Just a crazy though: what about bringing yao off the bench? It is becoming clear yao's body can't take the wear and tear of a full season and will probably never see superstar starter minutes again. For this thought exersize i will assume we resign T-mac or another playmaker of his calibur (joe Johnson) With the new run and gun adleman offense yao becomes a rebound and dish player running from 3pt line to 3pt line every play. The fast pace will do a number to his health and there will be tons of plays where he won't get back to the action. He also is a huge body that rarely leaves the paint clogging it for our penetration. Brooks Mcgrady equivalent Ariza Scola A spread the floor center (maybe andersen ends up something) this would be a very potent run and gun team that could put up points in bunches. Lowry Cbud Battier Hayes/landry Yao. This is a lock down slow as snails defensive team that will thrive off of the go to post wait for double team and kick out (ala orlando). This would let Yao play at his own pace and would throw the other teams line ups way out of whack. Just a thought.
I'd rather let Yao go, then have him come off the bench... Seriously, why have a 15+ million dollar asset come off the bench? He's basically the cornerstone of the franchise right now. If he doesn't fit, why keep him?
I think the Rockets plan is for Yao to be a starter, with his minutes and practice time more heavily monitored. Personally I don't think he should be a 30 mpg player any more, but maybe his new foot will allow him to manage it. In any case, even if he's playing closer to 20 mpg, I see no reason to bring him off the bench. Not yet, anyway. Maybe one year from now, I'll see things differently.
yay a serious reply. I don't think he would fit in well with any running team. Maybe off the bench is too extreme but a slow defensive minded line up of Lowry t-mac battier scola yao with a package of brooks/ariza/landry/cbud coming of the bench running would be better than trying to run with yao on the court in my opinion.
It's been said over and over -- Yao doesn't prevent the Rockets from running a fast break. If he can contribute to the stop by standing in the lane and blocking a shot or forcing a miss, then the other 4 guys on the floor can recover the ball and push it up. If they can score on a fast break or secondary break, great. Explore that early offense. Meanwhile, Yao will enter the picture and become a low post option if nothing else good comes up in the first 10 seconds or so of the shot clock. Projected starters next season: Brooks - ? - Ariza - Scola - Yao. Assuming that ? is filled by an all-star caliber wing, they should do alright.
Yes. The Rockets need to be better offensively. With veteran players and good coaching, they'll can maintain as a good defensive ball-club, even if the more defensive minded players are reserves. But the Rockets can't become legit contenders until their offense is top 10. That needs to be the focus.
Regardless if you field a running team you still have to defend to win (See Warriors, Suns, Raptors). And for as much as we all gripe about Yao's injury problems, the fact is the last 10 teams to win a championship had a skilled post player, wich we can all agree Yao still is.
