This is one of the biggest problems I've had. He doesn't do it all the time, but he still does sometimes. Like Hakeem did, Yao needs to react immediately after getting the ball, whether it's driving, faking, facing up, or shooting. He waits too long, allowing the double team to come by. He's accomplishing nothing by doing nothing with the ball.
I noticed that the entire team was doing this. What about that play that Mike James was bringing the ball down the floor and not paying attention and gets the ball picked for a dunk. T-Mac standing on the perimeter jacking shots up. Francis driving and running into a wall of defenders. Scola got stripped too. Hayes ineffective. The entire team was bad.
With Yao, it's not necessarily lack of effort. He's just slow. When his weight his shifted one way, it takes him a LONG TIME to go the other way. A lot of Yao's deficiencies tie in directly to his unique body type, and you can't blame him for that.
You apparently have not been watching Yao lately. HE WAITS FOR DOUBLE TEAM IN THE POST! No team doubles him in the elbow. DUH
To James' credit he ran right into Battier and essentially into a double team, but I don't know who was at fault there. If any player gives it their all every night its Yao, theres no denying that. It's just easy percieve his slowness and lack of athleticism for not trying hard. He will get pushed over, and will lose the ball plenty of times, but unfortunately thats the bad we have to take with the good, and whether the good exceeds the bad....who knows. All I know is we're not a bad team at all when Yao is off the floor.
Yao has been awful the last couple games, no doubt. But so have the rest of the guys. Calling him a big stiff though...not ture. Shawn Bradley, now that was a big stiff.
Anyone think it might be Adelman TELLING him to wait for the double team to try and set up open shooters or cutters? The problem is that the shooters can't shoot and the cutters won't cut. All I know is when Yao doesn't hesitate, he's money, i.e. that hook shot along the right baseline when the clock's running out.
That is exactly what I think, Yao is just mechanically following Adelman's game plan. It's up to Adelman to figure out that Yao in the low post is dominant with 25+/10+ and more Wins, Yao in the high post is 15/7 and a big fat L.
Say what you will about Yao's limitations...but at least he cares enough to say something. He didn't quit on his team or just sit there with his mouth catching flies while the team was sinking.
Yes, Yao is a big stiff ...... In comparison to Bryant, LeBron, Nash, McGrady, ......., he is a big stiff. In comparison to Francis, Wells, Battier, Head, Scola, Alston, James, ......., he is a big stiff. It is not too late to realize that he is a big stiff. The fact is this is the big stiff we have. What to do with this big stiff then? To trade him before his trade value gets diminished? I'd like to see Yao demand a trade if the team continues to be a .500 team. Maybe that would bring some changes to the team and to the club.
he needs to remember what Dream taught him.. get the ball and go to work.. he's being too hesitant which is causing him to either pass the ball back out or turn it over.. that explains why he's not getting any shots.. but he's getting the touches
I thought Dream told Yao this. I agree, Yao takes too long. Dream makes his move as soon as he gets the ball, bam! dream shake bam! baseline fade-away bam! dream hook bam! up and under move bam! quick pass to cutter bam! quick pass to open shooter
100% AGREE Yao can't hold Dream's jock strap but he is 7'6 and that alone should make it simple to get off any shot he want's. Catch the ball, feel the defender make a move toi either the hook or baseline jumper or turn to and shoot. Double team comes don't hold it, find the guy at the three point line or the guy moving to the basket.
Yao has always been a huge stiff and anyone who knows anything about basketball and any non Asian fanboy can see that. Yes he has incredible offensive talent and potential. But it's his lack of any kind of ability whatsoever on defense and in rebounding that kill the team. When you have a 7'6" player who is a less physical rebounder than your point guard, he might as well play on the wing. Given the incredible amount of stress put on Yao's body throughout his life, it's not a stretch to assume he has already peaked, like a pitcher who blows out his arm mid 20's. McGrady has his own problems such as bringing consistent intensity and injuries but you can't question his ability. Yao on the other hand is just a glorified Rik Smits.
So the most dominant big man in the league last year is a big stiff all of sudden. Go home with that stuff pal. Open up your eyes and see the whole situation. Let me cut it real short and get right to the heart of the matter with whats going on with Yao. At the begining of the year, during training camp, Adelman was asked if Yao could be a high post passer like Divac and Adelman scoffed at the reporter and said "oh no, he would never be what Divac was but if we could get him to be half as good" then right there I knew what a debacle this would turn out to be. Here was when Yao was on his way to going from the most dominant force in the paint to being molded into a high post pansy by Rick Adelman and staff.
That is an interesting observation by Adelman. He knows it. As a high post passer, Yao "would never be what Divac was but if we could get him to be half as good." Also true is that Yao "would never be what Alston is as a PG but if we could get him to be 1% as good."
