Yes, these are some thoughts about Yao Ming. I try to look at his problem as a Chinese fan. -- Unsfishness I wanna give 2 examples. 1) In western world, when you write an address, you start with the order name-company-street-city-province/state-country. In China it's exactly the other way around. And order means priority. 2) In China, a hero from a war is always such kind of guy who remained in his position without moving when there's fire on his body --- which eventually burned him to death --- because he didn't wanna expose his brothers in arm, or a guy who use his chest to block an on-fire machine gun to protect his buddies. It's never a sniper who took out totally 300+ enemies or a pilot who shot down several enemy planes in his rookie year. This tradition is a kind of team-working spirit mixed with the misleading of the ruling class in order to fool the ordinary people to be willing to sacrifice their own individual rights. Situation has been much better (or I should say, different) now, partly thanks for you American guys. But 5000 years history deep in mind is just hard to change in 2 years, in Yao's case. I think it's difficult to understand the concept of 'helping the team by helping myself'. Balancing those 2 is even harder. -- Humbleness Don't know exactly how's it like in USA. I guess if someone speaks out loud sth like "I'm the best! I'll win every single game from now on!". And if then he fights hard and loses, he's still a hero. But same case in China, he's surely an idiot. So most Chinese choose to say it after they make it. For Yao, I imagine he won't yell about "give me the damn ball" until he's totally sure he can handle the ball better than everybody else. Is this soft-minded? Somehow, I agree. While I think we can do better by encouraging him, and less bashing. -- Patience Once Yao said to a Chinese reporter in frustration, (if that report wasn't lying,) "everybody said he had patience. Then all of a sudden, all people don't have patience. Huh huh, whatever ..." There's an old Chinese saying, "10 years a sword". It suggests that it takes 10 years to make a sword that'll shine the world. Will it take that long to build a dynasty in NBA? Hope not. But how long can we wait? When drafting Yao many people said it's a gamble. 1 year later many thought he's top player. Then now many said he'll never be great. Of course, as the fan, we have the right to be impatient and lay pressure on those Rockets. We spend money and time on their games. We're the customer, so-call God. And we hate losing. Pressure works well. Van Gundy gave up his YOF (Yao-On-Focus) plan under the pressure of job position (I don't buy that saying of it's changed after a talk with TM). Pressure also works on players well especially those who cares a lot about what fans say. Yao does care about what the fans say. Once in his BBS he said he welcomes all kind of criticism, but not bashing and personnel attack --- which obviously gave him some frustration. I hope though, that he can turn this frustration into motion. But so far I haven't seen that. -- Royalty As a Chinese moral standard, if somebody has done you a favor, you should return more or at least the same, or you are classless. Yao is quite high in that standard. Technical stuff aside, I don't think Yao is personally willing to leaving the Rockets. For him, business is not only business. I don't know this as a fact of course, just what I feel from his behavior these years. Sorry it's too long due to my limited language skill. Thanks for your patience of reading it. I really like this site. People here are fun and reasonable. Thank Clutch's effort. Also I'm quite curious on how much impact Clutchcity has to the Rocket's management?
He already said he had limited language skill, so cut him some slack on the spellings. Thanks for the post. I guess Yao really brings cultural arguements into basketball. Interesting.
After Maga trade, everybody is talking about the rockets will be one step back in this season, and two steps forwards afterwards, and now so many unmatured posters couldn't accept the fact " we are one step down".
These are all extremely admirable qualities in a person. I wish most people had these traits as part of their personalities. However, while these are admirable in life, they don't serve you very well on an NBA basketball court. I wish they did, but they don't. The things that serve you well there are assertiveness, agressiveness, determination and force of will. You can still be unselfish, humble and patient, but you must have the others if you want to dominate. That is just the reality of being successful in the NBA.
I would like to use TD as an example, coz I always want Yao to become a player like him. TD represents lots of things you just mentioned, he's humble, team-oriented, and gentle. But on the court, he's very very determined to get that win no matter who he's facing. When the offense is not in flow, he'll try to take it into his own hands; when defense is sloppy, he'll try to make a statement, with a stop/block/rebound or even a hard foul. That's how a star player, a franchise player, a main focus of the team should be. For me, determination is the most important thing, much more important than aggression and others. If Yao could make up his mind when he steps on the court, that no matter how he's going to win that game. I don't think the refs, opponents, or even own teammates can really stop him. Once your goal is clear - to win that game, you will try everything and adjust to every circumstance to make that happen. You could beg/tease/reason/complain whatever trick with the refs, just like TD. You just can't be a star player and wait for anyone else to take it over, even that's T-Mac. Being ready to cooperate and sacrifice is sometimes not enough to get that win. You have to be determined and ready to get that win single-handedly if it's necessary. However, those qualities do make Yao very likeable. If he could keep that and act like a 2nd best center on the court, he will be more likeable and respectable.
The biggest problem is he don't want to dominate, all he want is playing great team basketball and help the team as much as he could, win more, score more, dominating those great athletes in the league never be something he want to learn, maybe that's the something your guys really frustrate about.
