I think Yao is the most dominant center in the game today, and he will be for a number of years. Yao going one-on-one in the post against anybody in the league gives you a great shot at 2 points. On top of that, Yao is a good teammate and a marketing superstar. So what's the problem? When it comes to crunch time, Yao is a liability. You could see it when we lost in the playoffs to Dallas, when we lost in the playoffs to Utah, and again tonight. Yao is a great weapon - if you can get him the ball. The problem comes when they deny Yao the ball by fronting. It takes him completely out of the offense. Then on the other end, it is too easy to create mismatches against Yao. Remember against the Mavs in the playoffs where Yao was trying to guard Stackhouse or Howard? Remember how badly Yao was destroyed by Boozer? The same happened again tonight. I'm sure Brandon Bass is a fine player, but a guy like that should not be your matchup concern playing Dallas, it should be Nowitzki. I am sure Yao could fetch a very high price on the trade market, and I am equally certain that if a trade went down everyone would b**** and moan that we got ripped off. I am also pretty sure that taking that path will be more likely to result in a championship. Unless the Rockets can figure out some way to mask Yao's defensive matchup problems (run a zone maybe?) and overcome the fronting defense, these late game collapses are going to be the rule, not the exception.
A) Yao should not be guarding StackHouse or Howard anyways B) We built a 17-pt lead. Now would u make this thread if we were able to KEEP this lead? C) Who didnt get destroyed by Boozer?! D) u think Les will let Yao go away? the biggest $ maker for the Rockets? E) If Yao was really the defensive liability, we should take him out during crunch defensive possession (like vs Bobcats) not trade him away. BTW, 6 blocks is an indication of defensive liability?
StupidMoniker, I think you make valid points in your post.. I really love Yao, but I think he is way overrated considering the great liability he is down the stretch and against small players.. I really believe that trading Yao is in the best interest of the Rockets from a basketball standpoint because we can get just about any player you'd think of in the league right now other than players that yield more profit (LeBron, Kobe, and possibly DWade, but that's about it).. however, I don't think the Rockets as an organization would even consider trading him because the market he created is absolutely huuuge.. no other player in the NBA would draw more viewers to a regular season game than the SuperBowl.. I think it all comes down to the money, Yao is a huge asset from a financial standpoint with the market he creates.. there is NO way this team would have sellout crowds if Yao wasn't on the team. so I guess we just have to take it and work with what we have..
Exactly why I called Yao the biggest clown in the league. But this is a coach's failure. We can avoid this if only RA can recognize this pattern.
I don't know why Yao was guarding everyone on opponent team, from guard to forward to center? Maybe many of the guys Yao was guarding had already beaten those unnamed teammates of Yao, stupid?
I agree Yao is not #1 guy on a team, but I disagree trading him because there aren't many good big men out there that is as good as him. Instead of trading Yao, let's trade Tmac+any rockets for Kobe+Fisher. With Fisher's leadership and clutch outside shooting and Kobe's ability to score and competitiveness, the team will have much better chance of winning a championship then the current rockets. What's an embarrassing loss tonight!
Okafor, Howard, Garnette, Duncan, the 2 Wallaces, and about every single power forward/center that has what it takes physically to stop him.. I agree with this point 100%.. like I said, no way in hell we trade away the biggest money maker possibly in the history of the NBA... [/QUOTE]BTW, 6 blocks is an indication of defensive liability?[/QUOTE] no, an indication of a defensive liability is the inability to stop a 6-2 guard from getting a layup and better yet, foul him for the 3-point-play that pretty gave Dallas the lead which they never lost after that... once again, I think Yao is a great player, I think he had a wonderful game with a double-double and six blocks.. but I can't resist the temptation of thinking about who we can get if we traded him.. I just don't see this team winning it all if he is the primary player..
Is the Rockets the basketball version of the Oakland Raiders? Both always find ways to lose games, often stupid mistakes.
BTW, 6 blocks is an indication of defensive liability?[/QUOTE] no, an indication of a defensive liability is the inability to stop a 6-2 guard from getting a layup and better yet, foul him for the 3-point-play that pretty gave Dallas the lead which they never lost after that... once again, I think Yao is a great player, I think he had a wonderful game with a double-double and six blocks.. but I can't resist the temptation of thinking about who we can get if we traded him.. I just don't see this team winning it all if he is the primary player..[/QUOTE] Oh really? Then why is boozer pushing 25 ppg this season? Why did he torch Duncan in the WCF? The dude has become a great offensive player. Do you expect Shaq or any other big center to stay in front of Devin Harris guarding him on a FREAKING ISOLATION PLAY? Only extraordinarily quick freaks like Olajuwon can do that.
it was actually a result of 2 factors: 1. poor 1 on 1 defense by the guards (Luther Head?) 2. screens (pick and rolls) by Dallas which forces Yao to help in both situations, Yao IS responsible for making the defensive stop on the ball because his beaten teammates should cover the passing lane to Yao's man..
Rockets should feel guilty since Yao help them earn a lot of Money, but they are not able to let him to be the person he deserves to be!