Yao's play has regressed... I'm sorry to all the Yao fanboys, but it has. Forget that he's 7'6 and gets a free pass for his lack of mobility and chronic injuries. I really don't care about those excuses. The fact remains that he's a former #1 overall pick that is firmly entrenched in the prime of his career. This is the part of his career where he needs to bring something new to his game every year. Needs to carve out a true identity (which he doesn't have). Needs to amp up his killer instinct that while improved, still pales in comparison to other peers at his "level." That's what separates the all-time greats from the basic all-stars. Its the difference between Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing. Its the difference between Karl Malone and Chris Webber.
You are right. As a rox fan, we believe we automatically appreciate Yao's work. He is the base of the team and the core of the system. It is so hard to foresee how the rox looks without Yao in 2010. I hope it never happens.
It's not regression. It's due to having more weapons on your team. There's a reason why Yao's only playing 33 minutes a game despite major injuries hitting this team. He's no longer asked to carry the load. The Rockets are finally figuring out that saving Yao for the postseason is the way to go, not get him superstar numbers.
