Anyone else notice the "headline story" today on Foxsports.com? It says "What's up with Yao?" The writer goes on to say that Yao is soft and not developing into a good player. The jackass even says Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a better player... "quicker, with more skills than Yao." http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/3410520 Then you read an article like the one written by the Salt Lake Tribune, which says "Yao, Rockets stand tall as playoffs loom." This writer clearly respects Yao's game... he knows that Yao is on the verge of becoming a great big man. http://www.sltrib.com/sports/ci_2588149?r=2 Yao is a few years away from being a dominant big man. He does need to toughen up, but that will come with time. If we could ever get a muscular/physical power forward in here, I know Yao's numbers would go up. After the 2006 season, we will have plenty of expiring contracts (20 million dollars worth) to trade for a bad a$$ big man. Once that happens, watch out for these Rockets!! I predict we will be in the Western Conference Finals against the Spurs in 2 years. Yao will be averaging at least 22 and 10 (much like Duncan does every night), but that still won't be enough to shut up these critics who expect him to "do it all" just because he's the tallest guy on the court. Oh well, a Championship will dry my tears!!
No matter which position you take, Yao has never said that he is or will be great. He doesn't brag, talk trash, or hype himself in any way. People draw their own opinions and expectations, and seem to blame Yao for lying to them, so-to-speak. Some recognize that Yao is good now, and can be better. Others wonder why he is making them wait for his greatness, and diss him for it. The really annoying ones seem to WANT Yao to go away. Sad.
Yao is something great waiting to happen. If you trade him away, you will shoot yourself later as a GM.
What does that even mean? What does Yao's opinion of himself in the media have to do with anything. What he does on the court is what matters. The Rockets made him a #1 pick, and they'll probably give him a max contract. The team is being built around Yao and Tmac. If Yao doesn't measure up, then the team won't be successful, and be a championship contender. And that's the whole point to Rocket's fans.
