Yao's non-playing time at the All-Star game

[GranvilleWaders]

Ok..so it frustrates me to see yet again Yao not playing much in the all-star game. As a Rockets fan I voted to see him IN the game. He gets 2 minutes in the first half and ten minutes in the second..for a total of 12 minutes. Stoudemire gets 23 and Duncan gets 22...Nowitski seems to get a lot of minutes at C. I realize they run up and down the court basically playing pickup ball..but Geez..you'd think being picked a STARTER would get you more minutes. Do you think maybe he's just turning minutes down? I hope not...get in there for your fans. I was just disappointed.

[GranvilleWaders]

oops sorry..please put this in the all star thread.. thanks

[abc2007]

Actually, Yao played 8 mins in the first half, and played 6 mins in the 2nd half.

He played well for the defense, but for the offense, it is hard for those players to pass the ball to him. I guess, if Tmac was there, both of them would play longer time.

[wakkoman]

I'm sorry if you were dissapointed, but get over it. They aren't trying to slow down the game and throw it in the post.

If you want to see Yao play, watch him in the 82 games during the season where he logs his minutes.

[zoork34]

eh, who cares. he's not built for the all-star game style of play. i'd rather see dunks and crap than yao's turnaround jumpshots. he did have a nice move on d. howard that got him to the line though.

[duteman]

Originally Posted by zoork34 eh, who cares. he's not built for the all-star game style of play. i'd rather see dunks and crap than yao's turnaround jumpshots. he did have a nice move on d. howard that got him to the line though.

Agreed...but this does make a point that Yao's off ball movement is subpar and needs work. I like how he tried to bust some 3's in the game....Anyone else think Dwight Howard did a d-bag move by holding Yao down after getting his pants schooled off?

[GranvilleWaders]

Originally Posted by wakkoman I'm sorry if you were dissapointed, but get over it. They aren't trying to slow down the game and throw it in the post. If you want to see Yao play, watch him in the 82 games during the season where he logs his minutes.

The speedy Tim Duncan got 22 minutes...the Center reserve (Duncan) got 22 minutes and the starter (Yao) got 12? that just aint right...it has to be Yao giving up his minutes.

[rofflesaurus]

noone wants to watch a slow footed 7 footer in an all-star game. people want to see flashy fast breaks and dunks.

[Old Man Rock]

Originally Posted by rofflesaurus noone wants to watch a slow footed 7 footer in an all-star game. people want to see flashy fast breaks and dunks.

I voted for him and I wanted to watch him play more than 13 I can assure you. ANd I bet alot of the people who voted for him wanted the same thing.

[abc2007]

I voted for both Yao and Tmac. When Tmac was not voted in ASG, I knew this could happen, because It is hard for other players to pass the ball well to Yao!

[tsunami]

Originally Posted by rofflesaurus noone wants to watch a slow footed 7 footer in an all-star game. people want to see flashy fast breaks and dunks.

noone my ass. I voted for him and I want to watch him play in ASG.

[LCII]

Originally Posted by tsunami noone my ass. I voted for him and I want to watch him play in ASG.

Only Rockets fan would want to. I doubt even *** fans want Yao to be in the game. The game is all about marketing and showbiz. I rather watch Yao dominate against real teams than these fake fantasy all-star teams you people probably have orgasms over

[SuperMarioBro]

It's strange because Byron said that he was going to put Yao and Duncan in if he could get the game a little closer. Well Duncan got back in, at least...

Yao was actually doing pretty well in the half court when they got him the ball (except when he took those threes... he really should have stopped after one attempt; the second was completely unnecessary). He was definitely struggling to keep up with the pace, but the game slowed down a lot once they got into the last three minutes or so, and they could have used him.

[pryuen]

Originally Posted by SuperMarioBro Yao was actually doing pretty well in the half court when they got him the ball (except when he took those threes... he really should have stopped after one attempt; the second was completely unnecessary). He was definitely struggling to keep up with the pace, but the game slowed down a lot once they got into the last three minutes or so, and they could have used him.

Naaaaaaah, he was just trying to get relaxed, show off to the fans some of his skills and range and be entertaining.....which is what the NBA All Stars Game is all about.

He said if he had made his first trey with his right hand, he would try to shoot the second one with his left.

He also said he never missed a trey 3 times in a row.

