Just wondering...would Yao Ming be up against this thing called The Rookie Wall IF he were getting more touches, more involved with the flow of the 'O'? I pretend to know that it would help his mental fatigue if he were more focused on in-game offense responsibilities.
Maybe a little off topic but I don't want to open a new thread. Yao Ming must be a bit tired. http://espn.go.com/nba/columns/stein_marc/1499533.html News flash: Yao just might be a little weary If you're wondering whether Yao Ming has finally careened into the Great Rookie Wall, stop wondering. Of course he's tired, considering Yao hasn't had much time away from basketball in this, well, millennium. Yao didn't just spend all of last summer training for the World Championships in Indianapolis. The summer before, he was seen in Dallas with the Chinese national team prepping for the Asian Championships and World University Games. The summer before that was the Olympic Games of 2000. So if anyone needs an All-Star break, it's clearly Yao, who'll instead be subjected to even more worldwide scrutiny in Atlanta than seen during his recent duel with Shaquille O'Neal. Yao's averages over the past nine games -- a span which included a knee injury -- are a very mortal 9.0 points and 6.9 rebounds on 40 percent shooting. An 0-4 slide, meanwhile, has dragged the Rockets into the eighth spot in the West, four games ahead of the 19-23 Lakers. The consolation: Yao has already helped Houston to two victories over L.A. in two tries, one home and one away. The wins could amazingly wind up serving as Houston's tiebreaker insurance, if the Lakers really are what they've been for 42 games and can't do more than try to sneak into the playoffs as a No. 8 seed. The Lakers, too, could do with flipping the mythical switch. Assuming, again, they still have such capabilities and/or privileges.
The idea is that the wall would be easier to overcome if he were more a part of the game. The mind could work on the game not being tired and spent.
Only to a certain extent. Yes, the adrenaline will keep you going for a while but after that, your body would just shut down. But you know, I have my doubts about this rookie wall myth. When I was 22, I could go all night. Ahem. But then again I have never done it at the NBA level. BTW, is Yao the only one running into this rookie wall? Amare does not seem to be inflicted with this disease.
I was a little worried about the wall. But in the last couple of games I've seen a new energy, and assertiveness from Yao. I think he's beginning to understand the mental and physical toughness required in the NBA night in and night out. And RT is doing a good job of rationing his minutes with the long haul in mind.
Amare's been hit recently. I know the past two games his stats aren't as good as before... darn him I have him on my fantasy team...
