What Do We Do About Yao's Minute Come Playoff Time...

With the team now playing full-scale in Coach Adelman's motion defense, Yao has to run up and down the court more frequently and at a much faster pace. I don't think he can play effectively more than 30 minutes under such situation. I think his playing minutes got to be carefully and smartly managed.

I think Coach Adelman should start using Deke/Hase/Landry more to reduce Yao's PT in order to keep Yao fresh in the playoff. He's an efficient option for the Rox at the offense end.

I don't have detailed information but I have the impression that after Yao had played heavy minutes in previous game(s), his performance would hamper in the following game. The most recent example: he played a lot of minutes in the Bobcat and Mavs games and he started tired in the Blazers game. It's very probable that being 7'6" and over 300 lbs., he needs longer time to recover than average-height NBA players.

I don't know what he eats after an exhausted game to aid his rejuvenation. Being a Chinese, I know damn well that normal Chinese food definitely can't help his rejuvenation after vigorous exercises. Being a professional basketball player, I hope Yao is aware of this important point, or the Yao's Team should. Perhaps Brendan Brazier's "The Thrive Diet" can help him a lot in that regard.

I am 60 and have been taking Vega, a complete whole food health optimizer to aid my rejuvenation after my running practise and it helps me a lot.

 

Alston is now water under the bridge. I favor the change to pgs who are young and have shooting ability. We need them in the playoff to ease the pressure on our front court players.

The team is gelling and I am confident our two young pgs, who are willing learners, would develope a better communication with our front court before playoff time.

 

The team is gelling, but not in the right way. Yes we have a 5 game winning streak, all at home, and agains such powers as the BobCats, a slumping hard Mavs team, and a below .500 on the road Portland team. This team needs to figure some things out real fast. Is Yao, going to be our Superstar? If he is, then we need to start treating him like it and run the offense through him in a much more consistant manner. Should we start looking to incorporating Scola into the offense with alot more set plays for him? I think yes. He is crafty in the lane, and Im not saying he is on the same level, but watching his style in the lane really reminds me of Kevin McHale in his hay days. Are we going to be satisfied with AB as Steve Francis Light? Not quite the penetrator, not quite the finisher, not quite the defender, doesn't make his teammates better, looks to shoot first. Im not saying that AB isnt filling a need, or is a bad player, but is this the type of PG who is going to get it done for us in the slow down nature of the playoffs? And do we continue to be happy watching Ron Artest loaf around alot on D, and jack ill advised shots. Its not a terrible tragedy with Ron right now, he does try to get to the lane a few times a game, but he really needs to establish himself as the strong post up player he can be, and use his three point shot as a way to keep defenses honest, and to help free up the lane at times for Yao.

It really is a good thing that the West isn't near as strong as the previous 3-4 years. This Rockets team could beat the Blazers, Nuggs, Hornets in a series, but will not be so successful against the Lakers, Spurs, Utah teams. Depending on how the west plays itself out, the Rockets may just get out of the first round this year, but maybe not much further.