Does anyone else agree with me that Yao is too passive in the low post too often? I've really noticed lately that Yao is so tentative down there, opposed to watching Dikembe come off the bench with a fire under him and really banging down low. I'm all for a veteran mentor being on our coaching staff to help Yao develop his game, but I really believe Ewing is not going to cut it. I'm interested in who we could bring onto our staff to really help Yao become an aggressive pressence down low. I'd like to see Yao cause the fear that Shaq puts into other teams whenever the ball is given to him down low. I'm not sure who would be the best fit, but I'd like to see the Rockets try to bring someone like Moses Malone to our staff. I think Moses would whip Yao's butt and make him become aggressive. What are y'all's opinions on this?
Funny, as I was reading your post Moses Malone was exactly who I was thinking of. When Hakeem was at U of H he'd play against Moses in pickup games during the off-season, and he credits him for helping him develop toughness inside. Yao could use someone like him. But its not going to happen as long as JVG is coach.
Unfortunately there is only one person on this planet that could turn Yao into an aggressive force down low. Yao Ming.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sniper:</div><div class="quote_post">Unfortunately there is only one person on this planet that could turn Yao into an aggressive force down low. Yao Ming.</div> That may be true, but others can have a very strong influence on whether or not he makes that transformation. With the help of someone like Moses Malone, Yao could really become a true threat down low. Imagine how scarily good Houston could become if Yao was so much more aggressive.
This is a problem Yao has been having for a very long time and I myself have come to a conclusion- Yao will never be as agressive as Shaq, ever. He's not that type of player that would bang bodies down low and bulldoze people over. In fact, I've actually think he's improve on this part over the years, and everyone's still saying he's way too passive. Give the man a break, he's still working on this, and he knows its a problem. Do you not remember those dunks over Phoenix last night already? But the ultimate truth is- he can never bang bodies down low like Shaq does. Just look at their body frames. Shaq is much larger than Yao and also less taller which means he has more agility. Yao on the other hand is way too lanky to be that coordinated and is definitely less bulked up. As for bringing in Moses Malone for a personal coach, Van Gundy wouldn't allow it. I mean, even Kareem offered to coach Yao (something I read in the Houston Chronicle), but it didn't look like that ever happened.
I think one of the problems is that yao doesnt want the ball as much. when hes in position in the low post then he should call for it but never gets the ball. Communication problem? but when mutumbo comes off the bench hes in the low post and takes it in for a foul. then yao comes back and dunks it in the low post! (Observation from Phoenix vs houston)
But Yao's got more muscle now and he might look think but his legs in real life are like tree trunks.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting friedrice092289:</div><div class="quote_post">I think one of the problems is that yao doesnt want the ball as much. when hes in position in the low post then he should call for it but never gets the ball. Communication problem? but when mutumbo comes off the bench hes in the low post and takes it in for a foul. then yao comes back and dunks it in the low post! (Observation from Phoenix vs houston)</div> They usually play post defend Yao much better than Mutombo, because he's more of a scoring threat. Mutombo doesn't get much respect as an offensive player, and he can take advantage of that. Honestly, I don't think Yao should be the main focal point of our offense. At least not this year. Our best chance is to play a motion offense and have our guards and T-Mac create shots for everyone. We've been doing more of that lately, and we've been better offensively because of it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">This is a problem Yao has been having for a very long time and I myself have come to a conclusion- Yao will never be as agressive as Shaq, ever. He's not that type of player that would bang bodies down low and bulldoze people over. In fact, I've actually think he's improve on this part over the years, and everyone's still saying he's way too passive. Give the man a break, he's still working on this, and he knows its a problem. Do you not remember those dunks over Phoenix last night already? But the ultimate truth is- he can never bang bodies down low like Shaq does. Just look at their body frames. Shaq is much larger than Yao and also less taller which means he has more agility. Yao on the other hand is way too lanky to be that coordinated and is definitely less bulked up. As for bringing in Moses Malone for a personal coach, Van Gundy wouldn't allow it. I mean, even Kareem offered to coach Yao (something I read in the Houston Chronicle), but it didn't look like that ever happened.</div> Ultimately, I'd think that Carrol Dawson's decision trumps JVG's, and Dawson coached Malone way back in the 70s and early 80s. I think Ewing is just biding his time until he gets a head coaching job, and who knows maybe he'll leave next year. If Kareem or Malone offered to replace him (or, what the hell, Dream) then we should definitely pick them up.
