Yao Ming will not play more than 24 minutes in any game this season

1st unit

Jordan Hill
Scola
Budinger
Martin
Lowry

Start game, draw fouls like crazy, then with 6 minutes to go in the quarter...

2nd unit

Yao Ming
Scola
Battier
Martin
Brooks

Shoot free throws like crazy with a unit that averages around 80% FT

Give players rest as needed. Take advantage of Yao's greatest gift, scoring when the other team's in the penalty, while minimizing his minutes.

 

That idea is crazy enough to work, but i want to replace hill with miller. I want to see them try this out for at least one or two pre-season game.

 

I don't understand the reasoning, but I've never seen a team deviate from starting its best players (other than a few cases like Ginobli/JTerry).

Where is it written in stone that your best players have to play minutes at the start of halfs? Why can't they play equivalent minutes at the end of quarters?

Seems like you would want to play Yao when the team is in the bonus, but I find it hard to believe he won't start.

Obviously it depends on who the other team has out on the floor.

 

I don't mind this, as long as Yao is healthy in the playoffs I couldn't give a rats ass how much we play him in the regular season. (assuming we make the playoffs of course)

 

Did you guys pay attention to this?

 

ok, here's the deal, though.

the addition or return of Yao Ming was supposed to be the difference-maker for us...the difference from being a lottery team to being a legit championship caliber type team.

this is why that's always been fool's gold. and why i've been so frustrated with it for so long, frankly, as a rockets fan.

 

I've got a feeling this season is gonna be hellava fustrating. Moreso than last season.

 

For who? Maybe for a few homers like DD, but most people (and quotes from Daryl Morey) see Yao returning as putting us from a lottery team to a 2nd round contender, and still a couple of impact players away from being a championship contender.

 

Yeah I caught that too.. I hope they don't do Yao like they did Mcgrady, 'cuz that was extremely frustrating. Let the big fella play!

 

seems like i've read more than DD saying that. though DD does come to mind right off the bat.

 

I do believe we are contenders, even with Yao playing 24 minutes a game....

Fan is short for Fanatic......and I am a Rocket's fan.

DD

 

By GOD, do you mean Morey?

 

this is a fantastic idea - i really hope they hold true to this.

 

If that's the case, they better damn well not give him a max deal next offseason. I remember having a debate about whether he was worth it last year. I argued that with his injury history that he wasn't. Most disagreed. No way you can give a guy who's missed a year and only plays part time the next year a max deal.

The thought was that Yao returning was like our big free agent acquisition this offseason. If he's only playing half time and only 3/4 of games, then it's not as big a plus as we initially thought.

Our best seasons with Yao, we had between 51 and 55 wins. We had 42 last year without him. Add half a Yao to last years squad and I'm not sure we would have gotten the extra 8 or 9 wins necessary to make the playoffs.

I thought that with Yao back, we'd easily be back in the playoffs but now I'm not so sure. I think we'll compete for one of the last playoff spots but I think it's 50/50, maybe less, that we actually get into the playoffs now.

FWIW, Yao draws comparisons to Ilgauskas because of their injury history. But the Rockets are being much more caution with Yao than the Cavs were with Ilgauskas. The year after Ilgauskas had his foot reshaped, he averaged 30 mpg and didn't sit out back to backs. I'm not trying to draw a comparison between the players and their injuries, just pointing out how cautious the Rockets are being.

 

Whats even sadder is the assumption the rockets make the playoffs. They rockets and their all in strategy is bunk and most know it. All in is what la,boston,miami,dallas are doing. Its done thru actions, not talk. If the rockets are lucky, they might make the playoffs with the 7'6 Mr Glass playing 24 mins a night and no back to back. I bet every championship caliber team employs that strategy.

 

Yao's best year, he didn't even average 35 minutes.

2006-07 25 ppg, 9.4 rebs, 2.0 blocks, 51.7%

2004-2005 he averaged 30 minutes and 36 second per game, still got 18+ ppg and 8+ rebs.

 

None of that means **** if he gets you to the 2nd round of the playoffs or later, which a many max guys do not do. Some max guys dont even get you to the playoffs

Instead of arbitrarily making conditions why dont we just wait and see how this team performs with Yao? Who gives a **** if he plays 24 minutes if he's there to make plays that take you over the hump.

According to Morey Yao is worth about 10 wins a year in the regular season. And obviously worth from 4 to 8+ wins in the playoffs. Since this team without Yao isn't going anywhere in the playoffs/

 

What is wrong with most of you people? I don't recall Morey signing in blood that this was going to be the game plan. Hell, sport franchises say one thing and do another all day long. Hopefully the Rockets actually go through with this limitation, it sure sounds like they will, because it is needed.

Seriously people, look at our roster. Remember how we played last year. Realize we will have Yao for 24 minutes a game. Watch us get a top 4 seed.

 

You are such a f'ing pessimist.

Every freaking thread is you whining or crying about the organization, our players, our drafting, etc etc. If you are so in love with other championship caliber teams, then go be fans of them.

Your schtick is getting old.

Try being excited for the team once in a while

 

I'd be okay with this. Regular season, of course.