We will need him when we face teams in the playoffs who are not mistake prone and force us to play halfcourt offense. Those also happen to be the really good teams. I don't see us beating SA with nothing more than crisp ball movement and some good perimeter shooting. Unless Tmac becomes Lebron or Kobe like when attacking the rim in the playoffs then the absence of Yao will be what ends this team's season. Even with Tracy McBryant, dead eye shooting and good ball movement it may not be enough.
you gotta admit the team is playing good with out Yao. But the team is not better with out Yao. To do what the team is doing right now is taking so much energy and emotion. In the game with the nuggets the shots were just falling for us. But you cant count on the threes, and when the shots are falling thats when Yao is so useful bc when its in his hands there is a 50% chance we are getting two points, not to mention that he facilitates the offense and takes pressure off of the other players. Yes we are playing good, but its taking more effort and im wondering if this long season is gonna take its toll bc of the strong effort night in and night out that this team is giving. My hope is that the answer to that question is no but my head tells me that they just cant keep this up and take it into the playoffs. i hope im wrong but we wil see...
This thread got 5 stars: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=143923 My thread gets 1. They are basically saying the same things....
They are by no means better without Yao. They are still good and can still win. But going up against teams with dominant big men in the playoffs we will miss Yao badly. We will need to match up against San Antonio, Dallas, PHX, etc. Without Yao we are weaker against them.
I knew i'd get murdered, but as far as I'm concerned, the proof is in the pudding. I think Yao is one of the best big men in the NBA, and I don't want to trade him, all of that talk is garbage, but I do believe that with the current type of players on this team, we are in a better position right now. Without Yao, we are the Suns of last year. The Suns who were just a few plays & a few bad calls away from beating the spurs and winning the NBA championship.
Why do we need Yao agains Dallas? Is Eric Dampier a dominant center all of the sudden? Do you remember the type of team that punked Dallas last year? The Golden State warriors. A team without a dominant center, a team with high energy & a run and gun style offense. I'd say we match up with Dallas much better without Yao. I'd like to hear why you think we need him against the Mavs. I'm confused.
I originally said our defense would be improved once Yao Ming went down. Now the "experts" at NBA.com are verifying this. Hopefully the same posters who are attacking me in this thread don't have the contact information of this NBA.com writer. www.nba.com/powerrankings
Just STFU. We won 13 or so in a row WITH Yao, then we won 3 in a row without Yao, one of which was against a decent team, and you say "proof is in the pudding"? Let it go before you embarrass yourself further.
The team is not better! It is different and faster, even more entertaining. The Team with Yao is better as it has greater potential. It will fulfill its potential when Yao comes out of his shell and takes charge as it its leader, and hopefully will be even a more entertaining experience.
It isn't about wins and losses. Our defense is now on of the best in the NBA and defense wins championships. You should be careful with your words.... If the Rockets continue to play they way they are playing w/out Yao, then you will be the one embarrassing yourself, my friend.
Just because they keep winning (which I hope) does not mean they wouldn't have played equally well or better with Yao.
Their play in these 3 games is simply incredible, especially on defense. If they can keep it up then Adelman should be COY. But better without Yao? Ask that question when we get to the playoffs. You'll give anything if he were with the Rocks.
I definitely think matchup wise 2 pf in it works but Yao is a great asset and we are not a better team with out him...Because he is an asset and not a liability we lose something with him out. This is a stupid post did you happen to post that we don't need tmac when we were winning without him? Cuz he's back and leading the team and now Yao is out where would we be without TMac? if Tmac was out and Yao was here where would we be without Yao? If both are there and availble to be used we are a much better team. PS this thread blows
You don't find out if we are better without Yao after he got injured, you find out while he was still playing. Did the team perform better leaving him on the bench? If so, coaches should already made the move, or at least play him shorter time. Do you have times in the game that you are screaming to bring Yao back on the floor? You so wish there's a big guy out there that can find some points and protect the goal? Now, think back on these questions and give us your answer again.
You're embarrassing yourself, our defense was always one of the best. You can't sample our current defense with 3 games; two of which are way under .500.
Bottom line we can D up the Utah, San Antonio, Golden State, Dallas (you will see this Thursday), LA, Phoenix, without Yao in the lineup. We will force them into jump shooting teams, because they realize that Deke is in the paint not dunk on me Yao. Yao is still an awesome offensive asset, but he is a liability against every team ahead of us. Deke gives us the opportunity to run and fastbreak with block shots. Teams don't know what's coming with Deke or Landry on the floor. Very difficult to figure the Rockets out. I love Yao though and truly believe we can limit his minutes to 30 to 35 a night and still win consistently.
I find it so amusing, borderline absurd, that people think we are better off without Yao. Yao has been playing with a broken foot guys. Do you get that! They say he may have injured it as early as Nov. 6. Playing with a broken foot and he has still played better than any other center in the league. He has outplayed Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan, Tyson Chandler, Camby, Dampier, Gasol etc. He is the one that helped turn the team around from its losing ways. Oh and did I mention he is doing this with a broken foot. There is no denying Tmac's importance to this team but to say we are better off without Yao is just wrong.
