"I don't want another project, having to be patient in watching someone develop. Me and Steve have been going through that long enough. If Ming is ready to come and contribute, I'm all for it. Even though he's skinny, he's got really thick calves and thighs, and I like that. Plus, he throws a tremendous outlet pass, which will help our fastbreak. But if he's not ready, we need to get somebody that's ready." -- Cuttino Mobley on the Rockets possibly taking Yao Ming with the #1 pick in the draft I WONDER WHAT HE THINKS NOW
Implying... I dont want another project at center, having to be patient in watching someone develop trying to block my man's shot while i let him drive by. Me and Steve have been going through that developing phase long enough from a basketball IQ point of view, and looks like we will keep going through it for next couple of seasons. If Ming is ready to contribute by erasing everyone's mistake on the team on the defensive end, I'm all for it. Damn, I should be the GM of this team. Even though he's skinny, he's got really thick calves and legs, and I like that. Damn, I should be the scout guy for Rockets team. Plus, he throws tremendous outlet pass, which will help our fast break, which mainly consists of myself pulling up for a 20 foot jumpshot with 20 second left on the shot clock with a man on my face, and no Rockets within 10 feet of an offensive rebound. But if he's not ready to contribute towards my stat lin....I mean the team, we need to get somebody that's ready to pass the damn rock to the CAT!..I mean the thundercatS.
So the entire point of this thread was to find a reason to rip Cat and Francis, especially for something Cat said <b>7 months ago</b>? Last I checked Francis and Mobley were getting along fine with Ming, so why rip them for something that is over with and done by digging up an article that is nearly a year old?
I'm with you on this one. It's spilled milk, let it go. I was hoping for quotes from the Hornets game. If Yao contributes, then he's all for it. Why would he need to eat his words?
When this thread was posted, I was thinking to myself, "what purpose does it serve?" I still don't know. The good thing is, Cat didn't say anything bad in the quote. Props to Cat for wanting to win now.
I agree Doc, I don't blame Francis and Mobley for wanting to win now. Ironically, I just read a thread today where someone posted Bill Simmons article recanting everything he said on Ming and praising Ming. Here is a blurb out of the article: <i>Teammates and coaches took less time than I did to embrace the likable Yao. Since Day 1, they've said he lights up the locker room just by strolling through the door. Stevie Francis and Cuttino Mobley bought him new threads, taught him a three-step handshake and dubbed him "Dynasty." And the Houston fans treat him like royalty, swooning over his baskets like preteens at a Britney concert. </i> It looks to me that Francis and Mobley had moved on and accepted Ming.
I was as skeptical about Yao as this Simmons fellow when he was drafted. I thought Rox made a terrible mistake especially after Yao crashed and burned in his debut. In less than half a season, Yao has managed to make many of us eat our crow. But this Rox team is not all about Yao. It is still a team game. I am hoping that Cat will take his game to the next level and help Rox win the big one at the end.
OMG! The Cat bashers have hit a new low... Pulling out an old quote serves what purpose? To see if he has recanted his feelings about YM? Or just to make him look like he doesn't like Yao now? I think it is obvious that Cat and Steve and everyone else on the team has accepted Yao, bigtime.. Move on, get over it...it's the past.
Mobley IS and WAS never a project, just a risk. It didn't take the Rockets a year to get him to score.
Wasn't that quote taken before the Rockets gave all the players a tape of Yao, so they could see just what he could do? Then after seeing it they all changed their opinion on him and knew he was going to be able to help the team out. Blatz
to all those who could use a little irony "You have to pick and choose (those times to take over). After four years in the league, I'm more mature. I know when to shoot the ball and when to pass it." lol...
Yao Ming: ""I don't want another ballhog like the Cat, having to be patient in watching someone develop their basketball IQ. I have been going through that long enough. If Cat is going to change and contribute, I'm all for it. Even though he's stupid, he's got really good relationship with Steve and I, and I like that. Plus, he jacks up alot of evil-advised shots, which will help our chance getting the lottery pick. But if he doesn't know I should be the #1 option, we need to get somebody who knows."
Oh, and in response to the original quote, Cuttino doesn't say anything negative about Yao. He just uses the word if. He's saying that he doesn't know enough about Yao to say whether he's for or against drafting him. I actually thought it was a fairly diplomatic way of putting what he wanted to say.
