I said he showed no signs of learning. I spoke too soon. He's showing lots of signs of learning. Smarter positioning for shots, smarter tactics for getting rebounds in traffic, smarter use (and non-use) of the hands and feet for defending and blocking shots. I remember when the Rockets started out hot in the fall of '93 and I got to see my first Rockets game of the season on national TV. Until then, I thought our record was a fluke. When I saw the passing and chemistry and confidence, I realized we were a very serious contender. Everything clicked. For the first time in a decade, I'm seeing that again.
The last couple of weeks he has really showed signs that he is begining to "get it". I think the fact that he isn't being asked to carry the team right now has also helped alot. One day he may very well be good enough to carry a team ala Dream, but right now he is best served as option 2 behind TMac.
Will, I completely agree with you. I thought this team would never come together. I used to always wonder why T-mac would always be so calm and say give it time. He saw this coming. I didn't. Also, JVG is doing a wonderful job at getting these guys to buy into the system. Right now, I am loving it. I haven't seen this good of passing on a Rockets team since the Championship years. Although, there will never be another Dream, we have a two headed monster that provides just as much. GO ROCKETS...
Me too. i said because of lack of Attitude amongst other things h'll never amount to anything but a border line all star. but the last month, yao has proved me wrong. the sky is the limit for yao.
I love the way Yao keeps the ball high after he catches it, rather than automatically putting it on the floor. It allows him to get to the hoop much quicker. Also, his shooting has been dynomite. He's only going to improve. Future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.
You guys are just setting yourselves up for being disappointed. Yao's having a streak of good games but he's going to have to maintain this until the end of the season and through the playoffs and win us a Championship.
What I'd like to know is: Did the learning cause the winning, or did the winning cause the learning? My guess is both. From watching Yao in losses, I'd swear he spends so much time beating himself up for every mistake that he can't think straight about what he's doing wrong that he could change. The real test will be whether he can keep learning when things aren't going right.
The thing that makes me happy, is I no longer have to complain in the Chat Room about Yao bringing the ball down too low. He used to do that all the time and get stripped by the smaller guards. But not any more! Ewing has kicked that habit out of Yao. He now keeps the ball up high. Like tonight, instead of being stripped he kept it up high and shot the ball so all the guards could do was foul him....and he got an and 1! I love 3pt plays. Good Job Yao, keep this up! Also, he hasn't been doing that damn clap thing anymore.
A little late Will.... but I'll take it. Honestly, for me, it was after the Philly and Minnesota games where I truly felt that this team was just about finding itself. Both games were very different (one a blowout, the other a hard-fought OT win), but they were both character-building victories ON THE ROAD, which is what I've been most impressed with in this pre-ASG performance (now 14-10 on the road). Also, like you, I started following this team for-real in the early 90's... but for me, it was in the SPRING of 93... when the team closed out that season 41-11 (their record after January 9th), and we first saw the emergence of the MVP-Hakeem. That team lost the toughest series ever to Seattle (a home-and-home series that we SHOULD have had home-court in, if not for a blown refs call that caused us to lose to SA on a DRob buzzer beater that would have never been allowed today, thanks to replay). But, it was that tough series that probably motivated them to start the 1993 season with such great play (15-0, and 22-1). This team has created the same sense of excitement... because we're finally watching greatness after such a long lull of sub-par play.
Yao Ming will show tiny improves to his TOTAL game each and every year. But the changes are too small to notice any dramatic changes. But if you were to go into the future 3-4 years, you wont recognize him because all those things you talked about: timing, foot work, positioning, rebounding technique, defensive assignments....all of thoes things will have improved. Individually, those things aren't as noticeable. But collectively! He'll be a much more polished player.
Will you a REAL man - an alpha male for real You did not have to do this but your point is well understood. Mountain Dew for everyone!!!
I think u guys need to calm down a little bit. From last 2 seasons, I think we learn that Yao's hot streak is not in terms of quarters, games or weeks. It's in terms of MONTHS. Same for his slump. I think his stamina is still a major concern. I would feel much better if he can still play well in april. At least it's a sign of "real" improvement.
You are right, I have to reverse the jinx. Here we go: Yao is still terrible, he still has trouble to grab double digit rebs and his block number should at least be 2.5. Oh yeah, he should also get 2-3 Asts every night. So far he can't do that so I still say trade him for Odom and Butler.
