There were a couple times last night when the US doubled Ming and he kicked the ball across court to the open man. Images of Dream to Horry, Cassel, Smith and Elie knocking down short jumpers and threes began dancing through my head. Francis, Mobley, Rice, Griffin and possibly Boki could become our sharp shooters of the Championship years. Double teaming Yao could become lethal to Rockets opponents.
Boki will be on the all-rookie team together with Ming. I predict him to beat out Rice for the starting job midway through the season. The only possible problem for him is his D (not that Rice has much D himself ).
i cant wait for aug 31! ming will have an even better game. as for the regular season, ming will command a double team from every team exept for the lakers, nets, pistons, miami, and SA. lets not forget that those teams will be forced to double team either steve or cat.
The way I see it is that Yao may not even have to be doubled to help get better shots. Last year, if Cato was 15 feet out, his defender wasn't worried and would have probably cheated a bit. This created problems with driving in the lane. With Yao getting respect from his opponent, better shots should come. Well, in theory they would, any way. Does anybody remember Yao getting I think a loose ball and passing it to the other side (width wise.) of the court to a wide open man? The guy missed it, but that made me drool.
Great question, but I don't know that it's possible. Francis and Mobley already command double teams (not as much w/zone defenses though)...you can't double everyone. Francis and Mobley might soon find out what it's like in K. Bryant's world -- no one guards you!
I don't think so, since China play US the last in group C, which is 3 games in 3 days, Chinese players will by then exhuasted, espeically, after the big fight aginst Germany, since they don't have a lot of chance to win US, they might just rest their players for next round, and US has much deeper bench, so their players will be very fresh.
One of the reasons Yao was doubled is because nobody else on his team can play. That won't be the case with the Rockets
If teams double Yao, he's a good enough passer to be able to kick the ball out to the open player. Though it's merely coincidence, it makes the Rice deal look better. Why? He, Nachbar, and Griffin - three small forwards/power forwards who can hit the three - stand to gain the most from any double-teaming of Yao Ming, as the outside shooter tends to be the first player left open on a double team. Conversely, if teams double Steve Francis or Cuttino Mobley, Yao is a good enough shooter from the outside such that dribble penetration and kickout or moving the ball around will find him for an open shot from midrange, one which he can easily hit uncontested. It's a winning proposition either way. It may take a year or two to perfect, but I imagine that's where the Rockets are headed.
