Yao Ming Mania - Latest Comments in Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

Ben — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:52:09 -0000

They have to win tonight. This is not an option.

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

benny — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 21:43:03 -0000

coach so stupid, not even try to time out at 4th quarter, Aaron Brooks keep shooting (6 for 20) what the hell????? If theyplay like that, CAN ROCKETS MAKE SECOND ROUND???? oh no.... i dont think so...
Try be smart Coach......How come blazers make a lot free trow??/ BECAUSE THEY SMART, no question about it.. Good luck Rockets

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

Ree — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:18:08 -0000

I totally agree. When Brooks and Artest look like they'll fire a shot, Yao and the rest of the teammates expect that, too! That's why Yao doesn't move and just start to wait for the rebound.

This cannot continue! He needs to still battle for a position and ask for the ball. If he gets their attention, they may change their minds and pass him the ball. Even if they don't, at least the coach may start to say something about it after it happens too many times. But if Yao is quiet all the time, even the Coach can't say much.

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

Ben — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 15:05:32 -0000

Same thing again: Artest and Aaron became McGrady in the late of the game.

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

NYCBOBBY — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:52:12 -0000

You guys have forgotten what got Yao touches in the 4th game is because he followed Adleman's advice and stop fighting too hard to get the ball but to rather just hold his ground and let the offense come to him. That enabled him to also free himself easier to grab rebounds. I thought he did that quite well in the 4th game. THAT was the reason why you saw what you saw in game 5. Yes he was being extra passive but I think the coaching staff has finally taught some common sense into Yao. Now rather if you want to blame the players not passing into Yao more, there could be some truth to that but not a whole lot. They need to whip the pass in there quicker then usual. This small window of opportunity is actually a by product of Yao's deficiency to counteract Portland's front defense and allow them to hover their body over him. You can say that Yao is not mobile or quick enough to counteract, but in actuality it is a matter of boxing out fundamentals that Yao hasnt learned or put too much time into. Instead he wastes his energy pushing around, running from one end of the court to the other. In other words, Yao is overrated as a thinker. He needs to be smarter with his footwork, his fundamental methods. He doesnt need to always fight for position in the same area time after time. He could easily get it from the elbow and then go back to position to post up. But what does he do when he gets it in the elbow? He passes it up.

Yes Adleman couldve been smarter with managing the games with time outs and telling his players what NOT to do. But he is what he is. He's the type of coach to let his players play and react. Great system for smart players. It's just that Artest is doing what I was afraid what he is going to do. Jack up shots instead of driving in. AB is trying to do layups like it's college.

If the Rockets lose game 6, folks it is a wrap, cause they ain't winning game 7 in Portland. We've been there done that. Not until Yao takes a summer off and actually really learn the fundamentals and smarten up. AMEN!

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

JW — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:13:26 -0000

John, totally agree with your great analysis.

Some stupid plays late in the game ... hurts allot.
Brooks: he can't take over the game by scoring alone, and he's not Tony Parker, CP, etc. Trying to score the basket by himself in front of a couple of 7-footers, several times? He's not thinking.
Artest: What can I say? Wild Ron showed up again.
Battier: Can he play one-on-one offense down low? (I saw him doing it in the past.) Riding on Yao is good, but when you can't, what's wrong with attacking the basket yourself down low, like Scola? Or get some tough cut after passing the ball to Yao?
Yao: Maybe previous +40 minutes wore him down. He needs to coming toward the ball, if he can't shelter the defender, to get it and shoot the 15-footer.
Scola: the ref killed the only smart Rockets starter in the game. A very questionable 4th foul.
Wafer: Attacking basket is good. But when Oden is coming at you to block it; your big man, Yao, is wide open UNDER the basket!! Pass it, Wafer, to Yao, he could dunk and maybe get another foul from Oden.
Coach(es): no clue. (Both me and them) Maybe like an old Chinese saying: you can't see a mountain when you are in it.

John, I now realized what you said earlier about Portland team. They are really good. I didn't pay attention to them during the regular season. I think we have to prey now. Rockets need to play a perfect game on Thursday and the refs know it's Rockets' home this time.

I'm a little worried about you saying that Yao will take it upon himself on Thursday. He tends to fight too hard for the post in the past, especially in game 2. He needs to play smarter. Also, he can't do it himself.

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

pryuen — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:40:25 -0000

John

Great analysis as always.

As I've posted many games before in the forum, I'm really sick and tired of this read and react thing from Rick Adelman.

You're so right about him not calling time-outs when the TrailBlazers were on a 15 ~ 0 run. It's inept coaching.

And one thing I really can't understand. Even though Kyle Lowry had 2 consecutive tic-tac fouls called on him, he should not be immediately be replaced by Aaron Brooks. He got only 2 fouls, and it was not like he had already 4 or 5 fouls already. So why in a haste to substitute him? As you said, he was at least organizing the offense well, and he played tough defense on the TrailBlazers.

Once Aaron Brooks came in, disaster struck.....a 12 ~ 0 run with 6 consecutive offensive possessions either ended up in bricks, or called for offensive fouls.

I also felt strange that why Yao Ming seemed to be playing quite passive in 1Q. He seemed not trying to fight for position hard, and was with very little no-ball movement and running. Not sure whether it was per Rick Adelman's instructions. But for such a crucial game, it really hurts to see Big Yao playing so hesitant and tentative during that first quarter, ended with ZERO shot attempts/points.

Sometimes I really felt it is difficult to be a Rockets fan. They always tend to make life difficult for themselves, and find ways to lose games that they should have won.

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

john — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 07:34:05 -0000

thats one of the prb.. .. i dont understand why the cocah let ab in.. he should bench him..
whenever he dribble he stay at the same spot.. he doesnt move away... when yao repost .. ab just pass it to someone else... man...6/20 is really really really bad...

i blame it on AB...he just doesnt know how to run an offense.... he needs to remember he is a pg not sg... god damn
if they lose game 6... rox are not going to win.. yao need to go to another team or at least they should get a better pg..all that trade without a ok pg...
ab is like rafer now... have few really good nite then have alot of bad nite... but ab doesnt know how to pass

Re: Rockets can’t hold another 4th quarter lead

airchina23 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 06:34:43 -0000

So when Yao was just getting hot when we took the lead in the 4th quarter, Idelman pulls him out. Moves like these are making me pulling my hair out.

Let's get this thing over with on Thursday!