He is playing to many minutes. Follow the SA model and keep your guys healthy for the playoffs. 80 games is plenty of time to get your lineups set.
thats true too. i don't think yao should play more than 36 minutes (3qtrs). jerry sloan makes it a rule never to play his key guys more than 30-36 minutes. it keeps them fresh in the playoffs, and adds years to thier career. look at how long stockton and malone played at a high level.
under Gundy's system, Yao wasted a lot of energy on wrestling in offensive end and anti screen in defensive end. Gundy is the weakest position in former Rockets
But we are playing against mostly elite teams in this month. Probabaly that's the reason T-Mac & Yao have to play that long.
Another factor in yao looking less tired this year even playing more mins is that he isn't chasing guards around the perimeter on defense and constantly backpedalling. He is hanging out by the basket waiting for them, the way a big man is supposed to, not trying to trap them 30 ft away from the basket like jvg forced him to do. Another reason why he has not had foul problems at all this year despite extended mins. He usually picked up at least 2 to 3 cheap fouls a game under jvg trying to guard pgs.
for a good reason, yao need to adjust himself in term of body control, breath control .. to play more time.
yeah, I kinda get that feeling too...And the fatigue he showed as the end of his 18 min was ovbious. So, either A was focusing on some hot cheerleaders or he was trying to make Yao a cheerleader
but i'll argue jvg got more out of yao on a per minute basis. in fact yao under jvg produced more in less minutes and therefore was more efficient. it's still early in the season. we'll revisit the stats at the end of season.
I like seeing yao out there, but i admit...there was a point where i was thinking "give him a breather". I guess it was that 17th straight minute mark. If he gets totally exhausted he could get sloppy and slow with his feet and then bad things could happen. Then again, he is spending more time floating at the elbow so he can catch his breath a bit more. I love him being out there, but the way he was sucking wind toward the end of his rotation I did get a little nervous. overall though...around 35 minutes is about right for a true center. But if you can rest him..do it. Still early though. The team is still getting their flow
He neednt defend gurds on high post as JVG used to ask him to do. He just pass ball on the high post as coach A asked him to do. So he can save a lot of energy to present more time. As we can see he didnt display any discomfort on his face after he played one and a half. This is a new YAO in a new system who we will never see on JVG's defense system. We should be happy on YAO can play so long!
