I hate Yao. He cannot dominate Shaq. He cannot break the double team by Marlone and Shaq. He has to prove that he can dominate Shaq and Marlone so that the team be built around him. Since he cannot destroy Shaq, he is a wussy and I want him traded. Since he cannot destroy Shaq, he is a wussy and I want him traded. He has to prove that he can dominate Shaq and Marlone so that the team be built around him. He cannot break the double team by Marlone and Shaq. He cannot dominate Shaq. I hate Yao.
For Game 3, aggressive Yao of old needed By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle RESOURCES Back when beginning the playoffs against the Los Angeles Lakers seemed like a good idea, or the Rockets at least could reasonably pretend it was, the logic was Yao Ming is one of the few giants able to look Shaquille O'Neal in the eye and not blink. They were the centers of first-round attention. They had hearts at the cable networks beating faster. Even Lakers coach Phil Jackson had said Yao's offensive game offers O'Neal a greater challenge than any he has faced since Hakeem Olajuwon was in his prime. The Rockets did not need the reminder that Olajuwon in his prime swept O'Neal and the Magic in the 1995 NBA Finals. By the time Yao hit O'Neal for 33 points in the third meeting, O'Neal seethed and even 6-year-old girls (if ESPN commercials are to be believed) said, "Shaq is the man, but Yao is really showing me something." But in three games since, including losses that sent the Rockets home down two games in that marquee first-round series, Yao hasn't shown nearly enough. Heading into tonight's Game 3 at Toyota Center, the series, and the Rockets' fate, seem to be back where the series started, in Yao's hands. "We feed off the big fella," Rockets guard Steve Francis said. "When he comes out and is aggressive at the beginning, that sets a tone for our whole team offensively and defensively. "He knows that we demand a lot out of him. We need him to be aggressive, we need him to score, we need him to be assertive on the defensive end." With Yao neutralized, the Rockets came within one defensive rebound or one jump shot of winning Game 1. But there is no doubt the Rockets are at their best when Yao is. In the Rockets' 45 wins this season, Yao averaged 19.4 points on 54.3 percent shooting. In the 27 losses, he averaged 15.1 points on 49.2 percent shooting. "He has to get it going, because if he doesn't get it going, we're not going to get going," Rockets forward Maurice Taylor said. "We feed off him. So we definitely need him to play intense, we need him to play with the effort that he had during certain stretches of the season. We definitely need him to play big. Because when he plays big, we play big." Lakers' defense different But Yao's importance is even greater against the Lakers, one of the few teams that refuse to send double-team help inside to stop him. Even when O'Neal got into foul trouble, the Lakers left Karl Malone alone on Yao. When Yao faces only man-to-man defenses, he is expected to get his shot, and even against O'Neal can get jumpers. He had made those shots in the first three games against the Lakers this season. But with O'Neal and Malone forcing Yao farther from the paint and making his fadeaway jumper more pronounced, Yao has not shot as well as he had when the Yao-O'Neal comparisons were their most fashionable. "It's tough because he's playing against the most dominant player in the league," Rockets forward Jim Jackson said. "That's not an easy thing. But at the same time, he has to have the confidence that he can go out there and still dominate the game, which he can and he's proven that in the two wins we've had (against the Lakers)." Yao's production dropped In the Rockets' first three games against the Lakers this season, Yao made 31 of 56 (55.3 percent) of his shots, averaging 26.6 points per game. In the three games since, he has made 15 of 45 (33.3 percent) of his shots, averaging 12.3 points. "When you talk about a few great games that I played great against Shaq, that was like a first step," Yao said. "Shaq gave me space. He was not as strong on defense. That was a first step. Now is the second step. He played harder against me. One day, if I pass that ... if I pass that step, then the third is coming. "He's just playing harder. It's not just technique. Also here (with an index finger pointed to his temple." Francis said Yao's teammates do not have to remind Yao of his importance. "Coach tells him enough," Francis said. Yao has gotten the message. "Yeah, Jeff gives me a lot of chances, a lot of times to shoot," Yao said. "Whether I shoot good or bad, he trusted me so it's my responsibility." He also expects more. Van Gundy expects more of a defensive presence and more than the four rebounds Yao grabbed in 40 minutes in Game 2. But everything can begin with Yao's aggressiveness with the ball in the lane. As effective an outside shooter as Yao can be, the Rockets need him to attack O'Neal and Malone. "At times, I think Yao has shown great progress this year," Van Gundy said. "I think in this series, it's obviously at even a different level because you go from the most physical player you're matched up against in O'Neal to ... Malone ... a very, very physical, strong defensive player. And Yao has to be able to change his mind-set in that his first dribble on any post move is up the lane vs. into the lane, and when he's going into the lane and getting deep, he usually shoots a very high percentage. "You have to give their defense credit, they're doing a good job imposing their will that that's where he's going to end up going. And Yao has to do a better job getting to where he wants to go to." Ready for Game 3 The Rockets will go to him, knowing that he must give them more. That much was clear as soon as the matchup was set and the commercials began. But if Yao must admit defeat in the first two games, he found himself eager for another chance in Game 3, knowing how much the Rockets will need him to be at least one of the forces in the O'Neal-Yao matchup. "I think he's really looking forward to the third game," Yao said of O'Neal, "also me." