6: Tim Duncan. Stone faced and robotic. He will kill you with his unbelieveable boringness. FINAL Stage: Shaquille O'neal. Lumbering bahemoth. Yet light footed and graceful. Power overwhelming. Yet nimble and crafty. Known to chinese grandma's as fat faced and jolly. Don't let that deceive you..
In another news the Lakers are looking to sign another two centers in order to make sure they will have more centers than Yao can foul out in the future games.
Good analysis I like those point 1, 2, 3 games... Yao did improve a lot in sealing the defenders from fronting him easily. He finally start to use his giant butt, which is hard for anyone to get around. But besides Yao and TMac, this team stink bad...
I was kind of sad when they kept calling fouls on Mihm, because I figured Grant would do a better job. So much for that theory. The key with Yao was that his aggressiveness was rewarded. When Grant was shoving him, he shoved back, and usually a foul was called on Grant. In past games, the same play would have been a BS foul on Yao. I think Yao is finally getting some respect. Or maybe when Tmac comes back they'll go back to screwing Yao. You never know.
This team will never sniff the second round with Lue playing any major minutes ... I'm sorry, but he combines the decision making of Steve Francis with the skills of, well, Tyronne Lue. He hustles and tries hard, but that is not enough for a team that wants to go deep into the playoffs. I think this season is simply going to be a learning season, and its going to have to be rebuilt around T-Mac and Yao with at the very least a decent point guard and a power forward that knows how to get a board or two.
I agree... When Sura comes back, Lue will be playing <10 spotup mins, just like Padgett, Spoon, Boki and Bowen. By the end of the season, and into the playoffs, we will be playing a 8 man rotation of: Sura/Ward Tmac JJ Mo/Juwan Yao/Deke With Spoon replacing Deke when opponents go small.
I....don't agree. At all. Why do you say that? Is it cause JVG has always had trouble reaching the playoffs and is a perenial first round flounder? "never"? "sniff"? You talk as if he's never been there before. Oh wait...you're just a hater. $20 bucks says they make it to the second round this year. Only condition is Yao and Tmac are healthy. Everyone else is fair game. End of the year we bump this thread and have all of BBS as witness. And loser pays up on PayPal. Put your money where your mouth is. Don't be a p***y.
I actually think u should reverse the chambers. Yao pobaby has put up much better numbers against Shaq and Duncan than the rest on this list
I sure hope you are right ... I just pray that Sura can stay healthy this season and keep Lue on the Bench right where he belongs
I think it's unrealistic to expect Sura, who'll be coming back from major back surgery, to make that much of a difference before February at the earliest. Also I wonder why everyone is b****ing at Lue (calling him She & Her) while nobody is calling out Ward. Remember him? He's your starting PG who didn't score a basket last night until the FOURTH PERIOD! In the games I've seen, he, like Howard are completely inconsequential (which explains why SA & Orlando didn't want them). The Chronicle put it all in perspective this morning: Jeff started a post detailing why he expected the Rockets to improve. I believe that the issue of their making steady improvement is a moot one. The question facing this team this year is not whether they'll make steady improvement but whether or not that improvement will be good enough to make them serious contenders in the conference. I, for one, just don't think so because while they can work as hard as they can, play as hard as JVG wants them to, in the end it's about talent and outside of Yao, TMac and possibly Sura, this is a team devoid of talented players.
The Rockets are a good team with two superstars. When they only have one, they're below average. Not a real shock.
I agree Yao and T-Mac make a great team. Unfortunately they need 3 more players. I hope Yao will give some of his ancient Chinese medicines to T-Mac to cure his groin problems. Maybe something like Tiger Balm.
