Where was Yao when God was giving out "Selfishness"?

good post man, well written.

 

Where was Yao when God was giving out "Selfishness"?

Francis said he would give it to Yao, then he dribbled Yao's selfishness for 23 seconds then turned it over.

 

That's a great post and it makes me think that all of our worries about Yao extending himself too much for his national team are shortsighted. It is just that sort dedication and leadership role that he brings to the Rockets and playing for his country will only enhance those qaulities. Sure, I would like to see him get more rest (and we are seeing the benefits of it right now), but a guy that works as hard as Yao does is a great example to everybody and should applauded.

 

JVG read too much into it. Yao just wanted to seat in the front at the coaches' section. Didn't they setup the business class seats at the front of the team plane too?

It is a nice way to get there, though: "Hey coach, may I review the film with you at the business class section?"

 

There have been plenty of players that have been dedicated and/or clutch but didn't win a ring. Patrick Ewing, Kevin Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Reggie Miller, Eddie Jones, Jason Kidd, John Stockton, etc. So using that as a way to rip players that didn't win a ring is ridiculous.

 

great post m_cable, although the thread title is not related at all, unless of course Yao was in the queue for a double serve of dedication

 

Where was Yao when God was giving out "Selfishness"?

In China.

 

Another moment in the Yao legend. Yao was trying to volunteer to "fly coach" to save the team money, and they misunderstood him.

 

Good, well thought out views. Props for putting together a quality post! You took the time to think about it and it shows.

I differ in opinion regarding your theory of qualities that separate the greats from the masses.

IMHO - First I can't see how the NBA greats had all 3 qualities. For instance if "clutchness" was a necessary ingredient then that would eliminate players like Bill Russell and Dr. J.

2nd my list would differ (I haven't really thought about what would be on my comprehensive list) e.g- dominance a la Wilt Chamberlain, adaptability / ability to improve a la MJ developing an outside jumper, ability to make your team better a la Magic Johnson would be few of the things I would add to my list.

 

Na~, that doesn't explain it. See, I was in China at the time too, I got plenty of those.

 

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!!

 

QUOTE=Miguel]Where was Yao when God was giving out "Selfishness"?

Francis said he would give it to Yao, then he dribbled Yao's selfishness for 23 seconds then turned it over.[/QUOTE]

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!!

 

Very good analysis and I've always said something similair myself. When a guy has "it" you struck gold.

(as an aside, that is why I beleive the Texans need to take a chance on Vince Young. Find "it" is very hard an VYoung has demonstrated at an early age that he has the athleticism and smarts to take it to the next level. Trade Carr for a good offensive line and chance Young.)

Yao may never be our goto guy in the last 2 minutes of a close game. Dream wasn't necessarily "clutch." Before you rip me, think back. I remember huge shots by Maxwell, Horry, Kenny, Mario, Cassell, Clyde, etc.

The one huge "clutch" play I remember from Dream was that defensive play on John Starks.

Offensively, I remember Dream as a beast for 46 minutes but in close games he came up short often considering he was our go-to guy. But Dream learned how to attrack triple teams and pass out well. He could still affect the game. We had "clutch" outside shooters that would knock down those last second shots.

So Yao just needs to get us there and we need some "clutch" guys around us.

Unfortunately, I don't see any of our guys like Wesley or Howard as too clutch. Rafer seems like he may have some potential but I haven't seen it yet. TMac is the ONLY guy that is reliable inside of 2 minutes but his shot is off right now.

 

I think Yao does have "it". He's just now starting to rise to the elite though, so he hasn't really been able to showcase it. But if you will look back to those first couple of years, and I know this is a limited example, but he always came to play and performed well against Shaq. He definitely has a sense for handling things when the magnitude of the situation is high...as we have seen with him demanding the ball more lately.

On a sidenote, I'm curious to see...how many of you think Tim Duncan has "it"?

I really don't think he does, but he's so sound fundamentally and plays with his head...I think that's the reason he's won championships.

 

Where was Yao? He gave that opptunity unselfishly to his buddy. See timing was a problem.

 

I hear the attendent at the business class section is pretty hot too.

 

Honestly.. I wasn't sure giving Yao the max was the smartest thing to do. I didn't think aggressiveness was something that could just click on with a player, you either are or you aren't.

Right now is one of the proudest moments I've had being a Rockets fan, and it has nothing to do with our record obviously. Suddenly, missing the playoffs just doesn't seem like that big of a deal. Yao has been outright AMAZING -- a TRUE superstar. If it took a year of injuries and missing the playoffs to wake up Yao - then I'm all for it. I am extremely proud of the progress he's made, despite all the obstacles and criticism. Houston fans should feel extremely lucky to have a player of his dedication and class.

 

If "clutch shot" means the final shot that wins the game for your team, Dream was undoubtedly Da Man in the game one of the '94-'95 NBA finals against Orlando Magics when he tipped in a missed shot by Clyde.

If being "clutch" means the play invariably goes to you whenever score is tight late in the game, then Dream is also no short of heroics time after time. As NBC's color commentator in NBA playoffs during the '90s, Bill Walton would always cry out loud "just throw the ball to Olajuwon!" when Rockets were in nail-biting battles with the opponent teams, and he was mostly right.

 

See, this is what makes me hate the yao haters more. This is the quintessential attitude you want players in the NBA to have. I get the feeling that people that dislike Yao hate him for what he reveals many other NBA players really are. It's nice for a change to see the good guy actually succeed at what he's doing.