[Wojnarowski] Rockets can't be contenders because of Yao's minutes

Yao will be playing more than 24 minutes by the time the playoffs come around. Morey made it clear in his comments that the minute limit will be constantly re-evaluated as the season/Yao progresses.

 

He does realize that the minutes Yao plays in the playoffs is not going to be 24min/gm right. The current arrangement is to keep him healthy for the playoffs!

 

His point is valid IMO. Yao won't be playing back to backs either. Yao has shown promise,but he has a long way to go. Turning it on in the playoffs,if we get there isn't easy.

 

Yeah, it is.

 

I agree 100%

In fact, this team won't go past the second round unless Yao is playing 32+ minutes in the post season.

 

You're not winning a championship, or even making serious noise, when your best player is limited to 24 minutes a game.

 

Agreed. Woj makes an excellent point in this video.

 

Yao was pretty health, for a 7-6,

The BIGGEST mistake rockets ever made was let him play 37mins per game for much of that season, which eventually caused his break down.

Look at Oden, Bynme ... neither ever play 32+mins.

 

The better Yao's back ups do during the regular season, the less Yao plays. Come playoffs he will play more.

 

Neither make the max either.

 

Too early to tell.

 

we arent contenders even if yao played max efficient minutes...

 

Go Pistons!

 

Oden never plays more than 32 minutes because he has been hurt since drafted. Not the case for Yao.

Yao is way more important to his team than Bynum is for the Lakers. If the Rockets addressed the backup Center position a long time ago then I think we could have cut Yao's minutes.

 

So if he played 10 more minutes we become contenders? If Yao plays 24 minutes and averages 18 points and 8 rebounds we can't make up the extra 4-8 points and 2-3 rebounds with our depth?

In years past we have been contenders with Tracy and Yao, but they had no one behind them. Now we have an 80% Yao and a lot behind them...We are a better team now simply because we have that depth. We can make up for them, health is our only issue imo.

 

The way I understand it is he is only going to be limited to 24 min/gm so we can make sure he is healthy when we get to the playoffs. Once we get there then they won't limit his mintues - it will be all or bust depending on how everyone is playing with the system as it is.

They never said he would be limited in minutes in the playoffs.

 

Wojo is accurate however like some have already pointed out, the 24 min rule will be changed by the playoffs and he isn't counting on the development of Budinger, Hill, Brooks and even Lee to take another step up!

 

He basically doesn't say any of that, and he is an idiot to think we won't play Yao more than 24 min/game during the playoffs...

 

what a dumb****.

the entire point of the 24 minute limit during the season is to have Yao 100% for full-time duty in the playoffs.