Leave a week early, celebrate his amazing rookie campaign, hug parents, kiss his girlfriend, relax and pray that next year he can be more than George's Lenny. Great season Yao! Thanks for introducing us to your culture, your class and your amazing talent.
Agreed... he may have faded but he brought a lot of excitement for not just Rox fans but for a lot of fans throughout... STuart
Many critics said he could not last the entire season. Also not many Rockets can boast of many 82-game seasons. Yao has proven them wrong on the initial point and he is on his way to becoming another AC Green as far as the second point is concerned. Thank you Yao for making the pain of our 4th consercutive post season absence more bearable.
Thank you, Yao. I am really really proud of you. To Rockets fan, IMHO, Yao's next season will be much tougher. His impact on court will be much less than this season. Why? Because the surprise factor is gone. Before this season, no team knows or has the firsthand experience to deal with such a tall and skill center. But at the latter half of the season, they somehow found certain ways to contain him. Next season, they are more prepared. And one summer training will not do wonder on Yao (or any player)'s strength, stamina, or jumping ability. I would lower my expection on Ming for next season.
You can't teach talent, he has it and will build on it. Lower your expection? Dang Dude, talk about half empty!
Almost Ready:- Sorry but your wish will not come true 'Yao Ming is the wrong body type to bulk up! He can get much stronger and become more defined but never realy big. Of course there is a chance when he is over 30yrs. that he might thicken up a bit with age. He is a finesse player not a banger type.
I really think the surprise factor has help Ming a lot these season. Ming blocked Shaq's first 3 shots in their first meeting, Ming did amazing well in first battle against Mavs, Spurs, etc, etc. From a half full perspective , if we implement a better offense system next season, Ming's impact might remain the same and Rox gets more wins. Maybe a new coach?
If he can get much stroner , without bulking up, I am happy with that. Watching him being pushed away by a bunch of 6'10 guys is painful. And I think "using brute force" will be the most effective way to play against him for years to come, if he doesn't bulk up or get much stronger. As I said before, playing mean and in-your-face style is just not his personality ( it's a cultural thing). Without that personality, and without bulk, how do you battle those beasts in the paint?
Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I think Yao is physically fine (not in a gay sort of way). True he could bulk up some but I think he looks skinnier that he really is because he's so tall. If you compare him to Shaq, of course he looks weak but who doesn't? I'd like to see him learn how to be a big man from someone who knows ie. Moses or Hakeem etc. If he could learn to know what he wants to do with the ball BEFORE he recieves it, it would do wonders against the more physical defenders. They wouldn't have time to double team him or push him around. Shaq does it. Sometimes he'll even start his move before the ball gets to him. He learned it from Dream.
Your argument is based on absolute no improvement on Yao's part during the 3-4 months... he will improve and continure to do so- surprise factor or not, he will come in much smarter and more expeienced STuart
Most importantly, I think OUR TEAM will hopefully know how to utilize Yao next year. Get him some easy looks. Opened jumpers/layups.
Yao needs to bang, You cannot be a franchise player unless you are tough and you bang. Hakeem was "finesse" but did he ever shy away from banging? He was surprisingly powerful and would rough anyone up in the paint.
Bro, you are quite right. Yao has not seen his girlfriend for 6 months now. Spending $100 a week doesn't make a happy man. If not for the damn SARS, she would have been Houstong last month.