What frustrates us (well, what frustrates me, at least) is Yao's failure to understand that the best way to create opportunities for his teammates is to take over the game for 3 or 4 minutes and force the defense to concentrate entirely on him. More individualism now and then would really help the group.
Question: I'm being honest here...do those who are Chinese or of Asian descent find it offensive when others say that Yao's limitations here might have something to do with the cultural influences in his life?? I'm not in the business of offending anyone...it seems like this is the idea being proposed, but I'm wondering if others find it offensive.
How many of those traits did Kareem have? I don't think Kareem played with assertiveness, aggressiveness, or force of will. I actually think Yao plays with more of those 3 qualities than Kareem ever did. Kareem did play with determination as does Yao. But Kareem took a lot of abuse and he would do nothing about it until he finally boiled over which was maybe once a year or so, maybe not even that often. Yao just never boils over. I truly believe that if either Yao boiled over once in a while or if Van Gundy would boil over for him, that the physical abuse and the disparity of calls on Yao would stop, temporarily, at least until it happened again. That's why the power player that plays alongside Yao is going to be a critical component of this team regardless of statistics. It has to be a player that can dish out the physicality and use it to change the way game is played and called when the rough stuff gets out of hand on Yao. The only way that you get the whistle to blow quickly in this league is to get a fight going unfortunately. That turns the game into a more finesse game, which is where Yao plays the game, just like Kareem. When Kareem started throwing punches, it was for a reason, to change the complexion of the game, to change momentum, and to clean up all the rough stuff. That player is going to have to like Yao enough and have enough respect for Yao to help him in these situations. The guys we got now just don't seem interested in supporting Yao with this. It's almost like they are making a statement that they agree that Yao needs to fight back, and get into a brawl. No one will step up with the brutish, physical play, and fight. We need our Maurice Lucas.
check opposite team's game stredge book, the top of the list should be physically against Yao and limit his touches, he was drawing enough attention on the court, most of time your guards just couldn't take advantage of 4 against 3 or 4 against 2. PS: No offending allowed in the forums.
Thankyou very much for the insight. I think it says alot about the adjustment Yao is struggling with, he seems like the kind of person that does not want to lose his Chinese identity and mindset. Thus he is able to attempt to be an "NBA" type, but he cannot let go of fundemental beliefs that guide his play. I think patience is a very good thing for Rocket fans... Patience with Yao to improve and adjust. I would trade Yao if I was given an unbelievable opportunity... It would have to be too good to pass up (I understand his physical limitations) Having said that, in my heart I hope he will be a Rocket forever because I basically love his character and I think he will be a very good center for many years to come. He is struggling right now in some areas, but nothing that won't improve over time. I really don't think we should expect him to lose these qualities that were mentioned. Just give him time to improve his game. I can wait, a little bit???????????????????
I for one, don't think it's offensive at all. It's a very reasonable question and observation. I would like to say, yes, it does affect him. Like the thread opener mentioned he was told to play that way. My assumption is he's a smart kid, he will finally learn and adjust, but 22 years of influence is not a short time. Therefore, it takes him more than other American college players to adjust to NBA games. We shall have a little bit more patience. But human being in all, is an very interesting race, we always manage to adjust to the environment, that's how we survive through all kinds of hardships. This one shall go as well. I am not sure whether someone might find offensive at all. Culture does affect one greatly in daily life. Modern Chinese people adapt the Western way to be confident and sometimes even "show off" a little bit with self-promotion. But it takes time and effort to adapt to other cultures. I believe some went a little bit too far and too fast, that sometimes some people might act a little bit too aggressive. If we see the root cause of lots of problems or misunderstandings, things might be more tolerable. Just my 2 cents.
real_egal -- thanks for your response. i tend to agree. there is no way i can argue that my own culture doesn't affect how i work and play. it's the very context through which i filter the world. it shapes values. a problem would arise if one were to assert that one culture were necessarily superior to another. that would be a mistake.
Thanks bulk These are great insights into Yao's psychology... which I really believe is his one limiting factor to greater success. JVG said it best. He said that the "great ones" must have ego b/c they are out there giving their all and imposing their will to achieve success. With the Rox, I wonder if our leader is T-Mac who leads by example and by command. And that I hope Yao can follow his lead and take this team to a higher level. I'm also glad that Yao has loyalty. I truly hope the Rox don't do one on him too like they did on Steve or with JJ if CD is kicked out and new management comes in. But with the Chinese Olympics scheduled for 2008 (I believe) how cool would that be to have all this attention follow Yao back to Houston??? More and more people in China are getting TVs and they could ALL BE ROCKET FANS!!!!!!!!!!!!! theSAGE
I hate to invoke the spectre hanging over Yao Ming, but "Hakeem Olajuwon." Hakeem didn't win until RT showed him the value of unselfishness. Can anyone forget "Hungry but Humble." Right up until the point it didn't matter anymore, Hakeem was loyal to the Rockets organization. What Yao Ming needs is a little more royalty (in the actual sense of the word). Leadership, judgement, and the ability to use force when necessary.
