Every time I look at the box scores now, he's gone for near 30 pts and over 10 rebounds. He's averaging ~7 points and ~3 rebounds more since the All-star break than his career average. When I flip a Rockets game on TV, he's not hesitating; instead, he gets into a position like he wants it, receives an incoming pass and proceeds to perfom almost automatic and beautiful post moves. Don't get me wrong, this is great and the Yao we have all been waiting for. But if someone says, "It just took a while for the big guy to come around" or "When McGrady went down, he decided he had to step up," that just isn't enough for me - I can't believe it. The Rockets went through three and a half seasons of unfulfilled expecations for this number one pick. Yes, he was still a very good [insert cliche serviceable] center but nothing like the this is my team to lead damn it guy we see on the court now. He would lead and dominate in the Asian Games yet in his second home in the US, he never played like he was the keystone, only a small (albeit 7'6 small) piece of the archway. Francis had to sit out for long stretches before and I'm sure people have kicked Yao in the ass reminding him to play like the All-Star he is... so that is what I'm sitting here wondering - what the hell happened? Some where there was a transition from "I want to get Ryan Bowen and everyone else their touches" to "I'm going to make a difference every play in every game." Call it "rested up from the All Star Break," or "Yao finally came into his own,"or "Just needed time for the big guy to come around," but I just can't believe it. He's had the height, the post moves, the tools to take over each game. The one thing that has changed - his determination to do it. So why the change (and relatively sudden and dramatic one)? Was it a someone who finally kicked yer ass the right way? Or was it really some kind of firm personal decision? I mean, what the hell Yao! It's like I don't even know you any more.
He had a toe surgery, in case you didn't know. And you might want to check Del Harris' comments about his injured toe too. He has been making incremental improvements ever since he came to Rockets. His coaches love him. Tmac came here because of him and never stops praising him (Tmac recently said he believed Yao had finally figure it out). Not to mention he is the only bright spot for this miserable season. Give Yao a break.
Looks like you've been away from Clutch BBS for a while. All everyone has been talking about since the All-Star break is Yao and his new game.
how are things in mars in the last 6 month? i heard they blockade any news from earth...so it is true!!!
That's my point eric426. I'm asking what the hell happened during the Allstar break that changed him so much compared to the rest of his career - or even earlier this season. (I was waiting for him to fall into a relapse again after a few games to be honest) Even with his gradual small improvements, the pre and post Allstar break Yao has a huge discrepancy - it wasn't a continuum of changes or a transition during a long break like an offseason.
I dont know if it's the case for Yao, but culture gap is the key. Imagine you are hired by a Japanese company as its highest paid employee working in Japan, it's going to take time for you to figure out the Japanese way to success and get comfortable voicing yourself in Japanese and Japanese way. Y'all know culture tranistion, but you dont know it until in are in that kind of situation.
May be I am the only person so far who can answer your question. Yao was voted second most overrated player by his peer in ALL STAR BREAK. This "award" totally waked and changed him.
Nice post crossover. I just sit back in awe and enjoy the progress he's made. It's the only positive thing that's happened this season that I can think of. I believe the #1 reason is because he doesn't have that messed up toe anymore. It must have felt like a red hot ice pick being jabbed into his big toe every time he took a step. Dell Harris said when he had Yao at the Olympics, both his shoes and socks were soaked in blood. Said "It was the most disgusting thing he ever saw". Secondly, I feel Yao now has more stamina and endurance than he ever has. Like Phil Jackson said, he's probably in the greatest shape in his NBA career. He now has added gas in the tank to maintain that level of aggression. As his endurance continues to improve, I believe his sustained quality of play will coincide accordingly.
I agree, Yao has gone from trying to blend in, to wanting to stand out (with his play). He's got a max contract now, and his team was in shambles (still is), and he's stepped up. I think it's a combo of physical (toe surgery, and rest), and mental determination. Along those same lines, his teammates have to be willling to defer to Yao as well-it's a two way street. Remember when Yao would get about 12 FG attempts a game, if he was lucky? Look at him now, he is truley having the offense running through him. This is probably mostly due to him showing that he can now handle it, more than anything else. I hope it continues when Tmac comes back.
He's just a more selfish player(in a good way). He's more comfortable with taking on the scoring load than he was before. He's not "passive" when he gets double-teamed anymore, and attacks the defense more consistently. Prior to AS-Break, he was averaging 14.7 shots per game. Since the AS-Break, he's averaging 18.1. In return, the referees have given him more "superstar treatment", which has increased his free-throw attempts. Prior to the AS-break, he was averaging 5.9 free-throw attempts per game. Since, he's averaged 9.1. Like a post said earlier, he's made incremental improvements on his game throughout his career...but they were so small, that they'd ever really show on the stat sheet. However, his newfound comfort with taking on the scoring burden has allowed him to utlize his impact to the fullest. He's never had that mentality before, which is why his scoring #'s never jumped whenever T-mac or Francis got injured before. The way Yao's playing right now...even if T-mac was healthy, I think Yao would still be averaging atleast 23-25ppg. In fact, before T-mac got injured for the season, Yao was averaging 25ppg on 16.7FTA in his 1st 6 games, post-AS break.
I honestly don't think the injury (or freedom from it now) has that much to do with his elevated performance. I mean, it's not like he is jumping higher or running faster now than he did before. Sure he may be playing slightly more pain free, but I think it is indeed more mental and psychological than anything else. I've never heard a quote from Yao himself saying that the surgery is what has allowed him to dominate now...that's only coming from some members of the media. He watched the team struggle without him, even when they had TMac, he watched tapes, and he realized at some point that the team needs him to be a certain type of player. Being the team player he is, he never truly understood this until the second half of this season, as it became clear the team was about to miss the playoffs. That's why I believe that this season was not a bust by any means. This painful season resulted in a new, dominant Yao that has exceeded the expectations just about everybody, and, assuming CD does a solid job with our lottery pick, another solid, young piece to a championship puzzle.
Unfulfilled expectations? More people expected him to fail, more people expected him to take 4 years just to earn a starting spot, more people expected him to tip over when touched by any nba forward/center. He scores 13 a game in his rookie year and all of a sudden all those people expect him to go 20-10 on a JEFF VAN GUNDY SLOW OFFENSE ALL DEFENSE team?