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Rockets summary Lost in translation Rockets center Yao Ming, in a hope that sounded desperate, suggested the Lakers could be looking past the Rockets to the upcoming playoff rounds. "I don't think they put all their energy into the first round," Yao said. "I don't think they expended their entire energy. They're not like us. We know the first round is very, very important to us. They may be thinking beyond that. We need to take advantage of that weakness. Maybe we can use that weakness to our advantage." But the rest of the Rockets said they saw little evidence the Lakers were taking it easy on them. "Something could have gotten lost in translation there," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "Colin (Pine, Yao's interpreter) probably screwed him up. That's what I'm betting on." Playoff pressure Rockets guard Cuttino Mobley has had little to say about defending Kobe Bryant. But when asked if getting more chances for himself offensively might help by making Bryant work more on both ends, Mobley suggested he would like more shots tonight. "I think so, I think so personally," he said. But when asked if he has enough chances to challenge Bryant, Mobley let out a long sigh, paused and said: "We'll see. When you got somebody so aggressive on offense, you know he's going to get 22 shots a game, it ain't even about me. That's how it is." Mobley, the only Rockets player left from the team's last playoff appearance, sounded as if he would not recognize pressure when asked if the Rockets would feel pressure in their first home playoff game in five years. "Pressure busts pipes," he said. "Whatever it is, we're here now." Lakers update Lakers forward Slava Medvedenko left Monday's game and has not practiced since because of a strained right Achilles' tendon. He is questionable for tonight's game. Guard Gary Payton also has not practiced, but he is expected to play with a sore back. -- JONATHAN FEIGEN http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/printstory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2525373
yawning... let's get Sam I Am and Wally The World for SF3. there you have the cocky PG/best mid-range jump shooter and the white Allan Huston. then get a good PF for the exception (or Spree anyone?). then try it next year. the only problem will be that SF3 will burn the Rox 4 times a year. well, not that bad if you can live with it. don't you see? SF3 is another Starburray in the making. volatile talent. breaks fans' hearts. and may never reach his potential. yes we're witnessing the dethroning of shaq as the king of all centers. no doubt about that. it's kind of sad though, just like watching Dream in his late years. or MJ with the wizards. keep your fingers crossed. amen.
My two cents would include the following: HE'S FROM CHINA!!!! It's like asking a champion Little League Football Coach to step in and win the Superbowl. The coach knows the basics, he understands the concepts, he's familiar with strategies, and he knows the history of the sport. However, he's never coached at that level. It's a drastic difference whether you agree with it or not - it's a fact!! Could that coach win in the NFL? Yes - if he's given time, the right circumstances, the right players, and a little luck. Can Yao be a GREAT player? Yes - if he's given time, the right circumstances, the right players, and a little luck. Right now he has not been given time, he is NOT surrounded by the right players (Or coach??). However, he IS lucky to play in the USA and because of that luck, he'll get better! No one has a problem waiting for McGrady, Jermaine O'Neal was a STAR in Portland, but I do wish we had Eddie Curry and Tyson Chandler. Hell, we should've drafted Jay Williams and then moved Steve, our pure shooting guard, to the 2 spot. Or, as our Rockets have their proverbial asses handed to them by four of the greatest players to ever play or understand the game, we simply sit back enjoy our run in the playoffs, hope we can take our games at home, push it to 7 and get lucky, and really just enjoy the ride with YAO and the team. One day, we will NEVER have this conversation again about Yao. But people, really, I know it's a fast paced world and we need immediate gratification but with Yao, let's enjoy the ride. He's going to be great! Let's go through the ****ter and/or the penthouse with him. We gave Steve 5 years, we went through the ride with him and he's never made any real progress. But let's enjoy Steve in the playoffs, hope he does well for us then enjoy Steve for another team and hope he does well for them next fall! (Yes, I'm a Yao Ming fan and do not believe that #3 is my savior!) RANT COMPLETE***********************************
