"I don't think (Yao has) got a lot of post moves," said Dampier, who help hound Yao into a 4-of-12 performance. "He didn't take many jump shots. That's what you want -- make him take a jump shot." i also remembered don chaney said yao is so predictable with his moves. yao needs to make some power moves. he seems to spin "cleanly" away from defenders. he needs to initiate more contacts to create more space for him
everyone has bad games. who is Dampier to criticize lack of post moves. that guy has ZERO moves and he has been in the league for years! As for Yao, I think he has PLENTY of post moves. Even if you compare him to the ALL TIME greats. D ROb, Pat Ewing did not have alot of moves. But the key to their success was that they got the ball in the flow of the game. The type of offense that the Rockets run simply is not ideal for Yao. Yao will be better utilized if they played more of a passing sort of offense (kings, jazz, mavs).
I agreed. The offense we run is simply not to take advantage of talents of Yao and to a lesser extent Griffin. We are too perimeter happy. If the jumpers fall in, then fine. If not, we are in big trouble. That's why our offense (and result) is so inconsistent.
Yao just needs to be more agressive. When he fades away all the time like he did in the beginning of last night's game they can defend him easily. When he actually goes toward the basket strong they can't compete with his height and he is likely to get a foul call. And of course he needs to develop a hook shot!!!!
I love it when everyone agrees with me But I try to give a more vivid example for the original poster. I like to compare Yao to Tim Duncan when he was a rookie. IMO, their styles of play are very similar. Both have good post moves, both can shoot the 16 ft jumper well. But one thing I noticed with Duncan was that approximately HALF of his baskets were created by the offense. The offense will give him some easy 5 foot shots, dunks, garbage baskets etc. Perhaps this is due to having a great player like Drob (at his prime) beside him and a crafty pass first pg like Avery Johnson. But the fact is, Duncan's one on one game at that time was SIMILAR to Yaos. This message is not intended to discredit TD. Frankly, I think he was a good one on one player like Yao. So my point is, we can not expect Yao to go out and go 9/11 every night on ONE ON ONE type plays. Afterall, the OFFENSIVE PLAYS are suppose to create alot of shots and mismatches. (TOO BAD IT HASNT FOR OUT CASE) but the last thing we want is Yao to try to pound it into Dampier every game. Yao is too smart and skilled for that. MOVE THE BALL ROX!!!!
Yao should do the dream move (like he did against the Pacer) to Dampier the next time they met. But seriously, Yao hadn't been hitting his jump shot when he got the ball on the block. Part of the problem is he couldn't back them down for a closer shot and his fade away jump shot is not a high percentage shot anyway. The Rocket should throw the ball don to him when he either flash through the paint or when he got position in the middle of the paint. In those situation his shot usually fall or he got fouls. Eventually Yao will hit those jump shot consistently like Hakeem did when he is at his peak, but for now they should create some easier shot for him (like the Dallas game) and get him into the flow of the game. I agree that Yao should drive to the basket for a closer shot or get fouls instead of settle for a fade away jump shot. Also agree that he probably flourish in the King's motion offense, but I think most players will flourish in that offense since it design to get everyone involve and as a result they will get easier shot. Wish we have one of those offense.
I think Dampier was just saying that the Warriors were limiting his post moves or shots. They were trying to make him just shoot jump shots and nothing easy too close to baskets like what he got in the 4th quarter. I really don't think he was dissing Yao's post moves.....cuz at the moment he has more than any center in the league.
It just shocks me that a 7'5/7'6 guy can have so much trouble shooting over people. He's getting blocked quite frequently. I also notice he's been losing every single tip-off at the start of the game. He isn't getting much lift when he jumps. I'm thinking the stamina issue is still a big problem.
The Rockets need to play Yao like the Blazers play Sabonis: stick him in the high or low post, and let him basically run the offense with his passing, post moves, and shooting touch.
Against Golden State, the first couple of possesions went thru Yao. He looked very tentative and we did not score at all, eventually abondinign that offense and going back to the guards creating. ARG! Can that really be our best play. Also our interior defense was pitiful. Virtually ever GS basket was a dunk. Our defense stifened when Cato came in. Though Yao did play well in the fourth Q. Don't know what my point is, but we have a long wasy to go still.
