Okay, there are two possibilities when Yao plays in the All-Star game: 1) Either he is going to get posterized, (i.e. constantly dunked on by T-Mac, Wallace, O'neal) Final stats: 8 minutes, 2 points, 2 rebounds OR 2) Knowing that the whole world is watching him and not wanting to embarrass himself, Yao turns it up a notch Final stats: 20 minutes, 12 points, 7 rebounds I actually think that Yao will perform well in the All-Star Game. He always seems to perform better in well publicized games.
I don't know if NBA will allow Yao to skip the ASG but to waste his energy on a meaningless game will come back to haunt us later this season.
Don't worry. I bet he won't play much, 15 mins max. Shaq will hopefully get all the other mins and exhaust himself.
You got to consider the following factors: 1. King's Adelman is coaching, who knows how to use big man and what motion offense is. 2. Guards are much less likely to be ballhogs. Francis may pass to Yao a lot more since he is his only teammate. 3. No Cat! No Cat! No Cat! (while, we got Kobe) 4. East big man Wallace and J ONeal are known not to be able to stop Yao. Only Shaq can dunk over Yao. But Shaq is in the west. 5. National TV. Yao likely to step up. I hope its a game that Yao get out of his slump and show Rudy T and Rockets how big man is supposed to be played!
Sometimes I wonder how Yao would do on a team with a coach that knows how to run an offense. Imagine Yao on the Nets, Kings, Utah, well basically any other team in the NBA.
Well, he will not be DUNKED ON but they will score. Jermaine O'Neal didn't do very well against Yao. Ben Wallace is not a scorer but can rebound and knows how and where to rebound and how to defend. T-Mac cannot possible dunk over Yao. That is impossible. That would be a great highlight though. The only known Yao Stopper is Theo Ratliff. He dunked on Yao. And Yao dunked on him. Maybe Raef Lafrentz is another Yao Stopper. Yao does terrible against them...he's been doing terrible the whole month!!!!!!!!! I hope he does well and doesn't faint. His legs can't move...
I'm predicting a Yao-Shaq-Duncan frontline, with Garnett at the SG, and, in a last-minute addition, Earl Boykins at point. just to bring down the average height a little.
Is anybody wondering if Yao can even keep up with the pace of an All-Star game? I remember when Magic and Isiah were running the show, the final scores would be 130-140. Hopefully the game won't move too fast for Yao - the event is not exactly a big man's event, and you know they're going to try ramming one down on Yao.
Yao is compared to Ralph Sampson sometimes (with MUCH bigger legs!), but Ralph was the MVP of the All Star game early in his career... and man, could he haul a$$! That said, if Yao has any energy at all, I think he'll be decent. He seems to turn it up for the really big games. (like the Lakers) I hope his Mom makes him an extra good bowl of soup beforehand. (I assume his folks will be there)
Jermaine O'Neal did dunk on Yao once during the game in Houston. He took Yao one on one and threw it down two-handed despite Yao's swat attempt. That was the first time I've seen someone REALLY dunk on Yao. (well, then I saw Shaq did it twice a month later). All the people who have dunked "on Yao" (the German dude in world games, Stephen Jackson, Adrian Griffin, Troy Murphy, Theo Ratliff, etc.), they have "squeeze" dunked over Yao. They didn't jump over Yao or anything, they just barely got over the rim and threw it in before Yao's hands could get there. Guys like Carter, T-Mac, Kobe, J-Rich, and Desmond Mason like to dunk over guys in the fashion of the old Michael Jordan. They'll **** the ball back at the peak of their jump and then throw it down. Yao Ming usually just waits and blocks the ball at the rim. I hope I won't see T-Mac get a spectacular one over Yao. I know it would be an awesome scene, but I wouldn't feel right. It would be awesome if Yao has a break-out game at the All-Star's , wouldn't it?
What? If you can't play with the big dogs, stay on the porch. The kid has to learn how to grow up sooner or later. Oh, and do you really think that we are going to "waste" his energy and because of it we don't get to the Finals? We'll be lucky to get through the 1st round.
So ASG = play with the big dogs? Come on, ASG is a made for TV event. What can Yao or anyone prove in this meaningless game?
What I mean is, he has to learn how to play a full season, tired, or not. Also... Imagine, just imagine...if Yao was to sit out of the ALL-Star game, AFTER BEING VOTED IN... Oh, boy! Talk about angry fans!
Yao Ming will not play well in the all star game. First of all, he has no experience in the game. Secondly, he has to film at the same time and therefore he has lost a lot of energy. These couple with the severe opponent who looks forward to knocking down the first year all-star to prove their value. Finally, he will not get much touch because the all star game is very individual and you have to create your own shot. Yao tends to pass rather than individual. Shaq is a different ball game.
Although its not the Chinese way. Yao needs a rest. I think anyone can see that. I hope Yao will turn it up for the All Star Game, but if not I'm sure his first All Star perfromance will outshine Steves first.
