Look, i don't mean to be negative ok, i'm a die hard fan and there's one thing on my mind. How long will Ming last? The guy is 7'5 and people that tall usually generate nagging injuries. The guy will never have a "REAL" offseason from what i know. He has to play for the chinese team and all. My thought is, if you play throughout the year like he does, then your gonna have a hard injury now or soon. I want him to succeed and make the rockets a better team, but don't be surprised if his career would be cut short.
man, we've been over this a million times.. look at his bottom half..the dude is a friggin mammoth tree..kinda like a Cali Redwood...I wouldnt expect anymore injuries than a normal player gets..
I really hate to admit it, but you might be right. I wonder how Yao will be able to handle the season without any rest. Does anyone know how the rest of the year looks for Yao after the NBA season is over?
And the Olympics, World Championships, and Asian Games are every four years. He will not have a summer like this one every year! He'll be no different than any other NBA who plays for his country.
That's a good point. I never really thought about that. However, the summer pickup games aren't as intense and don't include the traveling during a organized season.
it's reported in the Chinese media that he sprained his ankle in the final game against Korea at the asian games. it's said that he could barely walk when he returned to China after the name let's hope it's not too serious. yes, Ming seems to have endless national duties to fulfill. next one would be the asian championship next summer. Ming will play that one because it's the qualification for the 2004 Olympic games. Playing for his country means a lot to him. but I also know that he wants to have a successful NBA career. he's a smart guy. he knows how to look after himself. he'll do everything in his power to achieve his goals.
I see nicknames coming with that tree remark. How about the Chinese Sequoia or the Asian Redwood? okay, their stupid, but so are 90% of nicknames.
Am I the only optimist to post in this thread or are you all the only pessimists? Sheesh! Ming is no more subject to injury than any other player.
I think people are getting carried away with him playing every offseason, as Behad mentioned. It only seems like a lot this summer because there also happened to be an international games. If not for those games, Ming wouldn't have played until October for the Asian games. And if China had qualified earlier Ming would be in camp sooner next year. Ming playing isn't any different then summer leagues and pick-up games (which are intense, heck look at preseason games and how intense they are!)
I find it interesting that we have a player the same height as the clumsy GM, with skills like a forward. How about that Libyan player...
Summer leagues, pick-up games, and preseason games are very intense. However, most NBA players don't play in the summer leagues. They are designed for new players or those who are trying to make the team. Pick-up games do not include the traveling day in and day out like the regular season. Preseason games are also irrelevant because there are so few of them and most players do not play the entire game, only 20 to 25 minutes (normally). The point being made is that Yao has been playing nonstop for a while now. He has been traveling all over the world carrying an entire team on his shoulders. While most NBA players do work hard in the summer, none have played or traveled as much as Yao. I think everyone just hopes that Yao does not have a shortened career because of the extra play and abuse to his body.
