I will take my chances on Okur shooting with a 7'6" guy around him, over Boozer. And if Okur drives, just collapse the D, he is not a good passer or finisher on the move. DD
it's obvious Yao will get scored on whoever he guards against the Jazz. he was single handedly keeping the jazz in the game.
i knew what u meant, i was just kidding. I agree with u Yao has some troubles playing against the jazz at both end of the floor. But Yao is still Yao, whether he plays well or not in a game, the opposite team always gives him soo much attention. When Yao's on the court, he makes the other players' jobs much easier, including t mac. I wouldn't say reduce his minutes, but he can definitely improve and find a way to play against jazz, again, he's Yao, he knows how to work.
The reason for Yao guarding Boozer is so that Yao stay inside for interior defense. That is the ONLY true reason for guarding Boozer so he can protect the basket. If he stay outside guarding Okur then they're going to attack the basket....plus nobody is going to rebound the ball!! So you can see there are advantage for him guarding Boozer. What ROckets need to do is help double Boozer and give him second look...don't just let him go one on one w/ Yao. Mess him up a bit...make him think twice...and help out Yao if Boozer gets hot!! That is the only good strategic imo.
let me ask you. do you think utah will not be happy if yao guard okur? if pulling yao to the perimeter, all nba teams will thank you for your dumb move.
Agreed 100% Yao Ming can't guard tall, athletic, jump shooting Power Forwards. We all know this. Does Coach 'A' know this NOW? Hayes and Scola did a better job. Anyway Yao has looked out of sink in both games so far. I hope the new system doesn't cause him to feel disgruntled against the Rockets !
Defensively Scola+Hayes can stop the Okur+Boozer combo. Hayes makes boozer very uncomfortable and does a good job keeping him out of the paint.. Scola has quick hands to deflect the ball any time Okur has it.
Flash over some doubles whenever Boozer gets the ball. He doesn't have a good handle and his court vision is terrible, make him make a tough pass instead of letting him go 1 on 1 with Yao. He's a 1 on 1 player and that's where he excels. The Jazz make great cuts but if you pay close attention to Boozer he will almost never hit his man, and tends to lose the ball in the post when a guard doubles over on him. I don't know why the Rockets constantly let Boozer go to work on Yao. It's embarassing for Yao and it's playing right into the hands of the Jazz.
Very true. Yao by simplying staying in the lane would have built a wall already for our defence. There were many occasions when opponents drove into the lane and found Yao in front of them, they had to pass the ball away. Let Okur shoot his 3 pointer all night long if he wished to. Yao's problem tonight wasn't on his D, his poor shooting % and so predictable low post move were.
Did you watch the game? His D was terrible. I understand Yao can't do anything on Boozer, but don't you think that's a problem? Giving the ball to Boozer with Yao on him was free points for the Jazz tonight. Yao didn't even make him alter his shot. Hayes was ten times more effectively going 1 on 1 with Booze
Frankly I only watched the 2nd half of the game. Thanks to the league pass link from some other posters here. It depends if you weighed Yao's "D" as "defending Boozer" only or "defending the paint". I didn't say he did a good job guarding Boozer. It is a bad match up and we already knew that last playoff. If you have watched the same game tonight, you should have noticed a lot of Utah drivings to the lane were "altered" when Yao was in the paint. When Yao was out, I saw Utah cuts then easily baskets. Let's not mention the 5 blocks he eventually collected.
A lot more mobile? Which game did you watch? Okur may be a bit more mobile than Yao, but that's about it. You don't see Okur driving (except for once today). He usually catches and shoots.
If Yao is on fire on the offensive end against the Jazz, you have no choice but to leave him in. In this case, i would have Yao back off and invite boozer to take the jumper. But not like tonight. At least get your hands up. The reason I'd have Yao playing loose is because he has less chance of fouling Boozer on the drive for the "and-1." Let him get his points from 10+ feet away from the basket instead of point blank layups and dunks.
No matter what you say about JVG and Adelman, they are good coaches. I am pretty sure they know way better than any of the fans here about basketball. It worked in some games not the others. But both of they must think it is better for Yao and team to do that.
Let me break it down for you. There are only 3 options Option A. Have Yao guard boozer. Pros: 1. Yao is around to defend the paint 2. Yao doesn't have to leave his comfort zone 3. Yao saves energy from not moving around as much. 4. Yao is in position to get rebounds. Cons: 1. Boozer will score his points and fairly easily. He will always have his 15 foot jumper, or if Yao decides to venture out and contest it, he will just drive right past Yao. Option B. (aka dumb option) Have Yao guard Okur PROS: 1. Yao doesnt have to guard Boozer Cons: 1. Yao has to venture out to the 3 point line. 2. Either Chuck or Scola is left to defend the paint. 3. Yao expends more energy moving away from his comfort zone and guarding Okur around the 3 point line. 4. Yao is out of position to get rebounds. Option C. Bench Yao the entire game Pros: None Cons: 1. BBS will crash from every Yao fan in the world complaining.
thats just a tough defensive matchup for yao, especially in the new system. it looked worse than it was though since yao's shot was off and he kept missing some of his bread and butter shots. boozer let yao take exactly the shots he wanted to, they just werent dropping tonight.
