Concerns about Yao's minute distribution

[Guy986]

Remember how everybody, coach Adelman included, wanted to reduce Yao's minutes? The consensus was that if we want Yao and his 7'6 frame to hold up for the entire NBA season, it is important that we monitor his playing time. In the first 2 games, back to back no less, not only is he playing more minutes than last year but he's also playing longer stretches at a time. Its great that Yao is producing at a high level but i'll rather see him play everygame at 80% than going all out and then crumble before the all star break.

Last year the Scolandry combo worked great for this team. I want to see more of Scola at center and Landry at PF against smaller teams. We were highly succesful with those 2 in the interior, so i dont know why Coach A is reluctant to use them. I want to see Landry and Scola's mins go up and Yao's to go down. Yao shouldn't play more than 32 mins a game period.

In the first game he played 38 mins. Then he played a team high 40 mins the next day. Thats too much for the big fella.

[Amel]

I think Adelman is still adjusting the lineup,

we will probably see a lot of different options and one of them might be to start Yao and play him extensively...

[Iggyemu]

Yep Adelman is still figuring out the rotation. Last night was just a case of who was playing well together. AB, Artest and Yao were. Unfortunately Yao was playing well throughout the game so ended up playing a lot of mins. There was a point there in the 3rd quarter where Yao was ineffective. Those are the points where you rest him. But Adelman is still figuring out who to play when.

I think everyone here and on the team agrees that Yao shouldn't be playing more than 35mins a game.

[2fast4u]

it all depends on matchups. Yao was just way toooo much for the mavs to handle. if we go up against the suns, or any team that likes to run for that matter, i expect yao to play only 31-33 mins per game

[abcdef]

http://blogs.chron.com/nba/2008/10/the_ ... eatta.html

Don't sweat it on Yao's minutes.

He played a ton, 41 minutes. He's not going to play that every night. But if you feel maybe 33, 34 would be better, that is seven, maybe eight minutes less than the very long stint he played on Thursday. That might offer some additional rest, some reduction in the wear and tear, but it's nothing compared to the plan to have him sit out entire practice days.

Cutting his minutes back might reduce the load by a few minutes at a time. The plan is to reduce it by several hours.

Of course, the downside of practicing less is that Yao could be less sharp and his chemistry with his teammates could be affected.

[ShaY]

Like the blog from the chronicle said , a few minutes give or take doesn't make much difference , it's beteween games that he should lessen is work load.

But anyway I prefer a fresh and sharp Yao for 34 minutes than, a tired and clumsy Yao for 40 minutes likle I said many times.

[hipmaster]

It will get better later on depending on matchups. OKC game should be one of those games.

[CuttingEdge]

I think the wear and tear is due to insufficient supplementation. Shaq weighs quite a bit more than Yao and can endure so much more... Yao needs a nutritionist and sports therapy to customize a nutritional plan to his exact specifications..

[moofs]

I think everyone here and on the team agrees that Yao shouldn't be playing more than 35mins a game.

Or just about anyone else for that matter. We have too much talent (and too many vets)

[Alex_De_Large]

Yao-Scola should be the starting combo but i think they should not play together, Scola with the second unit as a center, yeah, that would be nice.