Props to you coach, for your recognition and braveness to put two rookies in the crunch time, the minutes that matters. They delivered it to you. Hawks drew defender and passed it to YM, the big guy slamed it down--game winner. You roll the dice, and it pays off. Now NewYorker's "you just don't play rooks in crunch time" can rest now. Rest in peace. We understand your decesion not to play Ming in 3rd quarter is to rest and protect him from fouls, but we would prefer you givng him a bit more consistent minutes when he's on fire. Keep the W coMING, coach.
This is very true.....In the world games Yao MIng had a similar game against Angola. He went 9 for 9 shooting and hit all of his free throws for 27 points. There arent many players who can match that kind of performance; against any competition. RudyT has done a good job of placing Yao into match-up situations that are favorable, This is confidence building. Yao Ming is very capable repeating these exceptional results when circumstances are similar..RudyT is working Yao in with perfection..!!!!!
Agreed. So many will whine when Rudy doesn't play Yao for 30 minutes now, but he is a better judge of when Yao will be ready to go up against anyone. I think Rudy will ultimately be able to stoke that fire Yao has shown. It will be fun to watch.
Confession: I were blaming Rudy for not letting YM to play after the third quarter started. I was wondering and frustrated that Rudy might bench YM for 3-4 quarters again. Looking back, Rudy might just did the right thing since YM might not sustain the foul trouble and could not make the big big play altogether. KH
Yao could also be very uncomfortable with the phenomenal pressure that's on him right now. He knows that 1 billion countrymen are watching him and that the rest of the NBA is waiting for him to fail. By not starting him, and similarly by not putting him on the floor to start the third, Rudy is sending him a message: he doesn't need to carry the team yet. He's easing him in as he gains more familiarity and confidence with his new team and the NBA. It also helps to reduce short-term expectations of those who can put so much pressure on him.
First, I think Rudy puts him in with the guys he practices with most. That gives him more famiarity to start out. Secondly, I think he is held back because he has been foul prone. Third, this is his first trip around the NBA. Letting him sit to start allows him to see the other players and their plays and tenedencies, i.e. to study and learn, instead of going out and "winging it".
I didn't see the game, but from what I read Yao earned his playing time in the 4th QTR by going 6-6 and playing well in the second. That's why Yao was in the 4th Qtr, he earned his chance to play in crunch time. That doesn't mean he'll be put in crunch time next game necessarily though. He earned his chance, and made good use of it. That's a great thing. Now, let's see if he can do it against a team with a legitimate inside presence.
Wasn't he 5-6 last time? You sincerely believe that one basket makes the difference? Garbage. BTW, I agree with Cohen about the mismatch.
