Comments on: Blazers almost burn Rockets in big comeback push http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback Where fans of Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets can find out the latest on Yao Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:09:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: lawrence http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback/comment-page-1#comment-883 lawrence Fri, 13 Apr 2007 04:14:27 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback#comment-883 how come no one questioned the two most problematic factors : jvg and rafer, if they are gone. half of rox problem go with them. a tough notch pg, and a denfensive 3 pt sf, rox will be the champ if they can do that, well, other than the trouble tmac's back, and the depth of the bench. next year, last chance before tmac turns into an old man, and yao is heading out of his prime. how come no one questioned the two most problematic factors : jvg and rafer, if they are gone. half of rox problem go with them.

a tough notch pg, and a denfensive 3 pt sf, rox will be the champ if they can do that, well, other than the trouble tmac’s back, and the depth of the bench.

next year, last chance before tmac turns into an old man, and yao is heading out of his prime.

]]> By: James Lee http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback/comment-page-1#comment-882 James Lee Fri, 13 Apr 2007 04:13:37 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback#comment-882 John I found it very annoying that Rafer who can't shoot a lick, wants the ball to shoot free throws at the end when Portland began fouling. The 3 he missed almost cost us the game. It's been the same all year. It's always Rafer except for that last one in Portland when I think JVG finally put his foot down and Yao got the ball and the foul Why can't they get the ball to Yao all the time? And somebody should tell Rafer he is not the go to guy a la Tracy,Kobe or LeBron !! Not if he can't shoot free throws. Why does he not know his own limitations? He says he's aware of all the criticisms but it doesn't bother him. He's lying. It's bothering him and he's trying hard to prove us all wrong and in the process comes out worse !! John

I found it very annoying that Rafer who can’t shoot a lick, wants the ball to shoot free throws at the end when Portland began fouling. The 3 he missed almost cost us the game.

It’s been the same all year. It’s always Rafer except for that last one in Portland when I think JVG finally put his foot down and Yao got the ball and the foul

Why can’t they get the ball to Yao all the time?

And somebody should tell Rafer he is not the go to guy a la Tracy,Kobe or LeBron !!

Not if he can’t shoot free throws.

Why does he not know his own limitations?

He says he’s aware of all the criticisms but it doesn’t bother him. He’s lying. It’s bothering him and he’s trying hard to prove us all wrong and in the process comes out worse !!

]]> By: JW http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback/comment-page-1#comment-881 JW Fri, 13 Apr 2007 04:01:04 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback#comment-881 John, A good artical about Yao from CNN.com http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/chris_ballard/04/10/yao.ming0416/ John, A good artical about Yao from CNN.com

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/chris_ballard/04/10/yao.ming0416/

]]> By: Kaolin http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback/comment-page-1#comment-880 Kaolin Thu, 12 Apr 2007 23:16:24 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback#comment-880 Hello John, nice post. I have been thinking the same thing for a while as well. I also think in particular, Rafer Alston plays too long. Well I can't blame JVG for not playing Lucas and Vspan much at the point as they have not been very good, but he should have realized this problem long ago and tried to find a solution. I also have a little theory of my own about Yao's fourth quarter performance (he usually is not as efficient in the fourth quarter). I think it may have something to do with the refs changing their ways of officiating late in fourth quarter . They are said to not calling the fouls they usually call in the first 3 quarters. I think Yao might not be able to adjust to the sudden change of intensity allowed by the referees and start to miss shots. <em>Kaolin, That's a good observation about the refs changing their ways in the 4th quarter. Now that you mention it, I think you're on to something there. Couple that with fatigue late in the game, the extra intensity opposing defenses usually apply in the fourth quarter spurned on by a roaring road crowd, and maybe a little bit of Yao thinking about it too much with opposing teams' fans yelling and screaming, it could all add up to less efficiency. Just as an experiment, it would be interesting to see how Yao would fare if he played just a few minutes in the first half, and only played in the second half. I would bet he would be strong and very efficient with his shots the entire second half. He would probably also not have to change his expectations with the refs, which would have to be a good thing. John</em> Hello John, nice post. I have been thinking the same thing for a while as well. I also think in particular, Rafer Alston plays too long. Well I can’t blame JVG for not playing Lucas and Vspan much at the point as they have not been very good, but he should have realized this problem long ago and tried to find a solution.

I also have a little theory of my own about Yao’s fourth quarter performance (he usually is not as efficient in the fourth quarter). I think it may have something to do with the refs changing their ways of officiating late in fourth quarter . They are said to not calling the fouls they usually call in the first 3 quarters. I think Yao might not be able to adjust to the sudden change of intensity allowed by the referees and start to miss shots.

Kaolin,

That’s a good observation about the refs changing their ways in the 4th quarter. Now that you mention it, I think you’re on to something there. Couple that with fatigue late in the game, the extra intensity opposing defenses usually apply in the fourth quarter spurned on by a roaring road crowd, and maybe a little bit of Yao thinking about it too much with opposing teams’ fans yelling and screaming, it could all add up to less efficiency.

Just as an experiment, it would be interesting to see how Yao would fare if he played just a few minutes in the first half, and only played in the second half. I would bet he would be strong and very efficient with his shots the entire second half. He would probably also not have to change his expectations with the refs, which would have to be a good thing.

John

]]> By: Jeffrey http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback/comment-page-1#comment-879 Jeffrey Thu, 12 Apr 2007 09:26:29 +0000 http://www.yaomingmania.com/blog/2007/04/12/blazers-almost-burn-rockets-in-big-comeback#comment-879 Phoenix uses an 8-man rotation and they seem to be doing just fine, too. <em>Jeffrey, Good point, but I think the difference between Phoenix and Houston is that the Suns have thoroughbreds in their 8-man rotation, while the Rockets have.... - Two players in T-Mac and Yao who take on the bulk of the scoring load (and thus, effort) for their teams, whereas Phoenix's scoring is much more distributed - T-Mac with a bad back that can go out at anytime, so conserving his minutes would behoove the team - Yao being the tallest and one of the heaviest players in the league, it's still debatable if he can be effective playing minutes in the high 30's. I love Yao's game, but the law of physics may apply here -- it takes more effort for him to get up and down the court, thus tiring him sooner - A 40-year old center in Dikembe who probably has averaged about 10 minutes in the last 10 games, putting even more pressure on Yao (where's Jake?) - an intense defensive scheme requiring all-out effort, whereas the Suns don't focus nearly as much energy on defense. John</em> Phoenix uses an 8-man rotation and they seem to be doing just fine, too.

Jeffrey,

Good point, but I think the difference between Phoenix and Houston is that the Suns have thoroughbreds in their 8-man rotation, while the Rockets have….

- Two players in T-Mac and Yao who take on the bulk of the scoring load (and thus, effort) for their teams, whereas Phoenix’s scoring is much more distributed

- T-Mac with a bad back that can go out at anytime, so conserving his minutes would behoove the team

- Yao being the tallest and one of the heaviest players in the league, it’s still debatable if he can be effective playing minutes in the high 30’s. I love Yao’s game, but the law of physics may apply here — it takes more effort for him to get up and down the court, thus tiring him sooner

- A 40-year old center in Dikembe who probably has averaged about 10 minutes in the last 10 games, putting even more pressure on Yao (where’s Jake?)

- an intense defensive scheme requiring all-out effort, whereas the Suns don’t focus nearly as much energy on defense.

John

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