diversify.. i didn't mean go to him every time.. or force the issue but make him the focal point in the offense.. early on.. mixing it up.. as the alternative when the first option is denied.. in the fourth.. flip it.. think on the alternatives as first priority.. Yao as the pleasant extra when allowed.. work on Scola pick and rolls with Lowry.. a combination of pick and rolls/pick and pops with Scola/Landry and Wafer.. and consider other low post options.. DD's not the first to mention.. Scola and Artest as quite apt for this.. and you continue to draw the focus away from Yao.. putting him out in the high post.. for the pass/kick out shot..
Play finisher. I wouldnt consider Dwight Howard a play maker either, and he's considered the best center in the world. I think the only wrinkle in Yao's game from his low post game shoud be his outside shot. Not his passing and facilitating. Might sound as if Yao's only there as a "bailout" option. Its more that wherever he receives the ball, he's not gonna go in much further from that spot anyways. I'd rather that then Brad Miller'ing him out to the high post just looking to pass to cutters and popping outside jumpers. Though if he took his jumpers confidentally it'd open up his other stuff.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You just said what I've been trying to say for so long, do something DIFFERENT. Predictable is death. Change something, Yao fighting somebody on the low post for position, then losing the position, then slowly spinning around to lose position again, then staring as the point guard passes the ball somewhere else does not cut it! Do something different!
I'm a proponent of inverted offense as a different look. Posting up doesnt have to be exclusive to bigs, nor outside shooting for smalls. Gary Payton mighta scored more post up points in a game than Shawn Kemp sometimes, Sam Perkins nowhere to be seen inside the 3 point line. In 80 possessions, wouldnt hurt to toss in a different look 3-5 of those times. Doesnt have to be crazy trick plays like in football. How come outside shooting bigs are alright but posting up guards arent? Oh well thats another discussion... Darn zone defense
I don't know why something this obvious is so overlooked. If Yao is fronted, move him around.... SHEESH !! DD
I don't know either...move him around OR move the ball around faster than the guy can rotate in front of him (to the other side). I also saw Wafer do an interesting pass to Yao where he passed it from a little above the free throw line (rather than being directly in front of him), a lot of the guys wait till they get position directly in front of Yao. There were a couple of lob passes to Yao in the game, a couple over some guys heads. Do something different.
Look at the quickness in which Yao moves in the 2nd vs the 4th. That's why I like the pick and pop. Yao needs to get in better range than the 22 ft jimmy he shot in the 3rd, but they could run a rub from the elbow. Instead of fighting, yao just needs to walk to the elbow, this will open the baseline. Then when the defense collapse on penetration, he has a wide open 15 ft er. Late in games, a wide open 15 ft er from one of the best shooters in the league is cool with me no matter how big he is.
