Foul Trouble still a concern for Yao?

[jzmagik]

Anyone think this is going to be a huge problem for us as the series go on. From game 1, we saw Roy throw himself at Yao whenever he could trying to draw a foul and Joel horribly flop to the ground.. The refs will inevitably call those at some point. Yao still gets himself in foul trouble pretty often, so I think this is going to be a huge challenge. Yao picked up his 4th in the 3rd quarter halfway through in game 1.

[HTown_TMac]

As long as there is a ref, there is a concern for Yao to be in foul trouble.

[HTown_TMac]

As long as there is a ref, there is a concern for Yao to be in foul trouble.

[Roxflynorth]

You can't think about that much...As long as Yao stay away with those silly fouls...He should be ok...

[chuckerz]

As long as Mutombo can still out rebound Oden, i'm pretty sure Portland's big won't be able to do squat.

[Iggyemu]

Yep which is why its extremely important for a second player to emerge from game 2 game. Last game it was Brooks...next game it has to be someone

Yao will have problems with fouls...we have been through this too much. Officials just won't give him any respect. I expect more flops to be called in the next game b/c Stern isn't in the crowd. Believe it or not those noob officials step their game up with their boss a few feet away like he was in game 1. I saw Joel Phyrizilla flopping a few times and the refs didn't fall for it. Best believe he'll get those calls in game 2.

[MaxRider]

depend how much we are getting out of Artest, Scola, Brooks, Landry, Wafer

[jzmagik]

I always feel so helpless seeing Yao getting fouls on flops and phantom calls.

[langer]

Yao have ZERO respect from these refs, but the good thing is...Adleman knows that too. I don't think our coach will put everything on Yao's shoulder, so someone will step in for each game. Last game, Landry and Von wafer were more like Cheering around. But, we all knew that they are gonna get hot in some games of this series. The only question is WHEN.

[smapor]

No and Yes.......

Yes because Yao is Yao 20/10 player

No because Rick is actually playing Deke as the backup, especially if Deke is grabbing 9 rebounds and 2 blocked shots in 18 minutes.

People forget if Deke was actually given minutes when Yao was in foul trouble our defense stays the same or slightly better. When Yao was out, we had the smallest lineup ever.

If Rick played Deke in several of the games we lost this year, we could of had seen a different outcome. Nothing is more demoralizing than getting blocked and Deke waving that finger at you when he is 100 years old.

After Yao left in the 3rd, our offense was still going, because we had a defensive presence and we didn't have to worry about Yao getting the ball. Deke is going to stay under the basket for an offensive board.

Hence why I am not as worried about Portland fronting, i feel with Deke, Yao can be much more aggressive and afford the fouls, since Deke can provide quality minutes. Which also lead me to believe that is why Yao was so aggressive last game, because he knows Deke will play. Unlike in the past, when Yao went out, the other team went through a layup drill.

[aznkillabeezZz]

If brooks, artest , and battier stepped up like they did last game, we'll be tough to beat. Brooks and Artest were extremely efficient.

[Young_Star11]

Saw a quote somewhere.

If we get enough non-Yao contributors, we will be ok.

They can't front Yao all game. Yao hasn't been playing heavy minutes all season anyway.

[Kupo666]

I just want to see Yao punch the stantion.