What's the difference between "building team around Yao" and just "building team"?

What have you done for me lately?

I was looking at it from a little bit of a different angle, i.e., that in the past, you had to have a traditional center and a playmaking point guard, but now those types don't dominate, and that they are even difficult to find.

Even ignoring Kareem, Russell, Mikan, though, you do make a good point. Over the last 20 years, about half of the champions featured a traditional center, but if you start at 98-99 (after Jordan), 8 of 11 did. I still consider that a fluke; the Lakers (with Shaq), Miami, San Antonio just happened to have one, but they won because they were great teams, not primarily because they had traditional centers.

 

As uncertain as Yao's future is, I can't believe that the Rockets are so stupid as to think they can build a team "around" him. Surely this is just rhetoric. As I have written before, I will be shocked if Yao is even at training camp. Now Morey is saying that Yao won't even be 100% until a year from now. By that time his contract will be a few weeks from expiring. What's the point? How can he possibly be the "key" to the Rocket's plans?

 

Exactly. I don't really see the point of keeping Yao.

To answer OP's question, building a team means no one is untouchable on the team, and you do whatever it takes to make your team better, even if that means trading Yao.

Building the team around Yao is when you go out and find players that will hide Yao's weaknesses and amplify his strength.

For example, Orland has Dwight beasting in the post, so they went out and found people who can shoot the ball when Dwight is double teamed.

 

Solid and Awe,

I do agree with you.. Have said this many of times... Bill Walton..

Now as for the OP question, I can see where he's coming from and have no problem with that..

1) Building a team around Yao would be surround him with players that fit his style of play... Basically we are talking about Vets that very seldom run and basically play a half court game with very little movement in the offense... ALA San Antonio. So as DD and Awe have stated you get players that cover his weakness.

2) Building a team you are getting players that fit the coach's system and chemistry; you are getting players that compliment each other and not building around one individual such as a Yao or T-Mac. The Rockets team that we have now are pieces that are fitting the Coach's offense.

 

Maybe not a pg, but you need a playmaker. lakers had kobe, spurs had manu, heat had wade, det had billups. The all serve the pg role.

 

Building around Yao = Yao is the main guy, 1st option = bring in other players who can play Yao style basketball = bring in veterans to win now = Yao is untradable = when Yao injured, Rockets ****ed = sure failure

building the team= Yao is just one piece of the team = Yao is even tradable if the team can improve = bring in young guys, rookies, draft a lot = looking for a new franchise player = if Yao is injured or not efficient, Rockets can still make moves to win = uncertain destiny but better than the sure failure.

Morey was saying building around Yao all the time but what he did was not. That's why Rockets are still interesting and winning.

 

2 rings, young padawan.

 

I had a deal last night where Bosh was playing in a Rockets jersey.

Mark it down folks.

 

The difference isn't the methodology but the results and the magnitude of the upside.

"Building a team around Yao" results in a potential championship

just "building a team" typically results in a borderline lottery/playoff team.

Buts and bolts, you start with the fact that each team has a luxury tax and a finite amount of money to spend. if you're building around Yao that means one of the key holes (center) is plugged and you can devote your resources to other positions.

Also building around Yao necessitates that you take quicker, more aggressive players over size. If you didn't have a 7'6" center you'd devote more of your assets to getting more size on your front line.

 

If you want to be grammatical about it "building a team around Yao" is a subset of "just building a team". Therefore when you build around Yao you're actually building a team.

Building around Yao means making him the centerpiece of the team, something which I think DM didn't do as much as the YOFs believe. Building around Yao means going "all in" and getting short-term players (like Antawn Jamison or Shaq) since Yao a small window left. Instead we've actually gotten younger, with Yao Ming actually being one of the oldest guys on the team. The players DM lined up compliment Yao, but that's mainly because Yao Ming is your traditional space-eating, low post scoring C-the team would probably compliment guys like Bogut or Marc Gasol just as well.

 

LMAO since when did building around a guy who was injured every time during playoffs the last half decade result in anything? Not only that, that guy will also be coming out of season-ending surgery next year. Doing the same thing over and over again but expecting different results-definition of insanity according to Einstein.

 

Oh really.

 

Once is a fluke.
Twice is a coincidence.
Thrice is a trend.
8 times is more than a fluke.

 

Same goes for our starting Point Guard!

 

The Point Guards on the above mentioned teams not only scored when called upon to do so but passed the ball to the significant scorers.

Presently the Rocket's Point Guard is a significant scorer and the team needs him to score more than make others better players, possibly he might change his roll in the off season if Yao shows signs of being able to return.

I just hope that coach can set up plays which will make it easier for Brooks to pass the ball to Yao.

 

Actually he passed the ball quite well, especially to Scola on the PNR......

Of course a lot of his passes to Shane, Trevor and Chuck were followed immediatly by the horrible sound of "Clank".....but he still passed it pretty well.

DD

 

Yeah, Brooks' assists went from 4.9 to 5.9 assists in fewer minutes, after the Martin trade. People were saying he became much better passer.

They completely forgot about the bricks tossed up by the 3 Amigos of intangibles, when Brooks tossed them the ball and give them an open look.