Yao needs add the "Hood" into his game and Steve needs a little internation flavor.

The rockets are talented and hopefully with time they will realize that. The two most talented players who's game need to evole to help this team become winners is Steve and Yao. They both already have all the skills needed but only lack the right matuality. The bad part for the fans is that change only occurs after failure (many loses and struggles).

Lets start with Yao, because I think the change will come faster with him then Steve. Yao has already begun some of that transformation (More aggression and becoming more physical with his play.) The next step will come when he adds a little "hood" to his game. His teammates have help him out with this already by telling him you have to dunk when all possible. In the inner city and at many of your urban playgrounds the "dunk" is the most important thing and a emphasis placed on it above everything else. The dunk dosen't need to be the most important thing for Yao, but he does need to take it to the basket strong everytime.
The next part of putting the hood into Yao game is he needs to show more emotions (He does a little now.) In most inner city sports rather its football or basketball the athletes like to showboat and want the spotlight because they want others to know how good they are and enjoy the pressure. It's just part of the culture. Its a way of showing emotions. Yao dosn't have to become a Terrell Owens, but can do it more gracefully like MJ in his prime would do it with the tongue or just by finishing off a fastbreak with a highlight reel dunk. Like it or dislike it - Terrell, Iverson, Kobe, Shaq,MJ can showboat because they are that good and the know it. They want the ball in there hands because they want and will deliever. It is a way of indicating to your opponite your dominace over them. The point is Yao needs to understand that he can dominate in this league and wants to make believers out of the non-believers. Yao needs to demand the ball and become a vocal leader. (Won't happen this year because he is a rookie and the change in culture. Give it time)

Steve needs to add a little "internation flavor" to his game by putting his team first!!!! and stop worrying about individual stats. Many players think you have to earn respect by having a high scoring average, being on espn and having lots of comericals. And there is some truth to this. The only thing that justifies any of those items and a players career is winning championship, period. And the only way to win championship in the NBA is as a team. Never seen a individual name on a championship ring. Most american players don't understand this as evident this summer in World Games. The funny thing is Steve was more of this type of player when he first came into the league then now. One of the reasons is he had to defer to the older players (Barkley and Dream). Steve now needs to understand when to defer and when not to. He has players (Rice, Ming, Mobley)that can contribute if he lets them and others (KT, Griffin,Kato) that can contribute by creating for them -assist. It seems as the international players watch more film of Magic, I.Thomas, J.Stockton, L.Bird.) players who know when to create for others and when to take it upon themselves. Steve has come up in generation of players who only watched MJ highlights and didn't bother to see how he created for his teammates to help them help him win. (Maybe he will watch some old tapes and internation games and the light bulb will go off for Steve. Hopefully sooner then later)

 

That too. The hook is need but at 7'6 all his shots are hard to block. With the hook Karem didn't shot around 70%. But he did seem to never miss.