You forgot rejected by the rim... all in all he'll bounce back I mean he is coming off major surgery. He just needs to play with more fire.
A game like this makes me wonder if Yao can keep up with more athletic players? I mean tonight, you put Biedrens in there instead of Yao and the team wins.... DD
Biedrens might have won tonight's game for us, but you think Biedrens will give us what Yao produces on a consistent basis? And what has Biedrens accomplished in his career? I understand your sentiment, frustration does come when Yao has a terrible night like this one (that missed dunk made me weak in the stomach...), but look at the larger picture.
I think Yao hinders the game for AB, Tmac and Artest...he clogs the lane..... Does that mean I think Yao sucks....no...but you can not drive to the hole when there is a 7'6" guy clogging the paint with bad hands and an inability to move. Don't get me wrong, I love Yao, but he has got to play better...he has been blocked by the rim twice now this year on wide open dunks. That is UNACCEPTABLE. And he has not yet leaned INTO a shot over a defender using his height. He has regressed....at least so far this year. I would consider a trade of Yao for Baron Davis and Biedrens if that was available, the NBA has changed the post game is not as important as athletic bigs who can move...IMO. DD
/thread Arguing past that point is both pointless and futile. And yes, I'm aware that's repeatedly redundant.
I don't mean to talk ****, but honestly, what has Yao accomplished that has made him a larger picture kind of player?
Scores over 20 points a game. Has over 10 rebounds per game. Shoot's a high percentage from field. Shoots 80+% from the line. While he doesn't block a lot of shots, he changes a lot of shots. One bad game doesn't change anything and anyone who thinks otherwise is an idiot. That said, that was a TERRIBLE game for him. He'll bounce back.
When the opposing team fronts Yao, that should be a cue for a guard to drive to the lane or quickly move the ball to the power forward for a jumper. Our offense in general has regressed from last years ... there is not enough off-ball movement and too much one-on-one. Yao wasn't moving off-the ball much tonight but the past three games he had. I don't think he is the problem in regards to the offense. And your right about missing wide open dunks but I think he's missed more than two. He needs to get it together.
Makes you wonder? Pretty much anytime we've faced a fast team with good shooters, we're playing from behind with Yao in the game. I'd be happy if the guy could go one game without missing a dunk. Yao, you're 7'6" for God's sake! THROW IT DOWN BIG MAN!!!
He doesn't suck or anything and he's a good guy to have on your team, no doubt. But this reaffirms my belief that in the toughest games, you simply can't count on Yao. In the biggest games, he's much more likely to give you a performance like tonite's than he is likely to give you 30 and 10.
Unless you slow it down and have an offense that force feeds it to Yao.....and that is not something that fits the rest of the team. Tmac, Artest, AB, Scola, Landry etc..etc..etc...can all run.... Yao can not....and he still doesn't use his height....if he got the ball and LEANED INTO THE BASKET...he would draw a foul every time. It is maddening to watch sometimes how small a guy 7 feet 6 inches plays. PLAY BIG !!! DD
i understand we are all pissed, myself included. but but but all these reactions or over-reactions, nick name, trade ideas, calling game 4 of the regular season the biggest game, etc. really, guys? for one game? and for those "senior" members of this forum - shame on y'all! i feel yao has made a mess and consequently made the quality of this board decrease 3 fold tonight. lol.
I totally disagree with this. Yao has showed up for big games more often than not. In the playoffs, Dallas game 2 and 7; Utah games 1, 2, 5 and 7. Phoenix regular season game to clinch home court advantage, etc. I think a lot of people are overreacting. Sure he was dreadful tonight, but that shouldn't erase how consistent in general he is.
Phew. I was afraid there were going to be too many Yao defenders to even weigh in on this. I totally agree with the notion that Yao simply Cannot handle the intensity of the big games. He's got some skills, but isn't near athletic enough for the fast pace and pressure the best teams in the league. It's too easy to exploit him. We need another big, ASAP He plays like an 8 foot tree stump. Very frustrating
Why are people disappointed with Yao? Only people who thinks he didn't live up to his potential are pissed off. I never thought he was that great, so I'm not at all surprised at the result. And I'm not gonna pin this one on him.
Yao doesn't suck. But he's not that great of a player as many people believe he is. He's a very good player, but far from great. I think he has reached his physical limits. When you're not athletic, there's only so far you can go. People just had unrealistic expectations of him.
