I really feel bad for Yao Ming on that play, now all the freaking media are gonna show that play instead of the 3 dunks and just an overall terrific game in limited minutes, that's what stinks.
It was pretty funny. I laughed, but it wasn't even so much Marbury crossing him over. Marbury started dribbling and going into his fakes and jukes. Ming just moved backwards and fell down. I think that's what makes it all the funnier. Ming wasn't even faked out, he just moved backwards and lost his footing. That being said, I love Ming, and was really pleased with his improvement last night.
yall know what was really funny? last year when stevie crossed over ai so bad that ai fell down and looked like he really hurt his ankles. THAT was funny. yao gettin' crossed aint even much of a challenge, he's damn tall.
Yao understands a LOT more than he lets on.. the only reason he needs a translator are because people might be talking too fast, and he's not comfortable with speaking English in public right now
Yup, Marbury making Yao fall down made me laugh pretty damn hard, but Amare Stoudemire of all people shouldn't have been laughing. Amare was posterized by Taylor who had a nasty dunk, and was then posterized by Yao when he had that huge dunk in traffic off the rebound. Then on the other end, Yao swatted his shot off the backboard. Yao should have backed off Marbury and let him shoot. It looked like Yao thought Marbury was going left, but then off the crossover he went right, so Yao was trying to move 2 directions at once and just fell backwards.
I thought it was VERY classless for those chumps to laugh at Ming that way. One of the most unsportsman like actions I have seen in awhile, not cool at all!
When it happened, I said DAEEMMNN!! Nasty! But, at the same time I felt sorry for Yao... Then, I thought ...Ok guys, ESPN, FOX... laugh all you want... Yao will get the last laugh.
Seriously, Amare is playing as good as any rookie so far this year, and what did he do last night, and against Yao. 1-4, 5 pts, 1 rebound, 2 blocks, a turnover and 4 fouls in 20 minutes. As for the crossover...whatever, I would have certainly fallen also. Even talking about it here is talking about it too much.
It was funny, a little mad that Yao was force into that position to defend Steph but it was funny. But it wasn't classless, Jordan and crew laughed when dickie simpkins was actually able to score and he was on their team. Didn't the entire Rockets tean laughed at that dude aired 3/4 freethrows, i believe it was the game against the suns about 4 or 5 yrs ago when Barkley was on the the team. Hey man, things like this happen, it's funny, it's human nature to laugh.
xlr817 is exactly right. It was disgraceful that no Rocket guard jumped over to double team Marbury once that matchup happened. More proof of poor basketball intelligence.
As time goes on, this will be less an issue; Yao will improve on his lateral movement / vertical jump. But I have seen switch offs like this (mismatch), and the defense has a counter to this move. But it takes practice and know how (the team has to be on the same page). The Rockets never had to work on this before since they never had a center that wasn't at least decent on lateral movement. Hakeem could always recover. Does anyone remember Hakeem when he would be man-on-man with a guard? Hakeem would attack them and cause them to give up the ball! If they drove around him, Hakeem would do a wrap-around by knocking the ball away from behind as the guy went by... Hakeem had real long arms, and could trap a guard. So, not sure if Yao can learn/do this. But at least he can improve in his speed.
Ming's lack of lateral quickness will always be a liability. He will improve on his quickness, but he'll never be as quick as a guard. The Rockets will just have to protect him with double team and not let a quicker player go one-on-one with Ming.
he's fricking 7'6", what did you guys expect! Ming to snatch the ball from Marbury? C'mon, Marybury has be one of the most flashiest players...with his And1 commercials and what not. Marbury even broke Steve's ankles when he drove in the baseline.
I am proud of Ming...because of the Madbury crossover. That move there shows the heart he has. He will do what it takes for the team to win, even if he was not the best guy/skilled to come in front of Madbury. Other centers would have either stayed put (i.e. let Madbury have the shot) or jumped in front and let Madbury drive by. The laughter front the Suns bench should be revenged........and just wait a few more weeks.