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/AllS...258247-34.html Still, the center's latest performance with the world's best hoopsters was a memorable one. Yao, who was playing in the event for the first time in two years after missing last's season game because of injury, had six points and five rebounds. He spent most of his minutes drifting back to the three-point line, where he tried to show off his shooting range. Unfortunately, he didn't have it. Stepping back beyond the arc twice after catching passes, Yao drew iron on his first three-point effort before sailing an airball over the rim in his second attempt from the left corner. Yao was hoping to put on a three-point shooting clinic, but it didn't pan out. "Actually, if I made the first three, the second one I was going to shoot out of my left (hand)," Yao said. "But I missed the first one. So I said, 'OK, I need to make the second one.' But I didn't even touch the rim." Yao, though, noted that he wouldn't have missed three in a row. "I wouldn't have missed the third one, but I didn't get a chance," Yao said. Yao had other moments. During the third quarter, he whirled around Dwight Howard and faked the center off his feet near the rim before trying to spin back the other way. Howard fouled Yao before he could cap off the drive, sending the Rockets center to the foul line. Before that, Yao watched a ball bounce to Chinese action star Jet Li. He urged the actor to take a shot. "That's very interesting," Yao said. "The ball just bounced to him. Why is he just sitting there? Why not try to shoot one? He's shy a little bit."

[TurtleBonzi]

Personally, I don't think Yao really goes crazy over an All Star Game. He seems to be more into playing an actual game for a cause than to show off in front of the whole nation.

[Old Man Rock]

Originally Posted by TurtleBonzi Personally, I don't think Yao really goes crazy over an All Star Game. He seems to be more into playing an actual game for a cause than to show off in front of the whole nation.

I am sure he doesn't care much about the game. He sees it for what it is, a show for the fans. But that doesn't mean he should automatically be benched. Every starter (outside of Kobe who was injured) got at least 20 minutes. Yao got the least minutes on the west squad and only 2 players on the east got less playing time. That is just pathetic. I could tell Yao wasn't fretting over it but 13 minutes for a fan voted starter. I don't ever remember that happening before. Yao just don't get no respect! I hope the Rockets continue on their winning ways and kick some butt in the playoffs and meet Orlando in the finals and he makes Howard cry!

[Phillips]

Originally Posted by Old Man Rock I am sure he doesn't care much about the game. He sees it for what it is, a show for the fans. But that doesn't mean he should automatically be benched. Every starter (outside of Kobe who was injured) got at least 20 minutes. Yao got the least minutes on the west squad and only 2 players on the east got less playing time. That is just pathetic. I could tell Yao wasn't fretting over it but 13 minutes for a fan voted starter. I don't ever remember that happening before. Yao just don't get no respect! I hope the Rockets continue on their winning ways and kick some butt in the playoffs and meet Orlando in the finals and he makes Howard cry!

Yeah, I think Yao is a kind of pragmatic player who shoots in the game and deserves our respect.

[Cohen]

I understand the sentiment, but I prefer more rest for Yao.

[GranvilleWaders]

Yao is capable of entertaining people with his game...some of you act like all he's good for is backing up posting up and making a move. You'd think Yao was Charles Barkley as a Rocket or something. I think it's more of the fact that Yao isn't part of the norm or down with the brothas and streetball attitude. it happens to me (a white guy) all the time when I play with the brothas. They alienate you and passing is nil.

[Rob English]

Originally Posted by GranvilleWaders Ok..so it frustrates me to see yet again Yao not playing much in the all-star game. As a Rockets fan I voted to see him IN the game. He gets 2 minutes in the first half and ten minutes in the second..for a total of 12 minutes. Stoudemire gets 23 and Duncan gets 22...Nowitski seems to get a lot of minutes at C. I realize they run up and down the court basically playing pickup ball..but Geez..you'd think being picked a STARTER would get you more minutes. Do you think maybe he's just turning minutes down? I hope not...get in there for your fans. I was just disappointed.

Granville, Fran indicated in his blog before the game started that Yao went up to Byron Scott, and requested to only play around 10 minutes. Here's the link:

http://blogs.chron.com/franblinebury....html#comments

February 17, 2008 Enjoy Yao fast. If you blink, you might miss him. The word we got just a few minutes before the tip was that Yao Ming has told West head coach Byron Scott that he only wanted to play about 10 minutes tonight. So if Yao is on the bench most of the night, don't send angry e-mails to the Hornets office. Posted by Fran Blinebury at February 17, 2008 07:47 PM