Yao missing 1st 2 weeks of Camp: How big a deal is it?

I thought this was only going to happen when there was Chinese national games coinciding with the preseason. I thought this would happen every 4 years?

 

I'm more concerned about getting his a$$ signed and in Rox PJ's, but right now we're still sucking Big Wang (pronounced American-style, wayng).

 

How is it that "The Insiders" are not getting any inside "info" these days? Its about time we had some indication, from the CBA, on the date of Yao Mings release,don't you think? I seem to remember at the time of the Grand Chat in China, the CBA making the comment that in future years, that they would ensure that the 4 yearly competitions would start earlier inorder not to clash with the NBA Preseason. Keeping this in mind, it is better that we only make diplomatic comments about the CBA till the big guy is signed and in the big H town!

 

I'll reserve diplomacy for those who know better. The CBA needs to honor its agreements.

 

Yes, it's every 4 Years. So it shouldn't be that bad. Anyway, I'm sure the Asian Games schedule in the future could be moved so it won't conflict with NBA Training Camp.

 

Did i miss something?????

When did we find out that Ming will play for the Rockets this season.

 

I assume he will play for the Rockets because he's our draft pick. I won't think otherwise until the season has started and he still hasn't sign. After all, last time I heard there are still 10 rookies who haven't signed with their teams.

 

Can't wait to get that confirmation. It's by DCkid's logic that I siggest we start Cato at the beginning of the season. Even though Ming is highly talented, it may take him time to adjust, and maybe it's better if he does that in garabge minutes, and other instances where he faces backups. Of course, as soon as he's got the plays down, and he's not fatigued, he gets the nod. Basically, as soon as he gets us more wins than Cato as the starting C, he starts. But till then, Cato starts. It's safe to assume that Cato's experience is valuable, and may get him the nod early on. I don't think it will take more than 10 or 15 games for Ming to get things straight. I get the feeling he's very bright.

 

Yetti, I didn't like at all what you said about the CBA changing the yearly competitions so that they wouldn't interfere with the NBA pre-season... unless it's being done so that it's not interfering with FUTURE draft picks.

Yao is not expected to be playing in games in Asia every summer, is he?? He should be in Houston, working out at Westside with everyone else. Unless he's taking a relaxing vacation to see his family or whatever else he feels like. (I'm curious... I'm not trying to shoot the messenger! )

 

after yao ming signs the contract with the Rox all he needs to do is play in the WBC for chinese NT rite??? only represent china in WBC........period

 

I think it is big deal also. You are right DCKid, it sucks. Four years from now it won't be aproblem. But everything is new for Ming. Team, country, language, style of play, coach, teammates, league, number of games, humidity, pick a category.

On top of that, so much is new for the Rockets. Ming should dramatically change the offense. I would like a chance to practice it with him there. Am I correct in thinking that except for Steve and Cat, nobody has played starters minutes with anybody else for more than two full years. We need our players getting the reps. This is not a vetran team.



ps, I don't know tha Houston has higher humidity than China, but for some reason I feel pretty safe on this one.

 

To my knowledge, Shanghai is about as humid as Houston in summer. I may be wrong.

 

It appears that there are still a lot of misunderstanding and confusion about the international bb and Yao Ming's status.

This is an answer about Yao Ming's status I posted in another thread.

In an interview to Chinese press yesterday, Yao Ming did not address the issue about whether he would start or not. He did say that Rockets would use him for rebound and pass IMMEDIATELY. He would do whatever to work out the scheme with the team as far as the offensive game is concerned. He said he would do the dirty work and the hard work as long as those benefit the team.

Considering his last game in Asian Games will be held on Oct. 14. I think that he will be pretty tired when the season starts. The earlist possible date for his arrival to Houston will be Oct. 16. But he did say that he wants to play hard and play well on Oct 30 in Indiana (Rockets vs. Pacers pre-game). To him, Indiana was a nightmare that he would never forget until he would have another chance to prove him THERE.


I can understand your frustration as Houston Rockets fans that Yao Ming is needed periodically to represent China to attend all major international sports meet. But, there is a reason for that. There are international bb scheduling ruling which is not something that can be determined by China alone (Think about UN, and you have an idea then). These reasons have been well outlined in numerous previous threads. Maybe some one is willing to repeat them again.

 

I think the situation is similar in soccer, where the player has to deal with the conflict of interest between his club and nation. When your nationality is China, it's particularly tough.

Wang handle it badly (IMO), I hope Ming can do it better.

