Can we give the guards a full season to adjust to playing with a dominant big man? We'll see if they learned from last year. Yao was a rookie and made rookie mistakes, he couldn't get the ball every time and dominate because he wore down. Now we can see if the guards have learned to integrate him into the system.
I would be very happy if Yao put up those stats but I think there are a couple of items that might be a little different. 1. After reading some of JVGs quotes I think he might be a little more insistent on running a lot of the offensive sets through Yao which will increase his assists. 4 - 5 assists a game would not surprise me. 2. I just don't see 57% shooting. I would love it if he does but I just have a hard time seeing that. I believe he will live at around 50% most of the year but he will be taking a lot more than 9.8 shots a game like he did last year so I don't think we will se a big increase in f/g% this year. 3. He has one of the most natural and consistent free throw shots in the league. I would definitely think that it would be around 82 - 85 percent free throw shooter.
Don't put T-Mac & Malone as the players have Killer instincts like Jordan & Kobe. T-Mac have a long way to go before he's like Kobe. Malone absolute lacks killer instinct by losing to the bulls twice (making mistakes or missing FT in clutch time). I don't see Yao being timid or bashful on the court. That's what a even keel player look at on the court, such as Tim Duncan not showing much emotion and not gesturing a lot in the game. With JVG, YM is going to improve a lot so as his teammates. I'm looking forward to a much better TEAM game next season.
Does Shawn Bradley look that much ugly? Yao might be relax more because he is no longer a rookie. He will get respect from the referee... He might also under more pressure than his rookie year because, now, people will expect him to great instead of just a No. 1 pick.
if yao averages these numbers or higher, then the rockets arent making use of francis. thats just as bad as not giving yao enough touches. and then mobley will want to score his points too. i expect: 16-17 pts 8-9 rbs 2 blks 3 asts
Well, I'm not sure what his averages will be, but they will be higher. I know, you can call me einstein for this one. He won't have quite the spotlight on him, Lebron should take a little of that away. He'll have NBA experience. His new coach will certainly look to utilize him more (i'm sure Rudy would have also). I'm sure he's going to get to a point where he will demand the ball, simply through his dominance. He will probably begin to dominate the weaker teams this year. Instead of one good game, he will probably start to have mini streaks of really good games. He is the key to our franchise. Will he open the door? I think we all really really really hope so. The positives outweigh the negatives right now, so i feel pretty optimistic that we will see an improved Yao Ming. I mean, already, he isn't a bust. He isn't a superstar either... I think its reasonable to take the hardships (new country, language, no time off) and handicap his first season's output. Lets just be thankful we aren't worrying about a 4.5 ppg average last season.... even if he is a 15ppg 12rpg.......we should get to the playoffs. as long as he is consistant and intimidating.
With all due respect sir I am not sure you consulted your brain before posting this take. Clueon't post everything that comes to your mind.
Once he gets up to 35 mins a game, i can see him at around 18ppg 11rebs and 2.5 blks and 3 asst. Those may not be dominant numbers, but they will lead to a better offense and better team. More teams will double him quicker this yr and that will free other peopl up. On thing Ewing will do is show Ming how to re-post after the kick out.
Does anyone know if he hired a trainer or is lifting weights while in China? I'm hoping he'll be around 40 minutes per game through some conditioning program in the summer. If he goes up to 39 minutes (10 extra minutes) and he actually learned and improved from his rookie season, then I'm starting to believe he CAN be around 20ppg. I think JVG will let it be know that Yao is the first option, and will take the most shots. Once this is established, he'll make sure everyone knows Francis is the leader, giving him, hopefully, a larger sense of responsibility. At this point, either Mobley will take his role as 3rd scorer and 10-12 shots a game, or we'll trade him. Here's what I expect if he's working on his game this summer: 21ppg 11reb 2.5blk 3asst On 51.2% shooting from the field I'd really love to know if he's doing anything to prepare himself for the NBA season. Is he lifting weights, or toning up, or anything at all?
Yao said in an interview from another thread: Whether the program includes weight lifting is not clear but it looks like the Rockets and Yao have it covered.
20 shots a game (and 35-40 "touches" a game, which is the REAL key given Yao's play-making & decision-making ability) 18 pts 12 rebs 3-4 assts 2-3 blks
Just because Malone ddin't win the title doesn't mean he didn't have a killer instinct. Same gos for T-Mac. Surround both of those players with just a little more talent and their teams would be unbeatable period.
kobe has the killer instinct. however, he has never proven that he can carry a team on his own. regardless of what anyone says, the lakers go as far as shaq carries them...not kobe. that said, kobe could be good enough to carry a team. we don't know. but until it's proven, i'll take mcgrady over kobe every day and twice on sunday.
Time will tell on how many minutes he gets, but I don't know if we should play him 39 mpg, given his China national team commitments in the off-season. Yao felt like Rudy was coddling him too much last year, but I'd like to keep Yao at about 32 mpg. Quality more than quantity. Cuttino too. We do have decent backups, so it shouldn't hurt us too much (rabbit's foot, horseshoe, 4 leaf clover, fingers crossed, not walking under a ladder...)
With VAN GUndy, not like with Rudy he will have more touches. SO I think he will go to: 19/20 points 12/13 rebounds 4/5 assists 2/3 blocks Of course on the next years this numbers will improve
I agree with River in full; if Yao suppose to be the man. He needs to put up the man numbers. 20+pts 11+rebs.-- This sounds like Hakeem rookie season.
