that the run and gun was proven unsustainable as you’d need precision timing on when to leave your defensive position and start the break. It was fun early in the season as we had the engine running full throttle while the rest of the teams were still getting warmed up. By the 20game mark, everybody else had established their own groove, the wins were harder to come by, flaws on defense were exposed and capitulated on by the opposition. Of course the fatigue and long minutes running became a factor, adding on to the dilemma. I haven’t checked on the minutes played stats by our core group, but i’d guess most of them would be pretty high up on that list. I don’t know, but imo, coach RA doesn’t consider this a factor as even in 2009 he’s been playing yao extended minutes even when we had deke as a reliable reliever.
With yao back healthy, an inside presence that would alter defenses, it would be folly to insist on the run and gun. Mainly because it wouldn’t be the only option, and secondarily it would tire the big man unnecessarily. I think that we’ll be back to the inside-out game next season.

Trevor did play a lot and I know Lowry was hurt, but it seemed like Brooks almost never came out. I do hope that RA cuts down Yao’s minutes next year. We need him healthy. I kind of like the idea of doing a Run and Gun/Half Court hybrid. Even if Yao is on the court If we have a fast break and Ariza, Martin, Budinger, Brooks, Lowry, or any combination of 2 or 3 with other Scola or Hill trailing I say we run and have Yao kind of jog back. Not that T-Mac jog back, but not run up and down as if he’s going with the break, but at a good pace that would not tire him and allow him to get back down court if the ball handler decides to slow down and set up the offense.

It looks like most people are cautiously optimistic with the return of Yao and predicting mid 50 wins. A few people have gone so fun as to predict 60 plus. I truly hope that’s the case.

I really like the run n gun / half court hybrid idea. Seems like the run did cause fatigue and wore the players out over the season – that and the schedule. Hopefully with Yao back, the run can be powered by rebounds and the scorers in half court given much easier coverage with Yao depending constant attention.

the run and gun may be anathema to playing good defense as you anticipate the break too much, most often risking leaving your man even before the ball is secured. It needs precision timing that is hard to sustain. You know, your mind is constantly switching from the run mode, to a defensive stop mode, and back. Not always easy as one tends to get carried away by the zen of the run and gun. Maybe we’d need RA to point this out continuously as the players would tend to forget.
On offense, i don’t think yao’s presence would deter the run and gun as you don’t really need 5 men to sprint down the court. It’s more on the defensive mindset that i am worried about. Just thinking.