Rockets better off without Yao?

[Poe]

As of late, the Rockets seem to be pretty successful without Yao Ming. The young team has been pushing the pace on offense and has been scrappy on the defensive end. Though not every player seems perfectly efficient statistically, they still manage to keep a good record with a decent spot in the playoffs. The Rockets are now positioned at the 6th seed, only one seed below last year with a healthy Yao, and McGrady stepping in and out of the picture.

 

 

This year they are led by a PG averaging 17 points (just 42% shooting), 5 assists, and 3 TOs per game, and a wing player who is averaging only 16.6 points in just 38% shooting.

 

Statistically, their most efficient players seem to be the PFs, Luis averaging 15 (52%) and 9, and Carl Landry is averaging 16.6 (58%) and 6 in just 26 minutes per game off the bench.

 

As T-Mac gains more playing time and is able to freely become the main playmaker on offense, we can probably expect both Ariza and Brook's FG% to increase, while post players should keep up their efficiency.

 

I'm no expert on the Rockets, but from what I know, if and when Yao becomes healthy again next year he won't simply become an inside presence that puts up numbers. The offensive pace will slow down for him to catch up, and the ball will be needed to be put in his hands for him to be more affective.

 

 

Thinking futuristically, should this team try and reestablish their offense around Yao by the time he's healthy again, or is this team better off without him?

[Check my Stats]

This team was a 50 win team with Yao in the line up. No, of course they are not better without him. I don't think it is fair to say any team with a 20-10 big man can afford to lose him. No one takes the Rockets seriously as a threat, but if you add a player like Yao they become more of a threat at least.

 

Yao is the type of player you should accommodate for because of how dominant he can be. If only the guy could stay healthy.

 

Whether people realize or not, Yao and T-Mac have consistently led this team to 50 wins year in year out while being hurt consistently, if they could have been healthy consistently they might have been able to actually get something done.

[The Regime]

no way are they a better team without Yao, based on this season I think the Rockets could be a top 3 team in the west with a healthy Yao

[ChosenOne]

Absolutely not, no more needs to be said.

 

lol especially if you watched the Magic v Rockets game last night, that game alone would tell you how much we need him.

[Newman]

No way are you gonna be better off without a 7-6 giant (unless that giant is Shawn Bradley) who can play defence and give the team an inside presence. The Rockets may be better off without T-Mac, but definitely not Yao.

[Kobe24]

Well they played better without Yao against the Lakers in the playoffs <_<

[JWaLL]

They seem to play with more of a sense of urgency when he isn't on the floor, but I wouldn't say they are a better team without him. There is no way a coordinated 7'6 defensive/shot altering giant can do more harm than good for a team.

[Klashnekoff]

Trade T-Mac for Kevin Martin and Scola + Battier for Tyrus Thomas and Kirk Hinrich.

 

If done you got a team like this:

 

Brooks

Kevin Martin

Ariza

Thomas

Yao

 

With Hinrich off the bench.

 

I like this team already and more if they could land something like that.