as die hard rocket fans, probably all of us hate the utah jazz. and more than a few of us hate the lakers. however, both teams run a cross screen to free up their respective big men. they either send a guard or a forward across the lane to back screen malone or shaq's man...then malone/shaq come across the paint into low block position. with yao size and touch, this would be unstoppable. considering yao's temporary problem with establishing position, why has rudy not implemented this play?
Probably because those teams are veteran teams and the Rockets are a young team and Ming is a rookie. Slowly implementing things is smart, Ming is having a tough enough time as it is breaking out of the rookie wall, learning to post up in the NBA and figure out the plays as it is now. I suspect that now that Rudy has had an entire season to check out Yao and see what he can do they'll have a boatload of plays to run for him.
This thread is another example of Rudy being way ahead of the BBS. Rudy talked about this about 4 weeks ago on 610. He said they practice this and abandoned the idea of bringing it into a game. The practiced this over and over with Cato guarding Yao. Rudy said, "You draw it up and it looks so easy, but the timing is difficult. Maybe Cato is a much better defender than most players in the league, but we just couldn't do it successfully enough." The picker's defender should delay Yao a little as Cato slips past the pick in time with Yao using the pick. verse, this discussion shows you that: 1. Rudy, Larry Smith, and CD are not "morons." They know all the plays/tricks to get the ball to the big man, 2. Yao is not fluid or fast enough or lacking in his timing (maybe getting knocked off his path too easily) to use the pick properly, 3. The timing of the perimeter swing passing did not match the timing of the pick and use of the pick, or 4. It is simply not as effective as "Yao's favorite play" which is to push his way down the middle of the lane from the high post. So, Rudy tried it, didn't like it, and has a replacement for it; and the inadequacies of it in practice are most likely due to Yao not being able to fight across the lane well. Sometimes you just have to knock the defensive guard silly when they try to delay your progress during a crossing pick situation.
Hmm...I guess Rudy is smart! He must know not to play Bostjan Nachbar cuz he watches him in practice. He's not a moron. I agree. DO NOT FIRE RUDY!!! But we need a mean assistant coach that's good at all the pyschological stuff. We have to play good every game.
After watching the Rockets play the T-Wolves in MN I had the impression that at times it was like watching a team of Vernon Maxwells with a bigger Jim Petersen in the middle. Now Vernon Maxwell wouldn't set up screens for other players and no one would set up screens for Jim Petersen. I'm not saying that the rest of the team in talent and ability is Vernon Maxwell or that Yao is Jim Petersen. Just that in temperament and attitude they seem that way. If Rudy wants to see good cross screens for Yao Mobley, Francis, Taylor, Rice et al need to be willing to spread the wealth while Yao needs to demand the ball more.
"But we need a mean assistant coach that's good at all the pyschological stuff. We have to play good every game." Where's Bill Fitch?
I still don't like Yao being locked down the post all the time, that's not his game because he is not strong enough for that yet.
heypee: this is an example of out of town people not being able to hear rudy talk. also, that sounds like very poor practice execution and yet another reason to bring in a "teacher" either as a head or assistant coach.
Agree with above. I'll add: 5. Somehow I don't see our guards putting their back into the screen like Stockton does. Yuck, hurts just to say that. 6. Similar to 3, My faith in our entry pass is... weak at best. It seems we need to telegraph it for a few seconds before entering the ball. That in itself will give Cato or anyone time to neutralize the positional advantage, ie root Yao out.
This is fine but ever time they run this play he rolls and then tries to establish position down low. I have never seen him roll completely to the basket and get fed the ball nor have I seen him get the ball and shoot a 10 ft face up jumper. It's like the pre-requisite to getting the ball is the ability to establish position. It's all very mechanical. They need to work on a more fluid play where he can catch and pop or go strong. The timing is crucial but it should be worked out. The other thing Ive noticed is that Yao is very deliberate with his moves. Only 1 time have I actually seen him fake a pass before shooting or making the baseline spin move. Opponents are now very aware of Yao's passing abilities. The next time a cutter goes to the hole, Yao should fake a pass to the middle and then shoot or spin to the baseline.
I know! Imagine if Rudy made Maxwell and Cassell the focal points of the offense. What is the difference between Cassell/Francis and Mobley/Maxwell?
Sounds like a very active practice squad defending the play to me. This is the problem with measure offense in a vacuum...there is always a defense their to not make it so easy to take a play from clipboard to court. verse: the play where he moves down the middle of the lane is "Yao's favorite play" and that tells me it is what *he* is best at, as well as the team. Malone and Shaq can cross the lane because they indeed will hurt any guard who tries to delay their progress. Whereas, even I wouldn't feel scared to get in Yao's way coming across the lane. That pick is not that difficult, but the picker is not really a threat to score if his man moves in front of Yao to let Cato slip around the pick. As that happens, the ball is already swinging around completely taking the picker out of the play from an passing option standpoint.
hmm...true. Dallas plays so many picks and they all work out so perfectly, I guess it just matters who you have on your team and how they can run the plays.
Good point, it's funny how we used to do that with Maxwell giving up his body for Hakeem... Too bad the Rocket's two guards have too much pride and too little heart to do it...Maybe Posey can be the guy.
I have tapes of the Phoenix playoff games where Maxwell sets picks for Olajuwon over and over and over... And don't compare Vernon Maxwell to Cuttino...One plays to win despite believing the more he shot the more likely we'll win. Another plays for glamore believing the more shot he takes the more likely he will get to be on ESPN....might not be so obvious to you on offense but pretty obvious on defense who plays with heart.
madmaxu; I'm guessing you're a Vernon fan. Since I haven't seen replays of the 94 series recently I'll concede to you about Maxwell setting picks. Even so Maxwell wasn't a model team player. That Mad Max nickname didn't come from nothing. I don't think it was ever a question of Maxwell's heart but his head.
Yao should also come off picks to shoot open jumpers. At his height, just a little space can get him needed time to shoot a face up jumper with a better look at the basket than any looks he gets off turn-arounds. Yao is a pure shooter. Get him some easy points and the Rockets will win more. And don't give up trying after a few practices.
