I'm not trying to put down what our guys have done,but there is no doubt that we are missing Yao Ming's presence.When the streak will be broken,everyone will realize that.
If one knows basketball, then one should know that Yao would be missed before he was injured, when he was injured, after he was injured, after a win, after a loss
I agree that we are missing Yao's presence ... but you seem to be implying here that we'd go undefeated the rest of the way with Yao. Yao's value will be more apparent next week, when we play 5 of the best teams in the league back to back. With T-Mac and Yao healthy, I would expect 3 wins out of 5 and consider 4 or 5 wins an exceptional run. If we slump next week and only get out of that stretch with 1 or 0 wins, that should demonstrate that we're missing a lot with Yao gone. On the other hand, if we win all 5, I think that will indicate that we've found a way to compensate for whatever Yao might have given us.
we def. miss yao's presence. but it's not a coincidence in the two games WITHOUT landry, our offense has sputtered. let's be real, the dunks that landry would have put down as easy baskets -> missed layups by scola/hayes. tmac and the guards hesitated to pass to hayes several times. when landry returns, we'll be much better.
Well, here's the deal. I'm not sure that come one loss, whenever it comes, and the streak is broken that it's somehow now proven that Yao's value is missed. I think the real test will be when we match up against other bigs and how we fare in the offensive AND defense end. In other words, I think a better test to answer this question is when we match up against the likes of a Phoenix or LA (this Sunday) where they have opposing centers who can score The idea here is that naturally if we had Yao, we have a scoring threat. Any scoring threat is going to command attention. And for opposing centers, this means either (1) fouls or (2) tire/fatigue from calorie burn. I think this is most important against would-be scoring centers. The other area that I'm less concerned with about the loss of Yao is rebounding. I could be wrong, but of his 9 - 10 or so rebounds he pulls down a game, the majority (i.e. 7 to 8) are usually defensive rebounds. So the question of whether or not we can secure the defensive boards will also be huge insofar as replacing his production. But here I'm encouraged by the work of Hayes, Landry, and Scola. People forget, rebounding is not merely about sheer size. It's about timing, boxing out, and getting the right position. If it were merely about size, Yao would be getting more rebounds by now. Scoring? Hawks aside, I think we have adequate scoring talent when Landry and TMac are healthy. So all in all, I think we'll be OK. But to pin the first loss on the absence of Yao, that would be premature imho. theSAGE
Well.....you're wrong. Yao Ming averaged 7.7 defensive and 3.1 offensive rebounds for a total of 10.8 rpg. And on defensive rebounds, assuming you have to mix and play the following players in the centre or power forwards position by pairs, i.e. you have to divide their defensive rebounds by 1/2, then Mutombo: 1.2 (2.4 drpg) Landry: 1.3 (2.6 drpg) Scola: 1.9 (3.8 drpg) Hayes: 2.0 (4.0 drpg) All 4 of them could only tally upto 6.4 defensive rebounds, which is still not matching up Yao Ming's 7.7 defensive rebounds per game.
currently performance + Yao = everybody talk about championship currently performance - Yao = everybody talk about 1st round
Chill out pryuen! Boy, you just can't accept the fact that Yao is anything short of infalliable huh? Anyways, for the benefit of the board, here's Yao's full season stats going back three years. '05 - '06 57 games 34:12 min 2.6 Off, 7.6 Def, 10.2 Tot '06 - '07 48 games 33:47 min 2.1 Off, 7.3 Def, 9.4 Tot '07 - '08 55 games 37:12 min 3.1 Off, 7.7 Def, 10.8 Tot As I was saying before, how well we secure defensive boards will be key. Those 7 to 8 defensive rebounds needs to be picked up by others. I think spread over Deke, Landry, Scola, and Hayes, it's possible we can make that up but it's nontheless the area I think losing Yao has the most signficance. Yesterday, we were missing shots like nobody's business. But it was which team could secure the defensive boards that was one of the major determinants imho. Those offensive boards by us in the fourth quarter were huge, not to mention, securing our own boards. I'm less worried about making up lost points on the account of not having Yao's production. All imho. theSAGE
In a 7-game series in the playoffs, we will miss Yao. Reason is that you have to factor in things that wear down the other team. Our defense and hustle will wear down the other team, but on offense, you wear down the other team with your stars. Yao's heft simply tires people out. If you face us 7 times in a row, it wears the opposition down. It's the same as having a good running game in football. Plus, Yao will soften up the interior defense by getting them into foul trouble. There's no way we're better in the playoffs without Yao. There's just a big qualitative difference. I'm happy we're on this run though and hope we kick the lakers' ass
The Rockets can make the playoffs without Yao. It's an open question as to whether they can win a seven game series playing against the same team night after night without the big guy. Regardless, no matter what happens in the playoffs I've got high hopes for next year.
I'm a yao fan and know we could use him regardless of the streak...You have to agree that you could always use a good player like that and the 'better without yao' or 'better without xxxxx' stuff is getting ridiculous. We win 2 without landry are we better now? Games where we struggle to hit shots its nice to have Yao do the work downlow that for sure will be missed, but if McGrady continues to be smart with the ball like he has we'll be all-right
I am not predicting nothing. You really think his back will hold up for good, or for a season rather? Chronic back injury will not go away. It'll come back again, just a matter of time. Accept this FACT!
You know nothing about B-Ball. Yao can't get the ball when Mac is out. They double/triple team him so badly. It is the same if you got Duncan in the lineup. For Mac, it's different. He'll get the ball always. He won't bring you nothing in the playoff still.
Are we doing better w/o him, that's the question. We can do great without any single guy in the team.
The reason they double and triple team Yao because he's in the pain. YOu don't often double or triple team T-Mac because T-Mac is a good passer and is usually around the 3 pt line and you leave your team vulnerable. A great player like Shaq, Duncan and Yao will always demand a double/triple team because they are so close to the basket at easy shooting range.
that was true. IF THIS WAS 2006. until about 3 months ago the rockets literally could not find yao when tmac was out of the game and they could not win. that changed this year, with guys hitting their shots and moving the ball and when tmac was out yao and co were fine IF you yourself understand basketball it's not Tmac that's some magical complement to Yao. It's a SCORING THREAT. Yes whenever tmac steps on teh court he automatically constitutes a scoring threat but if rafer, battier and others hit their shots, and scola landry hayes cut to the basket it opens up yao's game fine. if you're asking if you put yao on the court with 4 stiffs can he win the game by himself (as he's essentially been asked to do) then no he cannot win 5 v 1. but he doesn't NEEEEEEEEEEED tmac like you say
