I love Yao as a player; I hate that he is arguably the biggest single let-down athlete of the last 5 years.
For all the China blame, why won't the Rockets keep Yao out of back-to-backs since the beginning of his career? If China plays Yao 20 games over the summer, the Rockets could've let him sit 20 games over the season. Also, the Spurs regularly held out Duncan even when Duncan "could have played". Even in playoff games, because they feel he's the linchpin of their franchise. I figured that since Yao gets blamed for every Rockets failure, I should at least start one thread blaming the Rockets for Yao's failure. I mean, it's only fair, right?
So playing about 8 games a year for China once every couple years is what causes the stress fractures? Really? It wasn't his NBA and workout schedule with the Rockets?
It's absolutely freaking hilarious that Rockets fans are blaming China. Especially when the disclaimer was there when we drafted him. China didn't bust out with the "oh, and we want him in the summer" tagline 3 years into Yao's career. The Rockets knew his obligations and continued to play him into the ground over the grueling NBA season. It was up to the Rockets to adjust to Yao and the national team, and the Rockets instead gave Yao/China the finger instead. Supposedly, Yao trained "Chinese style" with the Chinese national team regiment in his first few years here. But that ended later. Of course, Yao was healthy too his first few years, and when the Rockets basically have full control over him, he started breaking down. So much substance in this post. Glad you can share your expert opinion on the matter.
Is there a rating lower than 1 star? If there isn't, why isn't there? If any thread cried out for a negative rating, it's this one.
You're so full of it. The Spurs didn't start holding Duncan out of games until he'd already been in the league 10 years. He sure as hell has never been "held out" of a playoff game. Yao is a grown ass man, he made the decision to risk his career by playing for a pathetic national team every summer that never had any chance of winning anything rather than focusing on his development as a basketball player. Yao could only reach his potential as a player by playing in the best league in the world, not by playing for a hack of an amateur team against the likes of Japan and South Korea.
I love Yao, but the guy had broken his foot twice by the time he was 17 years old. The writing was on the wall even before he stepped onto an NBA court.
I'm not an internet betting man. But this statement makes me want to try it once. Indeed. Yao could've made a different decision. risk his career by playing for a pathetic Rockets team every NBA season that never had any chance of winning anything Let's see. Play for your country, friends, families, teammates growing up? Or play for a team you don't know in a country not yours for a team that's about making money. For the life of me, I don't know why Yao chose playing for both teams rather than telling the Chinese national team to f*** off. No. Yao could only reach his potential by playing for a team that cares for him(the person) rather than cares about making money off of him. Or at the very least, a team that realizes his long-term benefits and not just short term ones. That team was not the Rockets. That coach wasn't JVG... And apparently, those fans that would appreciate his work aren't Rockets fans.
