Too Early to Jump Off the Yi Bandwagon???

[ecuhus1981]

First let me say that I have never thought that Yi was our sure-fire franchise player at the PF spot. His talent is unquestionable, but his lack of consistency is alarming. Guys who drift in and out of possessions / quarters / games usually do not reach their potential.

I was all for the Yi plan this year, which is to give him every chance to succeed this year, and figure out what we want to do with the PF spot long-term after the season based on his performance. Well, I must say that I SEVERELY underestimated my capacity to see the level of defensive ineptitude our starting PF has displayed thus far. I can't watch this for 79 more games. Jianlian did a decent job on the 6'7 Ryan Gomes, but he's gotten lit up like a Christmas tree by Brandon Bass, Andray Blatche and his former teammate Ryan Anderson (not exactly juggernauts). What's going to happen when he has to face the PFs in our division?!?!?! KG, Bosh, Brand, and (I hate it say it, but...) 3 or 4 of the Knicks could drop 40 on us, every game!

I don't like the idea of a rent-a-PF, but Carlos Boozer is looking awfully tempting right now. He's no defensive stud either, but he can at least compete more effectively on that side of the ball, and pick up some slack on offense. He wants to come here, and I don't think it would take much to pry him from UTA (Simmons/Boone/GSW1st).

Is it too early to alter the plan? Do you even like the plan? Let me know.

[Blue_and_Whte]

That sucks. If it's any consulation Ryan lit up Elton Brand too. I think He's AK47 part II personally which isnt bad but not necessarilly great.

[vincecarter4pres]

That sucks. If it's any consulation Ryan lit up Elton Brand too. I think He's AK47 part II personally which isnt bad but not necessarilly great.

I don't see the similarity at all.
I think Rodney Rogers or even Rashard Lewis are good comparisons, even Donyell Marshall.

[vincecarter4pres]

This team is just so horribly coached that they are really painful to watch.
On subject though, I can live with Yi for the year, let him make his mistakes. Next year he will be the backup to a big FA signing or a top 5 draft pick, so be it.

[ecuhus1981]

On subject though, I can live with Yi for the year, let him make his mistakes. Next year he will be the backup to a big FA signing or a top 5 draft pick, so be it.

I'm gonna have to lean on you for support, then, vc4p. Your sentiments are eactly how I felt before the season, and I'd be lying if I said I still feel 100% this way. Yi had better start proving his worth on the defensive end, that's my bottom line.

[NetsForce]

I can't speak about tonight since I didn't watch the whole game or pay close enough attention but against Orlando:

7 of Bass's points came when Yi was in the game (on 3-6 shooting, 1-1 from the line)
13 of Ryan Anderson's points came when Yi was in the game (on 5-9 shooting, 1-1 from the line, 2-5 from 3)

Here is the thing however, in head-to-head confrontations with Yi, Anderson only tallied 5 pts (on 2-6 shooting, 1-4 from 3).

I don't know if all 7 of Bass's points were in head-to-head confrontations (I know at least 3 of them did) with Yi but assuming that they were that means Orlando's power forwards tallied:

12 pts on 5-12 shooting (42%) against Yi.

Yi himself tallied 12 pts on 5-8 shooting (63%)...

It wasn't Yi's defense that cost the Nets the Orlando game.

What I have noticed however is that there is very poor communication between CDR and Yi, or generally Yi and anybody in corner-pick-and-roll scenarios. There were times against the Wizards for example where both Yi and the man who was picked ended up in no-man's land leaving the ballhandler AND the screener / roller wide open.

edit:

I just checked the boxscores / play-by-play and:

12 of Blatche's points came when Yi was in the game (on 6-7 shooting)

For those keeping track that means Blatche scored 18 pts on 9-11 shooting when Yi was not in the game.

Once again since I did not watch the entire game I can not say if all 7 of those shot attempts were taken against Yi or if any point in time another defender was switched onto Blatche. I do recall Lopez on Blatche at least once, but regardless if Blatche went 5-6, 4-5, or whatever against Yi that is still unacceptable.

