Yao Ming is in a slump... this can be for a variety of reasons: 1.) he could just be TIRED... he hasnt had rest in forever 2.) teams are adjusting to him, and he needs to adjust back This is all just part of being a rookie. When teams design their gameplan around stopping you, you are going to have a tougher time scoring. Does this mean Yao has peaked in the true sense of the word? Of course not. It's ludicrous to say the least to think he will never get better from this point on.
People... Yao has hit the rookie wall... Big deal...it happens (to rooks). Amare? It will take longer for him because he's so strong (mature strenght). Jay Wil? He's next.
You know...that Ken Griffey Jr may have already peaked...He's not going to hit more than 20 hr's a season...Anyone actually believe that? And jr's been around 14 years. We're talking about a guy who has not even been in this country 6 months. I know that argument is getting old, but unless you've been a foreigner to a new country and lifestyle, you don't know what effects that could have on you. A lot of pressure. I think his weight training may be throwing his game off a bit. Let's not forget the atrocious coaching and the guards. Thing about Yao that impresses me more than his height and his talent is his ability to adjust and learn. He will get better, a lot better. i think Clutch should leave this thread up, so that next time Yao scores 25 with 15 rebs and 5 block, we can all tell Poly "We told you so!!" P.S. Junior rookie card holders, he will eventually dominate the home run world again.
Oh another thing I just looked up. Guess what these numbers are: 18,16,15,29,17,18,17,16,23 Yao's points since 12/12, when poly the Nostradamus posted this thread. Yes, there were very few single digits, too, but come on. Not too shabby for a rookie center. I didn't even post the rebs and blocks. Someone mentioned that he waited until Yao had few strings of decent(not necessarily horrible..can't play when you're on the bench) games to revisit this thread. Let's give him at least until the all star break.
Yao will have trouble progressing much more until he's stronger. However, even if he doesn't improve technically, physically he has so much room to grow that it's ridiculous. Once he grows into that heighth (and he doesn't seem to have any problems with weight, like Bradley), he'll be the 2nd most powerful physical force in the NBA. He's heavy now, at 7'5...
Exactly. Yao Ming has so much physical improvement to do that it'sludicrous to assume he's peaked. Once he gets his rest, and then starts worknig on his conditioning intensively (offseason) and comes back next year running faster, jumping higher, and reacting quicker, you'll wonder why you even said this. Also, you know Yao Ming is always better the 2nd time around. Ask Duncan and Robinson. Next year, he won't be a rookie, and he'll know all the players on his team and other teams.
I count 11 double-doubles so far... out of 40 games....and if ya want to be nice about it....discount the first 5 games or so as his "training camp"...still not too bad for a rookie.. btw Carmine, got ta give ya props for not styarting a new thread for this question... You're learning...
Yao will improve, I am not sure but I think his rookie numbers so far are similar to Hakeem's and I believe he will become a player with the statute of the Dream. In 94 and 95 I feel Hakeem carried the Rockets and everyone else played their roles beautifully and fed off of him. Some day Yao will play that same roll and bring us some championships. Don't take it personal what others say. People can be cruel. I think you may have made a wrong judgement but you were just posting a thought and I appreciate that you are a fan. Peace and Love Crunch
Polypuss, you're such a **** disturber. Don't you have anything better to do? I bet you actually get off saying this stuff, don't you? Out of the wood work comes Poly! Go back to hole you came from!!!
I do not think YM is peaked, but to think YM will reach his full potential is a DREAM. There are a lot of obstacles, especially that he has to fulfill his national team duty during every summer. I do not think YM will have enough time to get his rest or work on his conditioning during the offseason. The Chinese national team will call him back immediately after his season is over. I think YM will be a legitimate all-star or maybe super star if he can get his rest and conditioning during the summer from June to October for 5 month. Unfortunately, he will only have 2-3 month to rest every summer. he might end up like Ilgauskas with an injury problem due to that heavy load.
