To the Yao detractors out there... You are all wrong

Man I hope you are right. I want Ming baby! Small forwards are a dime a dozen. We have a chance to get a once in a lifetime center. If he works out then great! If he doesnt, no one will call us stupid. To win a championship one needs to take some risks.

 

I hope so too.

I hope we can get Odom without giving up our first pick (hopefully).

 

Hope you're right about Ming contributing respectable stats during the regular season helping the Rockets gain homecourt advantage in the playoffs.

 

I agree, the sf isn't hard to fill, but look at center. We've been stuck with an old Olajuwon and Cato for years, when we have the chace to take a big 5 with good potential we've got to take it.

 

And you know this because you have seen him play...right? nah...didn't think so. The problem with Ming is he is a huge risk. The stipulations that China will place on him will eventually screw the Rox over bad. I say pass and kick ass.

 

I disagree. If the Rockets draft Yao, and he turns out to be a bust the Rockets will get blasted. Simply because they would have passed on several players that turned out to be stars. Even if Yao does work out, and turns out to be ok the Rockets will still suffer the effects.

Take the Clipps for example. The year they drafted Kandi they passed on Bibby, Dirk, Carter, and Pierce. There are several players in this year's draft that could have similar impacts as these players. Would you guys have chosen Kandi over Dirk if you were the Clipps and had that draft to do over again?

 

Ming is a stud, he will have a HUGE impact, especially if he plays right away.

Ming is a SKILLED big man, and there are not 5 of them in the NBA today.....you have to take Ming...you get ONE chance only.

One Ping only Dr. Ryan.

DaDakota

 

The same thing was said about Kandi. They said that he would make an immediate impact because of his size and skill. He has eventually turned out to be pretty good but it took him almost 4 years. Now that he's a good player he's also a free agent and the Clipps may lose him. How much better would the Clipps be with Dirk or Paul Pierce in stead of Kandi?

 

There's a difference. Kandi was a 7 foot athlete. Ming is a 7 foot 5 <b>basketball player</b>.

 

TexasG,

Kandi was labeled a project, and everyone knew it. He has never been as skilled as Ming is, even today he is not as good.

Ming is a game changer, a shot blocking, good shooting Big man.....he is far from a gamble and is a HUGE upgrade to Cato, right now.

Ming is the answer to the Rockets......and it will fill the Summit as well....Les and Rudy are not stupid, and they see that most Rocket fans don't care one iota what Steve and Cat think, that all we want is a winner, and if one of them has to go to make it happen....SEE YA !!

DaDakota

 

Yeah, and I predict the Calvin Murphy will come out of retirement to challenge Francis for starting PG.

 

Thing is, 'Kandi was even more of a risk than Yao. 'Kandi was a VERY late bloomer having started in the game in college, and only had one good year at Pacific. His selection was all about potential.

At least Yao's been around the game his entire life, and has a vast amount of experience even now in comparison to 'Kandi. The Clips knew what they were getting themselves into, knew who was available, and made their selection.

Anybody get the feeling that this draft is just tailor-made for the Rockets?

First chance at a potential franchise C, more depth at SF than in recent drafts, Chinese sounding as if they are going to 'play ball'....what more can you ask for?

 

You are assuming that China will let him play. There are so many variables with Ming. He won't even be in training camp according to what i hear. That alone will be a big drawback.

 

China will let him play, they just want some assurances that he is available for their national team.

Heck, Dirk, Bradley, Nash...etc...they all play for their national teams too...no big deal.

DaDakota

 

They are also available for training camps & work out programs (if needed) by NBA coaches/trainers.

Ming is not? Must be more than just the national team. You would think, if china has any brains, that they would let Ming (and the whole damn team) work out this summer at westside. They will be alot better prepared going against NBA players.

 

All you Negative Yao haters talk about how the Yao lovers have never seen him play therefore cant know that he will be good.

Well let me tell you, You guys have never seen him play either, and You CANT possibily know he will bust.


And Im questioning Steve and Cat's desire to win and move to next level I think they need to Mature, you cant have ALL your friends with you, I know if I went to work and brought in all my boys I would be fired!!!


THANK YOU

 

I have been reading this board for a couple of years and never posting. I have always been impressed with the information that shows up here and the enthusiasm and knowledge of the Rockets organization is tremendous. I am posting now because about a week ago you had to register to view the post, and I wasn't going to be denied my fix . Anyway...

I believe that you have to take risk to improve the team, whether it is a trade or the draft. But what you can't do is be worried about what other people think of the decisions. People keep posting how we will be ridiculed if Ming doesn't pan out or if we don't take him and he is a stud "they" will talk about what we passed up. Well, that will happen anyway. Was it just me or did anyone notice that in every article about the Rocks winning the lottery they talked about the last time we won the lottery and took a foreign born center, Hakeem, who won us 2 championships. They then went on to say we passed on MJ who won the bulls 6. Does anyone doubt the decision made in '84?

My point is "they" will always question what we do with the No. 1 pick.

Oh yeah, take the risk take Ming.

 

The very simple fact of the matter is, no one here knows enough about Ming to make a very educated hypothesis. Yeah yeah, we have all seen video blah blah blah.....

But until we see him go head to head against the best athletes and players in the world, we know very little.

Sure, he dominates against a bunch of drastically shorter players in his league in China. Sure, he moves well in DRILLS, sure he has nice range and a sweet, soft shot, blocks some shots, etc.

So does Shawn Bradley, Mark Pope, Jim McIlvaine, Matt Geiger, Olowokandi, Tony Battie, Sean Rooks, etc. etc. etc.

I'll let the Rockets brass make the decision and hold out judgement until I see Ming-a-Ling play against NBA caliber players.


You guys are killing me, all MING experts all of the sudden.

 

Those names are extremely disturbing. Please make it stop. Imagine if Yao turned out to be like one of them....