[crazykidd2k6]

I have no idea what your are saying because Yi has been guarding the paint really well. He is good at transition defense, he is blocking shots, his help defense is good although he does it in a way that is pretty risky, and he is trying muscle with big men. So stop blaming things in Yi that its not his fault. Only thing you can say in him is he looses concentration at times and thats when he starts fading away from the basket.

[6_Rings]

gawd u nets fans are really down on Yi. as if you traded ur best player for him to bring u to the promised land. (it was a RJ for Simmons swap check the salaries). besides you'd get ur PF next season in Chris Bosh so why mess the grandmaster plan? LOL

edit: and don't give me that he-was-drafted-too-high-crap. it was the Bucks misdoing which should be transparent to you because you traded for him based on his 1st season performance.

[kamaze]

Just venting frustration the team's pathetic it'll be hard to watch in 2 months.
You're right we'll probably sign a power forward or get one in the draft so it doesn't matter what he does. If Yi's the power forward for the future the team's not serious about winning.

[jeff1624]

I'm not on the bandwagon but one game doesn't mean he sucks, he did play really well the 1st 2 games.

I don't think we can honestly judge a player right now. After 20 games or so we should have an understanding of which players are and aren't gonna be productive.

[Rockice_8]

He's gonna be a bench guy plain and simple. He'll never be KG so lets stop already. He's played pretty well so far if you ask me. He just needs to stay active and aggressive and he'll be fine. The team as a whole is bad we knew this from the begining and people are just looking to make excusses for others by blaming Yi. Lets look to Lopez and Harris first before we start blaming Yi.

[Preludepunk27]

I still have no problem with Yi. Honestly, nobody on our roster who can play the 4 will play consistantly better than him so I really don't care. Now, if we drafted Earl Clark instead of Terrence this offseason I'd give Yi 10-15 games before I started increasing Earl's time, but I really don't care right now because I still think Yi is the best 4 we got. I personally don't think we use him the correct way on offense anyway. I'm sorry Brandon Bass is what, 6'6"? When he was on the floor, I seriously would have fed year the ball EVERY SINGLE TIME in the post and made sure Bobby Simmons was the SF on the floor at that time waiting for the spot up 3 ball in the corner when the double team came. If the double doesn't come, Yi has a easy hook shot in the lane that Bass wouldn't be able to block even if he had a damn brook in his hand too.

Either way, our offense makes Yi too one dimensional. I don't think this kid will be a star, but I most certainly think he can be a decent starter in the NBA if he's used correctly.

Bottom line, I'm not giving up on Yi until a) it looks like he is giving up on himself (which isn't the case) or b) there is someone else on our roster that clearly should be getting the majority of the minutes at the 4. That hasn't happened yet. I expect that to be the case by the start of next season in some capacity, whether through FA or the draft.

For what it's worth, Brook isn't been "awesome" the last 2 games either. If we're gonna start throwing Yi under the bus, let's just get even more irrational (because we're THREE GAMES INTO THE SEASON) and start demanding Lopez takes a seat. Then we can move to Courtney Lee too. Hell, I say we start Rafer, Terrence, Simmons, Boone, Battie. That starting line up will put up 40 points a night lol.

Relax everyong.

[jeff1624]

He's gonna be a bench guy plain and simple. He'll never be KG so lets stop already. He's played pretty well so far if you ask me. He just needs to stay active and aggressive and he'll be fine. The team as a whole is bad we knew this from the begining and people are just looking to make excusses for others by blaming Yi. Lets look to Lopez and Harris first before we start blaming Yi.

If that's the upside you look for in every young PF we have from here on out, you're gonna be really disappointed for years to come..

[6_Rings]

anyways, just be happy with what he can deliver. he's not that bad just inconsistent, brillant one day and sucks the next. he will be a very decent and serviceable backup in the future when u guys get Bosh, Amare or what have you with the enormous cap that Yi helped bring to the team.

edit: better check ur coach too. he's not a big-man's coach and has this penchant for crazy substitutions.

[NetsForce]

I'm just about done downloading the Nets-Wizards game, I'll give you guys a breakdown of Yi's defense when I get the time...

If there's antyhing else you want me to look for in the game let me know.