I think Yao's game has gone to a different level the last 10-20 games. 1. He's staying out of foul trouble early. 2. He's figured out that even with the double teams, it is best for his team if he takes more shots. 3. He's developing pet moves and plays that work depending on what the defense is trying to do to him. He's finally figured out that if they are going to double him, to go to the right side, catch the ball at the baseline, and just shoot it as he is going away from the double and turning towards the baseline. We saw that move against the Clips several times. It should be one of his key moves to conquer the double. Just turn baseline and fire that jumper. 4. He's getting the ball out to Rafer so much more quickly off the glass and giving us the opportunity to push the tempo. 5. He's trailing the penetrator to the basket for the gimme putbacks and little pass offs. 6. His turnovers are going down. With the exception of Phoenix, I really like what I've seen from him lately. I think he's getting it. And I don't put Phoenix on him. I think that was bad coaching strategy for the most part. He didn't get the ball and he was trying to rebound against 3 or 4 Suns while all his teammates were running to the other end. If he keeps up this level of play, we will do some damage come playoff time.
Yao has been really impressive since he returned from toe surgery. I wonder how long that toe has been killing him. He looks like a different player. I'm loving it.
Wesley and Alston can alternate as our third option. Too bad we couldn't land Peja for Swift+Head+Some pick(s) or Howard+Head
Actually I think Yao was responsible (more or less) in the Phoenix game. The coach would not tell you every play on the court and the players have to decide and setup the best play every possession. I do not believe JVG did not setup any plan or moves for Yao to counter those fronting and double team, I think Yao just failed to execute them properly. (Or perhaps his teammates failed, 'coz the most effective way to punish double team is simply making every open shots) Yao is an introspective person and I have faith in him that he won't make the same mistake in the next Phoenix game.
Yao shouldn't take any responsibility for the loss in the Phoenix. As I mentioned on a different post, it was completely JVG's fault for not having a proper game plan against the run-and-gun Sun's. Doug Collins even mentioned this during one of his commentating efforts by pointing out how JVG should put higher priority on perimeter defense when playing the Suns. We're such a great interior defensive team with the size that we have in Yao, Mutombo, Swift, and Howard it's hard for opposing teams to score in the paint. But as have seen in numerous losses, we suck at perimeter defense. And with a such a great passing and scoring team like the Sun, it brought out the worst in us. IMO, if Amare was back, Yao would've done slightly better in that game. Amare is a PF disguised as a C who depends heavily on his inside game (ie. dunking and short jumpers). Those are things Yao can guard. Besides Amare, like great European teams, pretty much everyone else on the Suns can hit 3's like there's no tomorrow. I bet you the Phoenix towel boy can hit more consecutive 3's than our best 3-point shooter David Wesley.
God, what an awful clone, cause the clone turned out to be way better than the matrix, indicating a mutation~~~ BTW, you're really a p#@p
jesus, it was a joke. the sarcasm was jumping off the screen. We all know Yao is a 7'5 stiff like shawn bradley. GOD!
It really amazes me when Yao has a good game all the cheers come out and when he has a bad game trade Yao posts come out.
There is quiet revolution going in Ming's game. He is making serious improvements. He seems more decisive and more aggressive. I don't think he has peaked, but he is making steady progress. I think his conditioning has improved significantly. Also, he seems to "bringing it" more often than he used to. He has seemed lazy and disinterested at times in the past. Also his silly fouls are down. Actually, his overall progress is one of the few bright spots this season. There have been so many distractions that he is not getting the credit he deserves.
cmon bro you know sarcasm dont carry over well around here. You wouldnt believe how many times I've had to make things clear
Agree. You might also want to point out how much more often he is stuffing the ball hard rather than laying it up softly.
Maybe the time sitting out watching the Rockets play without him made him see how important he is to this team, didn't realize how good he is until he saw how much of a struggle it was to win without him.
I posted in another thread about a move Yao made last night in the 4th quarter. He was being double teamed and he basically turned away from the double team and made a fall away jumper just like Hakeem used to do. A few months ago, he would have fumbled the ball away while trying to dribble. That's another thing. He seems to be more assertive in the post. He knows what he wants to do before he receives the entry pass. No hesitation. No dribbling. No waiting for the double team. Just get the ball and make your move. That is a key to being a great post player. Hakeem was the master. I also think the entry passes have been better as of late. Especially from Alston who has really been finding him in the lane at just the right time lately. If Yao gets the ball in the post and doesn't have position, he'll throw it right back out again, then get better position, then get the ball back and make his move. Just like Hakeem used to do. It's been a thing of beauty the last few weeks.
For whatever reason, he is: 1) being more aggressive and assertive on the court; 2) reducing his TOs; 3) avoiding stupid fouls; 4) rebounding better; 5) scoring more and shooting better from the field (5 of the last 6 games he shot more than 60% from the floor); 6) blocking more shots since his return from the injuries. I was expecting him to slowly round into shape (after being sidelined by injury for two months) and was surprised to see him being so effective in such a short period of time.
