[Yahoo] The time is Yao

kaleidosky · Nov 21, 2006

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-yao112106&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

The time is Yao
By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports

NEW YORK – Outside his locker, Yao Ming closed his eyes, squinted hard and declared himself unimpressed late Monday night. Do you see the scar, his uneasy disposition was trying to tell everyone. Do you see it? All shapes, all sizes, all relentlessly probing and poking and prodding him. As Yao was questioned, the gentlest soul in the sport declared himself unaware that it had been Knicks pest Nate Robinson who was responsible for blocking his layup attempt.

Most of all, the Houston Rockets center wanted everyone to understand that ridiculous rejection came with a flailing hand poking his pupil, momentarily blinding him. It left a bulbous bump on his eyelid, a souvenir to bring back from his annual trip to Madison Square Garden. It left Yao unwilling to find the cuteness in a moment that isn't so cute when they just swing wildly for you and treat you like a tree to be torn down.

"Is that who did it?" Yao coyly said, insisting it was impossible to tell that a 5-foot-9 Robinson had blocked him. Well, Yao would say, "I've been blocked by a 5-foot-3 guy before, so that's not a record."

There was just a hint of something seldom seen with Yao – a stubborn edge – that had not been part of his disposition. He is running roughshod through the NBA now, pounding people into submission, performing at 7-6 in a way that never seemed possible.

Everyone still is holding onto Shaquille O'Neal, refusing to believe the reality of his changing body. Everyone is scared of dismissing Shaq these days, choosing to respect the mythology that surrounds what is no longer a legitimate force.

"I think Yao is the best center in the NBA," a truth-teller named Tracy McGrady declared Monday night at the Garden. This wasn't audacity out of McGrady, nor embellishment. He's watching every night, and he knows what he sees. Let everyone else saddle themselves with a grudging respect for Yao Ming, but McGrady sees him on the cusp of taking these Rockets a long, long way.

Yes, Yao Ming is the best center in the game. If not, what is everyone watching this season? This was an inevitable truth and it has arrived. No one had to see Shaq go down with knee surgery last week to declare him diminished, because if you watched the Heat on the way to the NBA championship, you understood that it was the greatness of Dwyane Wade that was the difference. Shaq was dangerous, but he no longer was dominant.

For some reason when it comes to Yao, people refuse to believe their eyes. Night after night, he has transformed into everything people feared upon his ceremonious arrival four years ago, delivering 30 points and 15 rebounds on nights now as easily as a man walks down his driveway for the morning paper. He dropped 34 and 14 on Shaq last week. He's averaging 26.4 points and 10.4 rebounds a night – much better than his career averages – and he's using his 310 pounds near the basket to move bodies and that reach to block everything within his wingspan.

Every moment now, he's a presence. "At his height, his ability, he's almost unstoppable," Houston's Rafer Alston said.

Everything is up, way up for him, especially his turnovers, which tells Yao that "there is more physical contact." Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy tried to defend him a few days ago, and it cost him $25,000 to the league office. Yes, Van Gundy always has been overprotective of Yao. He always has been that way with his stars, but he isn't exaggerating the level to which people reveled in Yao's sluggish moments, almost reveling in his failures – real or perceived.

"I've never understood the Yao-hate," Van Gundy said. "I'm trying to figure out why people have a problem with him. They always kind of say what's he not. … He doesn't refer to himself in the third person. He hasn't given himself a nickname. And he doesn't try to offset his negative nights with excuses."

Part of the discomfort with Yao was the unknown that surrounded him – the threat, the idea that some within the American basketball culture feared the tapping of Asia could start another stream of dominant players to the NBA. They could live with the Europeans on some level, but beginning on draft night in 2002 there has been a transcendent level of nastiness and unfair standards of success for him. He was as accommodating and as respectful as any star to enter the league in years, yet there was an element who treated him as an intruder, like an experiment that needed to fail.

Along the way, Shaq mocked Yao's heritage with a verbal slur, and too many people laughed it off. Outwardly, Yao laughed also, letting Shaq off the hook. Not anymore, though. If you watched his recent meeting with O'Neal, you noticed the deference was gone. Respect yes, but no longer deference. After he hung 35 and 17 on the Knicks' Eddy Curry on Nov. 10, he quickly disappeared into the Rockets' weight room, pumping iron and preparing himself for a meeting with Shaq in the next 48 hours. That's when Yao hit him for the 34 and 14.

Now, Yao Ming is 26 and has taken every shot this league has for him. He keeps coming back, stronger and stronger, tougher and tougher. And, as McGrady sees it, "He's playing at an MVP-caliber level."

They've come at him for five seasons – with words and slurs, slaps and scratches, doubts and dismissals – and the solemn, sure relentlessness of Yao Ming kept churning and churning, until the NBA was left with a talent suddenly impossible to stop, a phenomenon suddenly transcending the game.

Yao Ming, best center in basketball.

He has the scars to prove it, too.
Click to expand...

kwik_e_mart · Nov 21, 2006

oops!

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=120650

Champ06 · Nov 21, 2006

http://washingtontimes.com/sports/20061120-115542-7120r.htm

Ming Dynasty
By KevinBrewer
THEWASHINGTON TIMES
November 21, 2006

The NBA is struggling to embrace the greatness of Yao Ming.

