Yao Ming gives me the feeling that he is holding something back. I notice that he "chooses" his breakout games carefully. Let's go through all of his breakout games. 1) Against Lakers. 20ppts on 100% shooting. The points doesn't quite show that it was a "breakout". But that was the first game Yao scored respectable amounts of ppts (highest = 10 ppts previously). That game was almost right after Barkley said Yao could not score >18 points. Yao shut him up with just one extra bucket, no more, no less. 2) Against Mavericks. 30ppts and 16 rebounds. Yao did it because of Shawn Bradley. I think he didn't like it when people earlier labelled him as another Bradley. He completely shut Bradley down that night, 0 points. 3) Againts Spurs. 27ppts and 18 rebounds. Well, for this game, I couldn't think of any obvious personal agenda on Yao's side. Maybe to show that he could go against the best central tandem in the league when at that time people were saying that he could't hold up against physical centers? Not sure on this one. I don't remember DRob or TD saying anything bad about him after the preseason game. 4) Againts Pacers. 29ppts and 10 rebounds. This game was on national TV. A good stage to show some personal skills. And revenge for the 1st NBA game with 0 ppt. That was the first time a 1st overall draft pick starts an NBA game with donuts. 5) Againts Magic. 23ppts and 11 rebounds. To shut people up for saying Amare for ROY. This Amare talk was quite hot in the past 2 weeks. Did he read Dr. Jack Ramsay's chat in ESPN.com? Also, he has shown some different (and new) nice moves and skills every now and then, but doesn't repeat them OFTEN. It looks to me like he has a huge arsenal, but he is not willing to fully utilize them now. Just occasionally showing us glimpses of his talent. I don't think he just ignores it when people talk trash about him. It appears that he doesn't care. I don't buy it though. He remembers, he really does. One of the most outspoken players againts Yao is Shaq. Yao is saving his stuff for Shaq. Remember, Yao used to spend 3 years to study his toughest opponent back in CBA (Wang ZhiZhi). He is INTENSIVELY studying Shaq now. Maybe Yao won't be able to blow out Shaq come 17th Jan. But I bet he will go all out trying. And of course, before that game, we are having the Phoenix. This is a very cunning person we have here. He has, whether appearing intentional or not, delicately picked out all the critics and effectively shutting them up. Not as innocent as he looks. I may be wrong. But I like to think about it that way. I can't help but admire him. Well, try not to bring this up again if my suggested "trend" is proven to be false in the following games.
Let Yao's father do the talking for you. He said the following statement (not exact, but close) "Yao Ming is very lucky. He is coming to a team which has a weakness in the center position. We originally plan for him to spend one season to improve his body and build his stamina, and another season to become accustomed to NBA play. We never expect that Yao can become a starting center so soon. In my opinion, Yao Ming is a normal basketball player. Skillwise, Yao is not bad. He has a variety of offensive moves: hook shots, jumpers, etc. Yao is lucky because many NBA players looked down on him in Yao's early games. That's understandable given the previous players from China: Mangke Bateer and Wang Zhi Zhi, did not give too much impact at NBA. However, now that Yao gets some recognition, he will face much tougher road ahead. We believe Yao will face more difficulties and struggles.
zhaozhilong i think you are right about yao. i have noticed that he is a clutch performer as well. i don't think he is holding anything back i just think he knows the games that he has to take his game up to another level so he isn't shown up. i've also watched how yao plays better in the 4th quarter of games when the game is on the line too. he seems to try a bit harder for a block or a rebound or whatever it takes. that is the thing that is the most promising to me about him. hopefully that clutch play will translate into a great playoff run this year and a championship in the future.
totally agree. my early impression was that he always had something new to show in each game, be that his shooting, moves, dunks, passing, etc. etc... seems endless. only when you think you have seen it all, he has something more amazing to show you. that's how smart he is. and i'm not only talking about his bball iq. remember he mentioned that after studying wang zhizhi he dropped in a few consecutive 3's at the begining of their next meeting just to shut down wang? has he tried 3's so far? not that i remember. it'll be our next surprise, i hope. i love this guy.
Yao Ming plays his best in big game situations like 4th quarters, big game match ups (games Duncan and DRob), nationally televised games (Dallas, Indiana). With every game that had some sort of significant meaning it looked like Yao Ming turned it up a couple of notches and has had his best performance. Certainly two of them came on the night Barkley kissed a jackass and another came the night Walton spent an entire game praising him. Yao Ming is a gamer and I think he is turning into a strong clutch player.
Could someone checking his breakout games with national broadcast and more importantly games televised in China. I had a feeling that whenever he knew his gf back in China can watch him on TV, he was more motivated and concertrated in those games other than the factor of againsting the top centers in the league.
It's nothing new to NBA players. I think it's just part of human nature....not so planned as some think. To be more ready when it's a self perceived challenge. During Steve Francis's rookie year, he would almost always stepup when he was playing a established star like Payton, Kidd, Stephon. It's taking and in effect making it a personal challenge that seperates the men from the boys, the stars from the roleplayers. The greatest thing Yao has shown so far is that he is clutch and can make his team better without scoring. Clutch blocks, shots, rebounds, passes, putbacks....the man is clutch.
This is from someone else's post in ESPN BBS I happened to come across just now: Lakers(chinese national TV), Mavs(TNT), Spurs(Chinese national TV), Pacers(ESPN), last nite(chinese national TV),
Zhaozhilong, Outstanding post, very perceptive observation. I agree completely. Previously, I posted that I thought that Ming was "deferring" to the "star" players on the team (SF and CM). Then, when he thinks it is appropriate he turns it up a notch. I believe this guy runs on several gears. He really does remind me of Hakeem in some ways. Of course, the quality of the other team"s players has something to do with this, but I think Ming could average 25-10-5 if he decided to.
Thanks Solid. ...but I think Ming could average 25-10-5 if he decided to I thought so too. Doesn't seem to me that he is desperately trying to do that every game. PhiSlamJ, I wonder too. I know it is not nice to think that way (since Cato's grandma passed away), but had Yao not gotten more minutes because of that, he could have ended up just like his other countrymen. Sometimes, extra PT does wonders to a player's improvement. Cato could have been a SuperCato in the first few games, cemented his position and by doing so forced Rudy to not give Yao more PTs. And Yao would have never taken off, ever. Sometimes fate decides a lot.
