We'll be lucky if we can get 36 minutes out of Yao. I don't think we'll ever get 40. I actually think the guy is in pretty good shape for a guy of his dimensions. He's 7'6", 310 lbs. Guys that big are naturally going to have a tougher time with stamina. Then you have JVG running Yao up to the 3 point line to help defend against picks and screens, then retreating to cover the paint. Then on offense set picks and screens on the perimeter, and roll to the basket or post up. When was the last time you saw a 300+lb guy do that? I don't think Shaq does all that (although I haven't watched Miami yet this year). And if I remember correctly, Duncan was in foul trouble during most of the Olympics. Nowitski didn't play because Germany didn't qualify. Stojakovic didn't play because he wanted the summer off. And Iverson split time with a lot of guards on the US team. Yao was the only option on China's team, he had to play some heavy minutes just to get an 8th place finish. I think if Yao stays out of foul trouble, he'll be up near 36 minutes, and I think that's about as much as we can realistically expect Yao to average over a season, and remain healthy.
gotta love the increase in rebounds for Yao for December a couple of weeks ago his season average was 7 something also what's Yao's total for the season on double doubles, for me this is the one key stat for Yao and the rockets success
Dirk & Peja played for their countries? what, in a video game? Yao play for China EVERY, did you hear me?, EVERY offseason. not just in the Olympics but also the Asian games and even some stupid commertial games. None of other NBA players play EVERY offseason. And if I remember correctly, Yao's never miss a game yet.
Listen you can come up with every excuse in the book for the guy. He's BIG, he has to play those big meanies in the Asian games, the Chinese national team makes him practice hard, He's BIG, he has a lot of commitments, his mamma misses him, JVG is an idiot, whatever. Though I happen to agree with the JVG part. The fact remains that he is only playing 32 minutes a game. When superstars play less than 39-40 minutes a game its an advantage to the opposing team. Look at his history of games played. The vast majority are in the 26-36 minute category. 26 is barely over half the game and 36 should be a minumum that he's on the court. He's one of the 2 best players on the team, he's got to give them more minutes, that's all I'm saying. When he does he and the team will be better. Otherwise Rik Smits is all he'll ever be and please don't label me a hater because I like the guy.
I think a lot of Yao not getting minutes is JVG trying to save him for April and May. Yao has not looked out of shape this year to me. When he comes out at the end of the 1st JVG usually leaves him out for 7+ minutes. I think Yao is capable of more this year. But damn if he only needs 32 minutes to average 20 / 10 I think that is pretty damn good
Shaq is playing 34.7minutes/game. Hist shoot percentage is at career high. I would like to see Yao play around 35 minutes/game and get 10FTA/game. If he does that, he should be fine. 40minutes/game is just too many minutes.
Some of the other things I love about Yao are that he shows up for work. Guy hasn't missed a game since he has been in the league. Great team mate, can you ever see Kobe/Shaq debacle revolving around Yao. Works hard in the off-season, he didn't get those muscles playing golf. That was the problem with Shawn Bradley, he wanted to go on vacation after the season ended.
No? Not even the whole cadre of people touting the whole JVG ruins scorers, and no one has ever scored 20+ ppg under JVG (even though Ewing did)? And TMac's putting up 27+ for the month while still having big assist/rebound numbers?
He also seems to be making his moves in the post a lot sooner then before. He seems more confident in what he is trying to do and he is not always waiting for the doulble team.
I want him to play more minutes too, I just don't think it can reasonably be expected for him to average 39-40. Shaq and Duncan are only averaging 35 this season. Ilgauskas less than that. Bradley is closest to Yao's size, but he sucks. If he can stay out of foul trouble, I think he can average around 36. We've just never seen a 7'6", 310 lb guy worthy of those minutes before. We've seen in the past that many of the extremely tall guys in the NBA deserving of minutes just aren't healthy (Ralph Sampson, Gheorge Muresan, Z. Ilgauskas, Manute Bol, Arvydas Sabonis, Rik Smits all had chronic foot or knee problems). I don't believe any of those guys averaged 39-40 minutes per game. I don't think any of those guys were over 300 lbs. The thing that gives me hope with Yao is that his lower base is huge. Most of these other guys had sticks for legs. So he may be less susceptible to the foot and leg injuries most guys his size had. I am hopeful he can average around 36 minutes a game and be healthy. I think averaging 40 over a full season is unrealistic.
Enough with the Rik Smits comparisons already! If we're going to make apples to oranges comparison, at least use a guy who is closer to Yao's size, like Mark Eaton or George Muresan, than a guy who is closer to Kevin Garnett's size and weight. I think the desire for more minutes is a fair one for most superstars, and I don't think the fatigue from international play is really the issue here. I think it's his sheer size. Biology and physics do make a difference - that's why you don't see many 7 footers or 300 pounders in the Olympic marathon races, because endurance for a 300 pounder is a different thing than for a 100 or 200 pound person. If I thought Yao was just plain lazy, I'd be bothered. But I really think his body just has its limits. Put another way, let's try to name a single player in the history of the NBA taller than 7'1" and heavier than 275 lbs who EVER logged more than about 30-35 minutes a game. If we can't, then isn't it possible that all those guys weren't lazy, and that they just were limited by what gravity does to their BULS's? (Bodys of Unusually Large Size) Shaq comes close, but he's just a PSUAS (Physical Specimen of Unusually Awesome Studliness), and if that's the yardstick by which Yao is to be measured, he'll always come up a little short. (no reverse pun intended) If the response is to say that a superstar should play those minutes, then maybe the answer is simply that a 7'6" 300-pounder will never be that kind of superstar (unaltered, that is). But if we're stuck with a guy who can only deliver 30-35 minutes a game and averages about 20/10 with an occasional 40-point or 15 rebound game, I'll still take that over most of the other centers in the league. Besides - he is a bargain right now, considering what we're paying him.
I think this is true and hope it's a sign of things to come. I also wonder if he's figured out by now that, if he plows quickly and firmly toward the bucket with both hands on the ball and let's the body contact happen where it may, he's much more likely to get a foul called in his favor than if he gets the ball knocked out from a whack across the arms or a nudge of the elbow while trying to position for a fadeaway jump shot.
the point is that T-Mac is a two time scoring champ. Yao Ming has never averaged 20 / 10 for a season. Of course T-Mac putting up 27 a night in JVGs offense might be a mild surprise but we all know he is more than capable. What is more impresive to me is Houston's offense over the last several games.
Just a little update on me.. I mean Yao... during December. 11 games played thus far in December, Yao is averaging 32.7 minutes during these games 20.7 points 11.0 rebounds 0.7 asts 2.4 blx 0.6 stls 79.6 FT% 51.4 FG% 3.6 turnovers * The Rox are 7-4 in December * 4 losses are 2 to Charlotte and 2 to Dallas. * 5-2 when Yao gets a double-double. * In wins, Yao is averaging 23.7pts, 11.1rebs, 2.3blks, shoots 57% from the field and goes to the free throw line almost 11 times a game. * In losses, Yao is averaging 15.5pts, 11.2rebs, 2.5blks, turns over the ball almost 5 times a game, shooting 41% from the field and goes to the line 7 per game. Of course all this includes his 40pt game and the 10-turnover game, both of which skew the stats in favor of Yao during wins and against Yao in losses.... but there are some definite patterns. Stuart
Guys, don't forget Yao has never missed a game so far in his career. That must be a record for 7ft+ centers!
