Watching last nights game i thought yao would have a great advantage with his outside shot, since no suns player in taller than 6'9". It seems that 15 foot jumper yao had in his rookie season is gone, that was a great tool. just watch what other centers like big Z and okur do with theirs, yao and tmac could use his jumpers on pick and rolls. but that never seems to happen. he's wasting one his tools.
his jumper is still there he didnt play much and it was only one game most of the time they want him in the block anyway not taking jumpers unless u want him to fall in love with the jump shot like chris webber
I think his legs were dead tired from the pace of the game. I will continue to say it, JVG is using Yao Ming entirely wrong in the offense. JVG wants him to be a back to the basket player, but Yao's strengths are in the high post. The Rockets aren't taking advantage of Yao's passing abilities at all or his shooting touch. It would be advantageous to have Yao in the high post to start the games. It allows him to not pick up stupid charging fouls and the extra punishment on the inside. Plus he has less running to do, which keeps his legs fresh. Yao isn't a dominant rebounder, so you don't lose much keeping him in the high post. Having in the high post would force the opposing center to step out and guard him. This opens up the lane for TMac to slash in, or set back door plays for Swift to get lob dunks. Yao Ming can hit TMac on cuts all night long, and has the touch to lob the ball to Swift in the post. If the double team comes from the guards Yao can just swing the ball out to the perimeter for open jump shots. Someone needs to put together a Vlade Divac & Arvydas Sabonis package for JVG to study.
I thin Yao's jumper has suffered from his transition into the low post. He must be spending more time on his low post moves than his jump shot, since JVG wants Yao to be a banger. Also, Howard is not the greatest rebounder so Yao needs to stay close to the basket. In games against teams like the Suns where he is double-teamed, Yao should move to the high post and just take jump shots all day. It would be a lot easier than his fadeaway jumper, and he would have as much chance of making the jumper as any one of Mcgrady's crazy jumpers. Especially these last couple weeks where T-Mac is shooting ike a blind man. Yao should practice his jumpers more. He is definitely capable of making the shots that Kurt Thomas had last night.
I thought Yao would play more in the high post when Chuck Hayes showed how good he was at rebounding the ball offensively. Instead, Yao's return has seen Hayes play less and less. What we need is a power forward who will bang down low and allow Yao to play outside of the key more, something like Kelvin Cato was. Adonal Foyle comes to mind, but he has a huge contract. A guy like Tyson Chandler would also have been perfect in the offseason, Stromile Swift simply doesn't cut it.
The Bulls are now shopping Mike Sweetney and the Sonics have been shopping Reggie Evans all year long. Evans does veto rights, and might feel it's too, crowded at PF in Houston. I'm not sure if he'd agree to be traded to Houston. Mike Sweetney is a solid bet though. I think the Rockets could trade Deke straight up for him. The only hitch would be if Deke doesn't want to go there, but the Bulls could certainly use him for their playoff push.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I think his legs were dead tired from the pace of the game. I will continue to say it, JVG is using Yao Ming entirely wrong in the offense. JVG wants him to be a back to the basket player, but Yao's strengths are in the high post. The Rockets aren't taking advantage of Yao's passing abilities at all or his shooting touch. It would be advantageous to have Yao in the high post to start the games. It allows him to not pick up stupid charging fouls and the extra punishment on the inside. Plus he has less running to do, which keeps his legs fresh. Yao isn't a dominant rebounder, so you don't lose much keeping him in the high post. Having in the high post would force the opposing center to step out and guard him. This opens up the lane for TMac to slash in, or set back door plays for Swift to get lob dunks. Yao Ming can hit TMac on cuts all night long, and has the touch to lob the ball to Swift in the post. If the double team comes from the guards Yao can just swing the ball out to the perimeter for open jump shots. Someone needs to put together a Vlade Divac & Arvydas Sabonis package for JVG to study.</div> Exactly. I love JVG as much as the next guy, but WHAT THE HECK, JEFF? The weak-side defense against Yao is amazing. Teams are now setting picks on defense, freeing up their two's and one's, and coming after Yao from the weak-side. If the Rockets at all had a PF that could defend, this might not happen. Playing Yao in the low-post maybe for effective, but he isn't the next Shaq, nor is he some crappy copy of Pat Ewing. I really do believe this has to do more with Ewing than Van Gundy. I love playing Yao in the post, but the high post maybe too much of a long shot. Yao's presence inside causes a lot of problems for defenses. I just think Van Gundy and Ewing should vary it up a lot more with Yao. He has a great shooting touch and some great passing skills. But playing Pick - n - Roll with no Rolling involved gets a bit predictable. Playing him and McGrady off the high-screen worked last year in the playoffs, but it's time the Rockets explored some back door and iso plays for Yao.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Mike Sweetney is a solid bet though. I think the Rockets could trade Deke straight up for him. The only hitch would be if Deke doesn't want to go there, but the Bulls could certainly use him for their playoff push.</div> Chicago is an interesting trade partner for the Rockets. They need vets for their young team... the Rockets want younger players. Sweetney would be an excellent compliment to Yao inside - he's physical and can score around the basket. Perhaps Derek Anderson for Sweetney would work? Or maybe a bigger deal to bring Ben Gordon to Houston? Anyways this is wayy off-topic. But in regards to the OP - Yao might benefit from having a legit banger inside so he can play high post more
