Rooms4rentf, Does Duncan yell? Did Olajuwon? Many great players don't yell. Its not about yelling. But ok. I guess I am not getting my point across. Back to work...
Again kids in the US grow up feeding on and dreaming of individual domination. kids in China grow up being trained to give it up for the collective. Do not show individualism. Aggressive, hard, take control, impose your will attitudes must be developed if you are programmed all your life to be respectful of the collective. Blend in, don't be noticed. That is a cultural mental attitude. Politically it is called collectivism. Go watch the Jet Li movie Hero if you want to understand Yao's attitude. You give it up for the country. The hero is the one who decides NOT to take matters in his own hand. I think Yao can change. He can be more Americanized. Become a dominant individual. Assert his will on the game. There is a difference in trying to play hard and aggressive and believing you are the man and proving it to your opponent. That desire to show your greatness is the killer instinct. That is what Yao needs. He needs to stand up to every defense thrown at him and assert his size and ability. He needs to feel like no one can stop him and them go after the game. Don't write off Yao because he is still adjusting. I think he will end his career a different player than he is now. Unless he will not let go of his collectivism. Then he will be what he is.
Almu I understand what you are saying. I saw that play where Yao did not attempt to box Duncan out and as a result Duncan got the rebound and put it back up. Yao is not an instinctive player. This is something that I don't think you can teach. You just have to have the instincts to box your man out and get that board. Playing in China Yao probably did not have to box out because he is so much taller than his oppponents, so he grew up not having to fight for rebounds. This is a technique that most NBA players have learned since they started playing because the American game is much more physical. I don't think Yao will ever dominate the way most people on this board think he will because he doesn't have that agressive mentality. Also did anyone else notice how many passes Yao doesn't catch that are right on the money? I saw at least 3 in last nights game. Until Yao stops playing so soft he will never dominate.
Originally posted by DaDakota Yao will be a good player, but probably never great. DD Which begs the question does Yao deserve a MAX contract? Based on his current play, highly inconsistent, I would say not. Certainly a high offer but not MAX. However with his star power in China (and he being so pivotal to Stern's overseas aspirations) he will likley not take less than the MAX. Quite a quandry. If we could only get a PF that would inhale rebounds and hustle.....
Oh and one more thing, while it did take Akeem time to defeat thefronting (and become HAkeem) with him on the court you felt the Rockets had a good chance and you knew what Akem was bringing to the game. Not so with Yao
who gives a flying frick about facials. hakeem routinely got a facial, especially in the late 80s to early 90s when he tried to block everything. suns fans still cream over the KJ dunk on dream. greatness isnt measured in how many dunks you avoid.
So do you wish the Rockets had selected Jay Williams? I'm sure a few of you will be like "oh Amare was in the same draft, we should have picked him!" Well, not one person in the league would have taken Amare first in the draft, regardless. Did you want us to pick someone else in that draft? Even if Yao never dominates, what do you want us to do? Cut him? Trade him? Release him? I mean, maybe Rick Majerus "didn't know" about Yao, whatever that means...But we made the correct selection in that draft and I don't know what the hell you are suggesting. *ANY* team in the league would love to have Yao, regardless of whether he is "dominant" or not, he's still a dang good player. What is your point other than Yao just doesn't have 'it'? That he's a bad player?
Just to be fair, most of those passes were terrible, especially the one from TMac. That pass was way off, and it had a bad angle. But, the stupid commentator made the "Yao couldn't handle it" smart-ass comment anyway. I've said this before, I'll say it again here. You don't make fancy passes to a slow & tall center! You send it right into his chest. If you cannot do that, then don't pass. I've seen numerous times, our players dropped bounce passes to Yao when he was moving. How the hell do you expect a 7'6" guy to catch a bounce pass when running? That is No-NO in basketball 101. Back to the original subject. We all know what TMac could do, just look at last year's' Magic. Yes, he won the game by himself alone at the end, but the guy was 8 out 25, committed several costly TOs prior to the last minutes. Don't you think we wouldn't fall into that situation if he could make a couple more shots? Who was the guy carried the Rockets upon until that point? Oh, never mind. It's all Yao's fault. JVG was a great coach, Yao made him look like a below average coach now. Let's just trade him.
I don't get all the Yao-bashing. Yao is no Dream, or Shaq, or Kareem, or Wilt, or even Bill Walton (but I do think that in his prime he'll be as good as Ewing was). I think that should be clear by now. Anyone who expects him to be an "all-time great" will surely be dissapointed. You have to accept Yao for who he is--a good big man who is limited physically. In an age like this when there are so few good centers in the league, Yao is a rare commodity. He is consistenly inconsistent, but I think that it will improve with age and experience (and a better coach who knows how to utilize his strengths instead of exposing his weaknesses). Don't be greedy little whiners. We could've have had someone like Kwame Brown with that No.1 pick instead.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Yao needs to keep his eye on the ball more often. He missed a couple of easy shots simply because he wasn't prepared for the nifty passes.
