Spurs 7-21 - 30% Bulls 7-19 - 36% This ain't gonna cut it. What the heck happened to Yao's shooting touch after the Miami game?
If you're going to let T-Mac shoot his way out of his slump, you should let Yao do the same... Slumps happen. Maybe he's a bit injured, he got knocked around by Shaq and then I think two days ago Ginobili bumped knees with him. Sure he's shot poorly over the last two games, but he's managed to contribute. 20-12-2 is still good. What does bother me a bit though, is that he's missed some real chippy layups and hooks. For that I don't have any explanation, and I'd like to see it stop.
Heaven forbid Yao shoot poorly two games in a row. He had fine looks, he just wasn't knocking them down. I wouldn't worry too much. If there was a thread for every time T-Mac shot under 40% two games in a row, there wouldn't be room on the forum for anything else.
exactly Yao can't do much without space...if he moves, they will either double him, or just slap the ball out of his hands thats a fact move on rookies....
Maybe having back to back games with top defensive players in Tim Duncan and 4 times defensive player of the year Ben Wallace might have something to do with it. He is rushing his shots fearing the block. Once Yao get block, he get messed up in the head and tends to rush his shots. And that's what he did today. I'm not worried, his shot will come around.
Playing against Tim Duncan one night, and Ben Wallace the next night, will do that your shooting. Further proving that article by hoopsworld that no opponent can stop Yao is BS. Yao isn't in that class to where he simply can't be stopped. Not yet, anyways.
Everyone goes cold sometimes. If there is any cause for it... maybe Post Shaq Hangover? Checking Shaq is one tiring job, and I remember a few years ago Yao would "hit a wall" right after a game with Shaq (even if he had a good game againts Shaq).
Maybe the real question is what happened to Yao? Growing complacent? Emotionally drained too much? The other day I saw a post by pryuen saying Yao, unlike his former self, didn't seem to blame himself too hard after the tough loss to Spurs, or, he's becoming more mature. I don't know what to make that. I hope he is 1) not hurt physically, 2) only in a mini-slump soon to be get over with. By looking at the stats, he did a better job on the boards. But he did grab any rebound in the entire 4th quarter. Then again, Van Gundy may have played him too many minutes (38+ tonight).
So much of Yao's game is dependent on his confidence. He has mostly been able to build his confidence on his own. But it seems Van Gundy constant berating has taken his toll on Yao again.
he has gotten enough candy for now, wait until he ran out then he will be back( I'll be back, next episode plz). Don't worry
I think he maybe relaxed a little bit after the big game against Shaq. He had a little bit emotion hangover. But you have to give Spurs and Bulls some credits. Unlike some other crappy defense team, they really know how to defend Yao better. IMO, Yao is not afraid of going against big, slow guy, instead, he has a lot of trouble when he is defended by quick, athletic players. The key to defend Yao is to make it very hard for him to get the ball. Do what Ben Wallace did tonight, try to steal the entry pass, front him, make him work hard to get his position. After Yao spends so much energy to even get the ball, his shooting rhythm is gone and he is tired. The rest is relatively easy to deal with.
so you didn't notice yao's energy level has been down significantly the past 2 games? I guess not with a comment like that. the only thing that stops yao is his energy level. I thought that was fixed with how he started this season but that was obviously wrong. I don't know what, if anything, can be done to keep yao's energy up all the time. but that is the only thing that stops him.
