Haha "I didn't want to be passive and let them attack me first," Yao said through his American translator. "Of course, I am stronger now than before. I can't wait for people to come and attack me. I have to be ready to attack first." "He's so much stronger and tougher than he was last year," DeClercq said. "A couple of times, I went to box him out and he just slipped right around me. He's not supposed to be that big and that quick, too."
Oh man! I couldn't help laughing out loud on those quotes!!! You know? Those devious, sinister laughs....
Dunno. It is likely this team will stand pat until the end of the season and see how everyone meshes by that time. Considering Steve's popularity, it wouldn't do to just up and trade him (I know you didn't mention this). Part of me knows that Steve wants to succeed with this team. And yet, a steady PG and one star forward; that's what we need. Steve is starting to look like a spare-part max-contract player.
If Rox continue to win by stevie contributing 12 - 13 pts a night with 4-5 TO a games, Kevin Ollie and his 3 million a year will get the job done in Houston.
His shootting touch will come. He just need to do more extra shooting practice. For assis. he will have a lot of game video to watch.
Even with Yao playing like he is right now, the Rockets cannot get too much further into the playoff unless Steve plays up to his capability. Don't be fooled by a couple good games from Mark Jackson. I like the guy, and I think he is great to play ~15 minutes at PG for the Rockets. But his liability on defense will be exposed coming playoff time. Plus his outside shooting has never been his strong suite even in his prime, and his aged legs won't allow him to run much fast break, either. Unless we can get a quality PG, there is no way the Rockets are going to trade Steve. I just don’t see any team to give up their PG for us. The Rockets can only hope that Steve can learn from Jackson, play intelligently, utilize his scoring ability with the whole team concept. Only then, the Rockets will be truly a good team. --daoshi
much respect daoshi, but you are dead wrong about jackson his energy is a complete non-issue, he looks exactly the same as i remember him when the pacers fought the knicks dude was always slow, he hasn't gotten any slower, he is exactly the same, some people mention that he's probably fat, like an afterthought, the guy again, looks completely the same... and he doesn't need to shoot, we have plenty of players that do that already... you mention he will get burned in the playoffs, if you have followed MJ's career you will know like his buddy Reg, they play better in the playoffs... and boy, how sweet those dimes are, and he doesn't turn it over...how is he not our backup PG? we are all blessed...
MJ was never a fast guard, but he is very strong and can score on low post plays over opposing guards. But dang, we sure got a lot of ex-Knicks right now.
Nap! I was a Bulls fan in those years when we repeatedly beat the heck out of the Knicks, the Pacers, and everyone else, maybe not the Rockets. Back then, Mark was always a weak link in defense. On offense, he tried to post people up a lot with his wide frame and big butts, but the other team always came back to send someone to drive pass him. I still have the vivid picture of BJ Armstrong went right by him. BJ Armstrong???!!! Mark is at least a step slower than before, it's just that teams haven't be able to make any adjustment to deal with him yet since he only played with the Rockets for a couple of games. When teams start to look at more films with his playing, his effectiveness will be challenged. Look at the Pacers game a couple days ago, he was not as effective because the Pacers know him too well. I'm not saying Mark is a bad player or anything. Heck, I've applauded the Rockets when they signed him for the 10-day contract. He was the most hated player on the other famous MJ’s list; you know he was not a bad player from that. My point is that the Rockets want to use him as a teacher, to show the young players how to play the game the right way with some fundamentals. He is not the long-term solution given his age, nor is him the replacement of Steve, or Mobley. People shouldn't put too much expectation into this move. --daoshi
I agree, fietguy. MJax is a complete gamer. He knows his limitations on defense and is smart enough to do the little things, like force his man into unfavorable positions on the court. As long as we continue to play good help defense, we will be just fine. Also, its good if he isn't shooting a lot because he'll be too busy finding the wide open guy on the floor. I think the majority of his scoring opportunities will be wide open 3's, when he posts up, and if the shot clock is running low. If he can keep dishing the ball like he is capable, that contributes points, and thats all good with me. Today he had 10 assists which means he was responsible (at least partly) for at least 20 points. Thats good production. If he can contribute 5 assists per game, I will be a happy guy. Oh yeah, and that Yao guy played alright tonight. YAO-HOOOOO!!!
daoshi, i guess we all have our own perspectives but it just seems that what i remember is completely opposite of what you remember.. back in the day, well, actually, not too long ago, when jax was with the raps, he still did the back into you turn around hook...that was jax move...are you saying that move doesn't work anymore? because i remember that as a high percentage mark jackson move, doesn't take speed, just took, as you said his wide butt and then finish... his jumpshot has dramatically decreased however, but that was already evident against the knicks when he was a pacer hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised by MJ on a continuing basis
If a guard can get Yao off his feet for an alley-oop pass then hell yeah he's a good guard . Great pick-up. He will definitely fill the backup PG void much much better than Moochie. Good change of pace from fast and erractic to slow and controlled.
Good points. There was a thread on this recently. About is it worth it to run the clock out and do an iso play with low percentage chance of it working OR run a solid play with a much higher percentage chance of scoring and then relying on your STRENGTH which is defense to stop the final play of the quarter. I personally would like the latter! Everytime the quarter ends my wife screams at Francis for doing a stupid iso play. It almost never works and is horrible percentage.
If you think that we're all overreacting about Yao's game . . . Bill Walton must be creaming in his pants. He probably didn't sleep a wink last night, just stared at the ceiling, big smile on his face, visions of Yao's legs that were sculpted by Microsoft.
That alley-oop look too easy for Yao. This show you how good MJ can pass the ball. Yao only tip-toe up and slam it down.