Yao, the 7-foot-6 Chinese center, is averaging 26.4 points and 10.4 rebounds for the Houston Rockets. He is one of only six players averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds this season.

Last week, Yao dominated Shaquille O'Neal in a win over the Miami Heat, totaling 34 points and 14 rebounds to O'Neal's 15 and 10.

O'Neal, the best center of the last 10 years, was unimpressed, telling reporters: "He's pretty much the same, just big, 7-6. He's just doing what he's supposed to do."

Four days later, Yao dominated four-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Ben Wallace, totaling 20 points and 12 rebounds to Wallace's one and five.

Before that game, TNT analyst Charles Barkley said: "Before we give him the mantle as the best center in the NBA, let's relax a little bit."

Yao Ming is the best center in the NBA.

The 26-year-old is following a similar career path to Patrick Ewing, only Yao doesn't have to play against Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson or Brad Daugherty.

It's hard to make a case for Yao's competition as the league's best center, mostly because their accomplishments are in the past.

O'Neal, 34, is averaging 14.0 points and 7.5 rebounds a game. He also is out four to six weeks after having surgery on his left knee Sunday.

Wallace, 32, is averaging 5.5 points, 9.7 rebounds. He signed a four-year, $60 million contract with the Chicago Bulls before the season. Wallace will be 35 years old during the last season of the deal.

International players like Yao, Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash are derided for their lack of defensive capabilities, but Wallace has always escaped the same criticism on offense, even though his weakness is more egregious.

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is Yao's closest competitor. Howard, who turns 21 next month, is averaging 15.5 points and 13.2 rebounds. He is a gifted player, maybe the most natural rebounder since Moses Malone, but he can't score like Yao.

Scoring is often easy for Yao, who shoots 52 percent from the field and 86 percent from the line. He might be the best shooting center of all time.

At some point, his dominance will be inescapable, even for O'Neal and Barkley.

One billion Chinese fans can't be wrong.
Click to expand...

azoghbi · Nov 21, 2006

freaking right he is the best.

YaozaMac · Nov 21, 2006

nice to read the truth.

rvpals · Nov 21, 2006

Very good article.

Finally someone at the media actually knows what he's talking about and look beyond the race of a player.

bigfishnyc · Nov 21, 2006

Everyone hates him because he is Asian. It's that simple.

travisd · Nov 21, 2006

Wow!! I am astounded! And this article came out of New York!!?

I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a trend. That Wojnarowski has some cojones to publish that article in New York.

Thanks to Kaleidosky for posting it.

fuzzy88 · Nov 22, 2006

travisd said:

Wow!! I am astounded! And this article came out of New York!!?

I sincerely hope this is the beginning of a trend. That Wojnarowski has some cojones to publish that article in New York.

Thanks to Kaleidosky for posting it.
Click to expand...

And from Washington. Yao has finally arrived ... ok, he arrived last year, but people finally noticed.

NewYorker · Nov 22, 2006

We all know Yao Ming is the best center in basketball. Why do we care if others recognize it or not.

Hey guys - we're smart enough here to make that determination. Stop looking for the outside world to make us feel good. Screw them, and let's drop the complex!

travisd · Nov 22, 2006

NewYorker said:

Hey guys - we're smart enough here to make that determination. Stop looking for the outside world to make us feel good. Screw them, and let's drop the complex!
Click to expand...

I don't see it so much as a "complex"... more as healthy anger at injustice.

albatrosskismet · Nov 22, 2006

NewYorker said:

We all know Yao Ming is the best center in basketball. Why do we care if others recognize it or not.

Hey guys - we're smart enough here to make that determination. Stop looking for the outside world to make us feel good. Screw them, and let's drop the complex!
Click to expand...

Totally agree with you. More wins will simply shut the doubters up.

chris_Rocket · Nov 22, 2006

albatrosskismet said:

Totally agree with you. More wins will simply shut the doubters up.
Click to expand...

Yes, this season belongs to Yao.
Let the haters shut up!! come on, Yao

Ducky · Nov 22, 2006

Not just outside, even some of Rox fans sometimes complain at Yao when he doesn't play so well. It's not fair.
Maybe he gets tired or losts his rhythm in one or two games, but can we just have a little faith and be more supportive? I mean, this guy is doing his best to carry the Rox on the way, he's not perfect, but he's trying to be and being better. I truly believe that he can bring something to us.

vtkp99 · Nov 22, 2006

Just want to show off my new signnature...

OddsOn · Nov 22, 2006

I think the black players do have a probelm with the fact they are being dominiated by a white errr asian guy.

Its kind of ironic and funny if you think about it. While the black player is out picking up hotties in his Mercedes and showing off his bling bling, Yao on the other hand is resting, working to improve, practicing, studying game film. This is why he has gotten progressively better each and every year and is now just at the verge of abusing other teams each and every night.

And the best news? He is a Houston Rockets and all ours....

Who still wants to draft Jay Will? hahaha

Forums

[Yahoo] The time is Yao

kaleidosky Member

kwik_e_mart Member

Champ06 Member

azoghbi Member

YaozaMac Member

rvpals Member

bigfishnyc Member

travisd Member

fuzzy88 Member

NewYorker Ghost of Clutch Fans

travisd Member

albatrosskismet Member

chris_Rocket Member

Ducky Member

vtkp99 Member

OddsOn Member

Share This Page

About ClutchFans

Rockets Content

Support ClutchFans!