Yao gets facialed because he goes straight up and reaches over. He doesnt actually get between the guy and the basket. A similar play is from his rookie year against Kobe. I wish he would just take a hard foul every once in a while. His rebounding is still troubling, and not boxing out Duncan was inexcusable there. Yao was almost just standing out of bounds. Yao still gets no respect on the boards from the refs though. I don't understand how the ball will rebound directly to Yao who is a full six inches taller, and boxing out mind you, and Rasho manages to get to the ball and tip it around almost every time. It's physically impossible for that to not be an over-the-back. I just don't see how thats humanly possible without all kinds of contact. Then Malik Rose comes in and they call it when people go over his back. It's clearly a height bias. Also, Yao will have rebounding position, but will get subtley pushed at the exact right moment to make him lose position. It must have happened like 3 times last night, but since he's not up in the air, flying forward, and yelling, it goes unnoticed. On to the positives of last night's game: 1. When was the last time Yao caught an alley-oop and finished in one motion? I don't know if that was a pass or a miss from Sura, but it was a sweet play. 2. He had that nice dunk in transition after Duncan fell down on the other end of the court. Nice to see us get a play like that for once. 3. The tip dunk was awesome. I can't remember the last time he made a play like that. 4. His 'Shaq-dunk'. He caught the ball, gathered and jammed it home. Duncan was there, but backed off (after a little space clearing on Yao's part). It was a Shaq-like play, yet not as athletic obviously. 5. I thought he controlled the paint for the most part. Parker and Manu did go wild attacking the basket, and Yao was always there to help on them. Whether they were 'scared' of him, probably not, but he definately deterred many plays away from the basket. Overall, several of the frustrating aspects of Yao's game should improve. I don't know how many times someone can get hit in the hands with passes before he starts expecting that pass to come. I also don't know how long Tmac will throw that pass if Yao hardly ever catches and finishes. Once he gets better at just that aspect of the game, he'll average over 20 easily.
*i thought yao was more aggressive last night than any other game all year *after watching the olympics, i dont buy the cultural differences argument any more *yao will be fine. surround him with some better shooters and a rebounding pf
Soft? Everytime Yao makes an aggressive move the refs call him for a frickin' offensive foul!!! Yao did in fact yell after slamming it, I think it was over Ratliff, in his rookie season. Yao immediately got called for taunting. The only reason Yao screamed was to release the frustration of being hacked and beaten' everytime down the court. I don't know what it is, but any fire that Yao gets, the refs are always there to put him back in his place.
Can anyone tell me why Parker, Ginoboli kept turning away from the basket after penetration last night? I don't remember too many games those two didn't attack the basket as they did last last. I'm sure they don't fear Yao according to Almu, it must be the intimidation from Mo & Howard
I agree with Almu. Yao sucks and we should trade him immediately. Damned near anyone would be better. TRADE YAO MING!!!! BTW, I base this decision on the fact that Yao has no style. Who cares about his numbers? What did stats ever do for anyone? Do points help you win ballgames? Hell no. Now, if Yao had not gotten posterized, the rockets would have won 120-65. I blame our near loss on Yao. Also, I am not a hater. In fact, I have a Yao T-shirt. But Yao got posterized and therefore, he is a liability to the team. He takes shots away from T-MAc, who shoulda taken 37 shots last night (who knows, if TMAC would've been allowed to run all night and carry the team by himself, we might be as good as last year's Orlando). Yes, Yao Ming is a definite loser who has no heart. Trade him for a can of beans and a twinkie. I have a Yao Ming T-shirt and he got posterized. I feel betrayed.
Yao had 5 To last night First one: he make a great move and seal off the two defender dump in, refs called a travelling Second: he face Nester one on one, Nester reach his arm and tipped the ball away, no fault call. Third one: he set a pick for Tmac and called offence fault Fourth: A Barrett drive into the middle and tried to make a layup, two defender went up from both side to block the shot left the yao in the middle, Ab rush the ball towards yao in the traffic, yao was waiting for the rebournd, not ready for the ball, the ball was bounce out off his hands. Fifth: bullet pass from TMac, Nobody in the world can catch that crazy pass. As the as the play the ALmu mensioned Yao was one on one with TD, TD tried to drive through the base line, yao made the quick move seal the baseline and raise both arms, force TD make an tough shot over him, because Yao was back towards the rim, he couldn't see the ball, but TD was facing the rim and he could feel and see the shot was short, instantly move forward and got the rebournd put back in, also cause Padgett fault. Your guys critisize Yao seams getting more and more ridiculous, you want somebody turn around faster than go straight, you are absolute idiot.
Anyone notice that Yao is actually dunking harder? Or maybe he's doing it with more 'ummph'! Not the soft dunks he used to do, he actually does the follow up hanging thing which rocks the basket quite a bit. Definitely exaggerated since the guy can grab the rim and still have his feet planted on the ground. A lot cooler and certainly a lot more intimidating. Love it!
Almu, 1) The timing of your post is horrendous. 27/10/2 and you compare him to Rik Smits. 2) I hate how people get on Yao's case for getting "posterized". He doesn't get posterized for lack of effort or aggressiveness. Most times someone's man gets beat and he has to cover and is at a major disadvantage. Last night Duncan had a full head of steam versus Yao on his dunk. 3) While it seems that Yao gets "posterized" and turns the ball too much. I believe this is perception more than facts. Who turns the ball over more? Yao or Shaq? Shaq does. I admit that Yao probably is never going to be the best shot blocker or even rebounder, but it's not from lack of effort. He has great height but this also makes him slower to the ball and off his feet. Regardless of these weaknesses he has skills and 7'5" frame that no one on this planet have. Duncan is about a 24/12 guy. If Yao can average 20/10 with "13 in 33" T-Mac and Van Gundy's low possession style, I think everyone should say thank you. I believe Yao can definitely be a 20/10 guy consistently, and he's been doing it for the last few games now.
Yeah, I noticed that last night too. If he keeps going up like that, the defenders will quit challenging him so much and then he can start with the hooks, fingerolls, etc.
