I know what the team is saying about Yao not playing in back to backs. I understand that for what it is and don't want to start any argument about how they should handle that specifically. My thought today is, however, should the team look at the matchups and possibly consider Yao playing in the second game instead of the first. I know with the last two games being the start of the season it isn't going to enter anyone's thought process, but had this back to back happened in say mid December, would the Rockets consider sacrificing the Lakers game to try and have a better shot at winning the GS game? I know that someone will come back with the Bobrek theory of hindsight and tell me that you can't guarantee that the Rockets would have won or lost either game had he played oppositely than he did (and I can't argue with that). But at some point you have to evaluate whether you give your team a better chance to win if he plays in the second game rather than the first because of matchups or opponents. If you want to think of it in a more positive tone, then the same could be said if you played a very weak team on the first night and a more challenging team on the second. In game one you almost can say you will win even if doesn't Yao play but in the second game you have a better chance to win if he plays. Should they keep him out in the first and let him give us that better chance in the second game or do they stay status quo and he plays in the first and sits the second. I know it is all speculation on which games you will win and lose, but would you consider that when setting up his playing time? Do you think the team shold or would consider that?
I agree completely, but I think that's the plan. For example, December 14-15 they play Sacramento at Home, then Oklahoma City on the road. I fully expect him to sit the Sacramento game with the expectation that they can win without him, then play the Oklahoma City game to exploit our biggest possible mismatch against the Thunder.
I want to say that during one of Morey's radio interviews the question came up about how he would choose to play Yao during the back to backs and he basically stated it would all depend on matchups and not records. Whatever matchup would fit Yao's style better would be the game he played. I like this, no point in just playing the first game and sitting him the 2nd if the matchups don't add up.
I think the games he plays will be dictated by matchups, rather than how good the team is. I could see the Rockets playing Yao against Sac because they've got Cousins.
