Ok I was just thinking...If Yao plays inconsistent again this season. By the end of the season, could we consider Yao a bust? If he doesnt step it up, will you lose your hopes for Yao to ever step up? We've seen the potential, but can he dominate a whole season? Whats everyones thoughts on this upcoming season and Yao?
Yao was considered a 3 year project when drafted. We only expected him to produce 13/8 in the 3rd year.
It doesn't matter what he was projected to when he was drafted. Those expectations changed about two weeks into his rookie season. Anything less than a decent improvement in consistancy will be a disappointment. That doesn't make him a bust, but I'd certainly be disappointed if Yao runs out of gas again.
even with his inconsistency, he's still in the top tier of players in a position that runs very weak in this league. having him gives us a distinct advantage on most nights.
I honestly don't see Yao making another huge improvement this season. I think Phil Jackson (I think it was him) was right when he said Yao's the type of player that will consistently improve a little bit every season I'm not expecting any quantum leaps into dominance from him, so I'm predicting 19 points, 9.5 rebounds this season. Unless he decides to degenerate into nothingness, I don't think he can be considered a bust of any kind.
Yao is one of the most consistent players in the league. You could've predicted game-for-game how he was going to play, and that his play would decline towards the end. His per minute numbers in his first and second years are extremely close as well. Inconsistent is Steve Francis. Inconsistent is Latrell Sprewell. Yao is one of the most consistent players in the entire league. You know exactly what's coming, improvement is very slow, and you rarely see an explosion or a scoreless night. Most of the time, he's right around his average.
Yao a bust? Are you crazy? He has been an all-star starter for two years. What can you ask more for? Where else can you get such a tremendous player, with all that glamour, excitement, and marketing power brought to the Rockets?
The problem we have is that so much is expected of Yao that not just an above average performance is expected of him, hence this thread, for example. Look at Kenyon Martin, a guy that I've always considered overrated. He had career bests (I think) last season of 16+ points and 9.5 rebounds after FOUR years, and he gets praised from all angles and is rewarded with a max contract. Yao has 17+ points and 9 rebounds after his SECOND year, and there are already speculations about whether he might turn out to be a bust.
Only thing that can stop Yao from dominating in EVERY SINGLE GAME is his stamina. That's the only problem i see....he still don't have Shaq-like stamina. I imagine he will completely dominate every game and will dominate Shaq too if he has the stamina...(not that he's not as good as Shaq..he is but with Shaq's stamina, i have no doubt he will conquer the mountain).
If Yao keeps doing what he has the last two years he wont be a bust he's already done better than almost all of the experts predicted. This season will show us if Yao is just going to be a real good player in this league or if he will be one of the all time greats. It's all up to him. He has a coach who wants to pound the ball inside and he now has a FHOF in T-Mac who will take loads of pressure off Yao. It's in Yao's court. I'm thinking he will get it done this year. He is 7'6 and from what we've been hearing he just found this out this summer. Thats bad news for the rest of the league. My predicton for Yao is 22ppg and 10 RPG for the 04-05 season
I think Yao has been a good player up til now, but I think he can and will be a great player. If he doesn't become great, he's not a bust but with his skills and height he has the tools to get there.
Yao being a 20-10 guy seems very reasonable for this year after his first two seasons. If we had known that he would be a 20-10 guy in his third season at the time we drafted him, NOBODY would be saying "Well, I hope he'll improve after that third year." We'd all be busy dreamcasting lineups with Tracy McGrady or something and preparing for a title. Let's not get too worried here--we have the best center in the western conference and arguably the best shooting guard in the western conference. There is no way to classify Yao as a bust if he has a year anything like last year.
Yao is and will always be the 2nd best center on EARTH. When Shaq retires he slides into number 1. Please don't ever post such foolishness about Yao being a bust. If CD put Yao on the market every team with the exception of Miami (because of shaq), Lakers (because of Kobe), and San Antonio (because of Duncan) would offer any and everybody on there roster for Yao.
I think Yao is going to have his "bust-out" year this season. Usually a players third season shows what type of player he'll become. I predict almost 30 points a game and over 12 boards and MVP. I hope a championship is in there too.
I dont think Yao will break out next season. He'll just be the same ol Yao, scoring 30 points one game then the next game scores 10 points. He'll never be consistant, so just give up on him. He'll be a bust
