[dwade3]

Can Yao be the Hakeem (post Ralph Sampson/pre Drexler) of this decade? Not in terms of play, but is he/team better off with a bunch of nicely drilled role players instead of the 1-2 combo of him and McGrady?

[DuMa]

no yao is a completely different center than hakeem. just let yao do what he does best.

[OneBadLT123]

Interesting you bring this up.

I just feel McGrady just cant complement Yaos game. Tmac sucks with Yao in the game, but is great with him out. The way things have gone as of late, it seems as if Yao is leading the team better without McGrady. But what I don't like is with Tmac out, Yao is getting nearly 110% of the defensive effort put on him and him alone. With Tmac on the floor, the opposing defense needs to spread it out more.

What Drexler brought was different, they already knew how to compliment their games, and both had extremely good synergy together.

Bottom line, I don't know.

[hroz]

TMAC draws a double team.
Which frees up Yao.

Plus the pick and roll with TMAC & Yao is very effective.
You gotta guard one of them.

But way too often TMAC or Rafer runs it up doesnt make a play just takes a bad jumper.

That needs to stop. TMAC & Rafer both need to take it to the rim. Jump shots are not the strong points in their game.

[Dre™]

Yao doesn't need a one-two punch. He needs a collection of shooters and slashers around him, and a better point guard, especially in that Adelman offense. What they need to do is try and get a swingman and a point guard for Mcgrady, then find another swingman elsewhere. That way he has a team full of guys he can post up and pop it out to or find cutting in the high post.

[Hakeem]

Originally Posted by dwade3

Can Yao be the Hakeem (post Ralph Sampson/pre Drexler) of this decade? Not in terms of play, but is he/team better off with a bunch of nicely drilled role players instead of the 1-2 combo of him and McGrady?

No. The Rockets would be better off if Yao played with another really good player who can create. This is because Yao lacks the versatility to create regardless of the way he is defended. If, for example, he is fronted, the Rockets have no one to take over and take advantage of what that type of defense is offering.