When Yao is NOT in the game

by FromAfar on Apr 26, 2009 8:25 AM PDT

Lot of discussion on how the Blazers should play Yao, and how to prevent the Rockets from punishing us when we focus our defense on Yao. But a play-by-play analysis of all the games will show that the Yao-less Rockets have been hurting us worse!

Take Game 3:
Q2 12:00 Yao rests at start of 2nd; Score 21-15 Rockets
Q2 06:01 Yao enters; Score 38-25 Rockets
They extend the lead to 13! Scola and Landry scored 11 of the 17 points. There was no Yao to occupy the Blazers so why should their undersized power forwards be hurting us?
Q4 12:00 Yao rests at start of 4th; Score 66-59 Rockets
Q4 09:19 Yao enters; Score 68-61 Rockets
We didn't lose ground, but we went almost 3 minutes and only scored 2 points without Yao in the game.

In Game 2:
Q2 09:30 Yao goes to bench Score 29-30 Blazers
Q2 03:19 Yao returns Score 49-45 Rockets
We gave up 6 pts while Yao was away!
Q3 06:50 Yao goes to bench Score 63-58 Rockets
Q3 04:15 Blazers 8-0 run, take lead Score 63-66 Blazers
Q4 10:30 Yao returns Score 74-77 Blazers
Yao-less Rockets played us even for almost 6 minutes.

In both Games2 and 2, the Blazers did fine with Yao in the game. We have to focus on stopping them, and hurting them when he is NOT. This is not about Blazers bench vs Rockets bench. At this point with shortened rotations, its more of an extended starting unit, where most of the starters are on the floor and bench players slide in and out. Both talent and size-wise, any Blazer combination from the shortened Blazer rotation is much, much better than any Yao-less Rockets combination. Hope the brain-trust devises a way to pound the advantage home.

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In my opinion, the key to beating their bench is going to be Outlaw breaking out of his slump.

by inroywetrust on Apr 26, 2009 8:45 AM PDT reply actions

Outlaw's slump does not address our defensive porosity

Do hope that Outlaw gets his game back together. Would make the game easier all the way around. However, I would still call attention to our defense, versus our offense. We played great team defense over the last 20 games of the season. Which is why it is surprising to see an undersized Rockets team scoring so much.

The undersized Rockets scored 50 pts in the 23.5 minutes of play described above; which is a 102 ppg pace. Exclude the last 30 secs of Game 2 (where technically Yao was not in the game), Rockets with Yao, scored 131 points in 72 minutes, which is an 87 ppg pace. The Yao-less Rockets have scored a lot and scored faster that the “starters”. We cannot afford to play great defense on Yao and leak away the advantage when he’s not there.

by FromAfar on Apr 26, 2009 9:23 AM PDT up reply actions

Need more

Batum in the 2nd unit to deal with the quick players and shore up the defense. Billa or Oden should be on the floor at all times unless there is severe foul trouble. Nate’s rotations have been driving me nuts personally. He’s so good at so many things but player substitution patterns are driving me nuts. Also with no Deke why isn’t Sergio getting run in the second unit to push the tempo which was our killer change up pitch? More Sergio less Frye for the win.

"Death is not final," Gita says. "If any man thinks that he slays, and if another thinks that he is slain, neither knows the truth. The Eternal in man cannot kill: the Eternal in man cannot die. The soul in man is neither born nor does it die. Weapons cannot cut it; fire cannot burn it; water cannot drown it.

The Bhagavad Gita

Rudy is amazing to have survived not only the Ariza flagrant but also several attempts by snipers to end his life (look for it at second 30 and again later. Credit to Norkstroll for this incredible documetary footage!):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siKWh0DkCz8

by Idog1976 on Apr 26, 2009 11:02 AM PDT up reply actions

Good points.

Billa and Batum in the 2nd unit would be great. The Rockets dont give the Blazers much room for error — dont think Nate will be comfortable with risking Sergio against the Rockets. But you’re right there are plenty of options, and there’s lot of room for hope.

After watching the Blazers hold Yao off, we now seem like the much stronger team. Hope this confidence permeates throughout the team and we pound them. Given past results, the Rockets seem too fragile to survive a pounding playoff loss on their home floor. [Not like how the Blazers responded from Game 1’s loss].

by FromAfar on Apr 26, 2009 2:05 PM PDT reply actions