http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4779281.html May 6, 2007, 1:12AM Yao: Blame me for 1st-round flameout Rockets center says he didn't rebound as needed in Game 7 loss By MICHAEL MURPHY Chronicle News Services Before the playoffs started, Tracy McGrady made a simple proclamation: "It's on me." By saying that, McGrady was shouldering the burden of finally getting the Rockets past the first round of the playoffs, something they had failed to do since 1997. But after the Rockets' 103-99 loss to Utah on Saturday in Game 7 of the Western Conference opening-round series, Yao Ming was more than willing to shoulder the burden for the team's latest failure. Not quite enough Yao scored 29 points, including 15 in the fourth quarter that almost — almost — saved the day for the Rockets, but he again was stung by defeat ... even though the Rockets had built a 2-0 series lead and had Game 7 at Toyota Center. "I feel like I want to cry," Yao said. "I know everyone says that tomorrow is a new day and that I'll have a long career, but in the last two weeks we've gone from up 2-0 all the way to 3-4, and it's all over for our season. That's very frustrating." Most frustrating of all was one particular part of the box score — rebounding. Yao, all 7-6, 315 pounds of him, finished with only six rebounds. And when the game was on the line, Yao — or any other Rocket for that matter — couldn't manage to get his hands on a rebound. Instead it was Utah's Carlos Boozer getting the job done, tracking down a long rebound of a Mehmet Okur 3-pointer and converting two subsequent free throws to give the Jazz a four-point lead with 19.9 seconds to play. 'Didn't do my job' "I didn't do my job," Yao said. "I didn't do a very good job of rebounding. Rebound, rebound, rebound. Whatever, long rebound, short rebound — it's my job to rebound. You can't say because it's a long rebound that I couldn't get it. I have to get it. I didn't do my job." Yao knows that he and Tracy McGrady, who also scored 29 points (but only two in the final 4:28) are going to be in the line of fire this summer. Neither superstar has ever advanced past the first round, and Yao said both he and McGrady will just have to weather the storm of criticism. "There's no way to get past this. We have to go through it," Yao said. "Whatever people say, we have to take it. If we hurt, we hurt. You know what? There are no shortcuts. You have to put your passion into the summer workouts and prepare for next season. The only way to get through is to just if you get your next chance, don't let it pass." michael.murphy@chron.com
Get a coach that can actually protect Yao from his shortcommings on defense. Don't waste Yao's career by having him guard Pick and rolls on the perimeter. Get someone who understands his limitations and maximizes his potential. THANKS for the effort Yao.... DD
I actually think he could have a DEADLy mid range face up game, and I think JVG is hurting him by throwing down to bang in the low block, where that may not be his strength. JVG has no idea how to utilize talent or develop players or have any offense whatsoever.
Is there a link to an article or a video clip of an interview where Van Gundy publicly states that some of this is HIS fault? I'm just curious.
No kidding!! Why is that people keep saying crap like that? If Yao's man is setting the pick on the perimeter, Yao HAS TO guard the pick-n-roll. There is no way around it. It's the same thing teams do against Shaq but Yao, despite everyone hating him on him now believes, he plays it pretty well. It's up to another defender to drop down and not allow Yao's player to get an easy basket.
What? You are kidding right? He could not have the Rockets run some zone against a weak jump shooting team like the Jazz? Oh, wait, it is not JVG's fault...... [sarcasm]RIIIIIIIGGGGGGGHHHHHHTTTTTT[/sarcasm] It absolutely is his fault....JVG has been so stubborn in his precious system that he fails to realize one of his biggest stars will NEVER have the footspeed to play that system. So, did he adjust the system....nope. FIRE JVG !! DD
Right on ... Yao will be fine... How many years did it take Hakeem to get his first ring? This is a tough league...it does take five.
This team and Yao play good enough defense to win. The bottom line is that with tracy mcgrady and yao ming, they should be scoring WAAAAAAAYYYYYYY more points than they do. However they don't have the coach or personnel surrounding yao and tmac. I would love to see yao in the high post just get the ball and put up 18 foooters over everybody at 7'6''. His strength is shooting touch, not low post banging with stronger guys. It would be unstoppable, and it would cut down on the turnovers and 3 sec calls as well.
Exactly, DD, I hate to see a 7'6 giant catch a guard, cmon, Did you see Shaq do that often, Shaq just show his hand, that's it... Set some Pick&Roll for him instead, then check how deadly if he's open...
Even Yao got 29 points today....He actually didn't do his job very well. Boozer made him helpless on defence. Okur suck Yao's offense. And AK ,gave Yao Blocks almost in every single game. Yao , you need prove yourself in playoffs . Please do not let me down again in the coming season.
Give me break...Go grab Nelson's or any other NBA assistant coach's play book --Zone defense-- is still legal right?
Weak shooting jump team? You are the one who must be kidding. Their whole starting 5 are nothing BUT jump shooters (well Boozer works inside, but he obviously makes a living off 15 footers). I don't even have a clue about what you are rambling about here. But you make a zone out to be some expert system that is beyond reproach and the answer to all of life's problems. Teams like the Jazz would tear up a zone and seeing as how much of defense has zone principles, the evidence this round showed what the potential there. The Jazz are an excellent shooting team. They are well-coached, patient, and are adept at passing and finding open shooters and cutters. This is a death knell for a zone. I believe the Jazz were one of the league leaders in offensive efficiency and assists and had the 6th best record in the league. So quit acting like JVG is some sort of idiot for not being able to stop their offense. Some coaches who you have proclaimed to be so much better than JVG had the same problems stopping them. We lost the series because we couldn't shoot/score consistently, because we we couldn't rebound at crucial times and one of our main guys was almost completely negated. There is a discussion that can be had there, as far as whether that is JVG's fault. But I don't agree that we lost this series because we didn't play a zone.
please, Hakeem went to the NBA final in his 2nd year. Now how many years did it take Carlos freaking Boozer to win a first round series?
I've never said anything about this mainly because it's moot to bring it up during the season when the team is playing well defensively. That being said, I never understood why JVG always has him doing this. Yao is arguably the SLOWEST player in the NBA and you have him flashing to the perimeter? in the words of DaDa... UGH.
DD and I are already on the same page about Yao's offensive potential vs. JVG's offensive limitations (insert snark here), and I'm glad to hear you agree with us TMAC#1. Codell, really, like JVG couldn't have used a zone at least part of the time? That would have allowed more 3's by Okur, but he didn't start hitting them 'till game 6!!! If/When we EVER have a coach who understands the HUGE upside to allowing Yao to work from the high post, we will advance quickly through the playoffs and be a true contender. Think of Yao feeding TMAC for dunks and layups instead of TMAC feeding Yao, or Yao just vacating the paint so TMAC has room to "work." Larry Brown is my first choice and is the guy I wanted the year Less brought in JVG. But I fear, truly fear that Les will make excuses for JVG, since both stars missed significant time, and will keep him around. If Brown's not available, I'd take Adelman over Carlisle ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. Adelman is a GREAT coach. I'd also take Rudy back over anyone but Larry Brown. Oh, well, let's hope the Astro's get better fast or it's gonna be a LOOOOOONNNNNNGGGGG Hot summer!!!!!
Agree except with that Utah is like number 2 in FG%. They have SHOOTERS on their team. Fisher, Harpring, Giricek, Okur, etc. They're not a weak shooting team by any means.
