Anything that has Yao doing anything other than catching, turning, and shooting is a bad thing. His strengths are his size and shooting touch. He can't dribble, he can't move, he is an average passes, and he's not a good outside shooter contrary to popular opinion. If he's shooting threes he can't get back on defense fast enough to defend long rebound fast breaks and he's not fast enough to track down long rebounds.
This is true. and AGAIN. I dont think he should do it under normal circumstances. But if our offense is going through one of those 12 point quarters, why not give it a shot. See if we find something there.
You know what, I want Yao to develop a killer crossover and start taking his man off the dribble from the top of the key. You know, diversify his game.
The only thing Yao needs to do is to solve fronting. That's about all the diversifying Yao needs. Unfortunately, that'll require Yao to gain a couple of inches in vertical and a point guard that can actually lob it overhead with competence.
Giving Yao a 2nd option, either in the high post or at the 3pt line gives team's another look, another thing to game plan against. Clearly he should spend 90% of his time on the block but toss in 10% of something else (maybe more if it is working) and it opens up the lane for our guys to drive. I like the Yao at the 3pt line shot occassionally,...If Manute Bol can make that shot, so can Yao. DD
I think we have to look at Yyao from 2 perspectives. 1. What can he do? 2. What will the Refs allow him to do? While I think we would all like to see him be more physical I doubt the refs will allow it. he has been called for more bull***** Screen violations in his career than ENTIRE TEAMS it seems. I think if Yao was to dive to the basket any one a screen and roll he'd get called for somekindof charging fouls [slow + big = charging even if the guy ain't set] I think the rockets need to make a concerted effort to get more alleyoops to Yao Which means someone DRIVING from the other side and drawing the Defense this IMO worked with SF3. Could work with TM1 but no one on the teams seems to drive enough to keep the defense honest. Yao needs ways to get some easier baskets. Passing it in to him and letting him work should be good but . .. I think he needs some easy ones too every basket seems to be too much work The easier game is what Adelman was suppose to bring Rocket River
does the fake on horford count as "dribble", and "move"? and i believe he's an above-average jump shooter. at least used to be. youtube it and watch some of yao's pre-draft camp videos. the guy can do some fancy dribbling as well. he's just too disciplined in real games. if amare can have a jump shot after a summer's worth of practicing, sure it's quite possible for yao to get his jumper BACK.
the key is rockets should get better shooters and slashers (or our existing shooters and slashers) can play better so yao gets more inside space to maximize his game!
. . or swing the ball to the opposite side quickly and teach Yao how to seal his man on the outside. [Someone driving it from the opposite side would be good too.] Let's look at the lob to YAO When was the last time the wing player had the ball the person was fronting. the wing player took his man off the dribble forcing the 'fronter' to now worry about someone driving it to the basket i.e. leave Yao to prevent the drive to the basket freeing Yao for an Alley oop or something I'm not basketball genius but . . .. I think it could work some That is why a HARDDRIVING player IMO is important to yao Rocket River
To me when he does that at home he gets to the line quite a bit. When he does it on the road, he gets fouled out or he gets beaten up and tired at the end. When Mcgrady isnt playing at a high level, and we have to go to yao in the post almost every play, its usually a recipe for disaster, especially on the road.
Thanks. But what else can Yao do other than post up? He is a dominant back-to-the-basket player. Moving him more than 8-9 feet away from the rim doesn't make sense. The Rockets needs to patiently move the ball around, slash & cut to the rim, set picks and probe defenses for what's available. Having 3 guys sit on their hands while one guy tries to force the ball to Yao is stupid. Yao shooting 3-pointers is also stupid. It would open up nothing in the middle because why would the opposing center bother to even guard him? Landry will be shooting 3-pointers before Yao does. Shooting 3-pointers isn't something a player just decides to start doing in the middle of a season (unless the player is Dennis Rodman). Trying to free Yao for mid-range jumpers may be worth a try. If Adelman tries this again, prepare for the wrath of certain Yao fans who will flame the very notion. But if Yao can't hit these shots at a decent clip, they are right.
He just needs to learn how to turn around with elbows out and fast like how Shaq does it. No one is gonna take charges or flop on those. You will lose some teeth. Give the punishment, not take it!
He IS a below average shooter. JVG is a big time homer and even he said it. Dont you guys remember last year when so many people were complaining because he was in the high post and shooting a bad percentage? The solution was to keep him in the low post where he is best.
All Yao needs is a side kick someone like Brad Miller who can score and take the pressure off. Yao would then have plenty of room to operate down low.
Not Brad Miller but a young PF that can stroke the 3ball ala Robert Horry would be awesome. Even Maarty would look good as a spot up PF ...... DD
Blame it on JVG. He used to have a much better jumper before JVG forced him to play exclusively in the low post.