KH

 

Just for the record, I think it is pretty cool that Ming has that loyalty to his natinal team, (assuming he has some choice in the matter). Frankly I wish a few more of our American stars would show the same loyalty to anything other than their Nike contracts. Remember the Dream team "hiding" their logos by wrapping themselves in the American Flag. Man, they should have been politicians. They could be bombing third world countries by now.

Perhaps my previous posts should start with...Speaking only as a Rocket fan...

 

Fwang I understand that it is important for the Chinese for Yao to be available to play in international events. So do the Rockets. You are just totally wrong about the FIBA or the Chinese government or the NBA or the Rockets authority to make him or anyone play in these events. The Rockets could rent a limousine to drive him to the airport, buy his plane ticket, and beg, plead and scream for him to go, but no one can force him to play. The FIBA cannot prevent him from playing in the NBA once he is given his release. The Rockets could even pay off his contract and release him if he refuses to play for the NT (which no NBA owner would ever do) and anyone in the NBA would be free to sign him (and everyone would try). The Wang incident is proof, but you refuse to understand what the CBA and Chinese authorities know - once he signs his contract and is a member of the player's union he has total autonomy of his person while on U. S. soil. The Immigration and Naturalization Service in the U.S. could revoke his visa and deport him if he breaks a law, but few millionaires get deported from the U.S. unless they're drug-dealers.
I want Yao to play for the NT and so does everyone else, God knows the Rockets do. Yao coming to camp late will cost us some wins because the NBA season is frantic and all NBA coaches lament that there are very opportunities to really get in good work once the season starts. It is unfortunate for Rockets fans like myself, but we're just grumbling about it. We know it's a part of the deal. The Rockets will do everything they can to ensure Yao is with the Chinese NT when needed. But they can't guarantee it. I know you cannot accept this fact, this is about the third time I've seen you stubbornly ignore it. I have enjoyed many of your posts, but this "Wang situation cannot ever happen again" mentality has no basis in reality. It does a great disservice to yourself and people on this board who have been following the NBA (in my case 32 years) and have had to follow possible strikes, a recent lockout and wade through salary-cap calculus when we pick up the newspaper to read about our team. You have inflamed the little anti-Yao sentiment here by your very lack of comprehension. I have really been happy Chinese people are on this board and again, I've enjoyed reading your posts, but you are misleading the other Chinese who post here too. Everyone here believes the Rockets were honest about what they can and cannot do regarding Yao Ming. I don't know how extensive the dialouge was when Wang Zhi Zhi was signed. But I do know the Mavericks have been busting their tails explaining to the Chinese authorities what is and is not in their authority to do. How do I know this? Because they want Wang Zhi Zhi back and have said so publically. What Cuban is doing here is weighing how much one player is worth compared to his future relationship with the CBA. A lot of other teams don't care because they never had any kind of agreement with the CBA to begin with. The Knicks can sign Wang and honestly say there were ten other teams that would have signed him and their hands are clean. And they are.
You sound like a rabid basketball and that's great. I'm glad you're here. And if the Chinese are so upset about Wang Zhi Zhi they should feel free to think our court system is flawed, and business in the U.S. is wacky - but blame Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, not Stern, Cuban or Alexander. We just want some good ball around here in Houston, Texas. And right now the Chinese government wants Yao here (especially after the WBCs) and you're so misinformed you can't comprehend it. I'll say it again, once Yao has signed his contract with the Rockets the FIBA and CBA have no authority over him unless he wants to play for the NT. If you can't accept that, petition your government to prevent Yao from leaving China and accept further humiliation on the international stage in 2008. But please do some further research. Talk to you later, no doubt.

 

Cato is the starter anyhow..Regardless of how talented Ming is.
Right now only thing ming is, is another Sabonis....

Still not signed.

 

Fwang I just re-read your post and I initially mis-read it. I thought you were saying something you weren't. I aplogize about the rant. You were saying that the CBA has no control over the scheduling over international events and somehow I interpreted it as Yao's with the Chinese team anytime there's a international tournament. And I hope he is, and my post just was poking holes in both of our hopes. I do apologize. I just have been rattled by the lack of Yao's FIBA clearance and the razzing I've taken from some of my hoophead friends in Houston and scattered around the country about how "this is going to blow up in in the Rockets' face". Well, I blew this one. I've been following the Rockets since I was a kid, but this off-season has really gotten to me, I guess. No excuse here, I just flat out misunderstood. Yao's going to make all of us proud, I just need to remember to breathe occasionally (for another month only).