I have to agree to a certain extent that Yao's just not exerting himself. Even on plays where he's on the low block, the ball usually comes out to the perimeter. After seeing about a million 3s being bricked, you'd think Yao would just take it upon himself to score through the double teams. But he just doesn't. However, JVG is running an unbelievably number of pick&rolls. Which partially explains why Yao isn't shooting much.
If you don't question Yao's motivation, count the number of times he should jump for a rebound and doesn't next game.
Almu: Yao Ming's temperment and ethics wont allow him to even try to take over from Steve Francis while Francis who is his senior is on the Team.Its just respect and courtesy to Steve.If JVG rebuilds then expect Yao to come to the fore, if he is told to be the leader.
Thank you Nick. My points exactly. Thanks for "getting it" instead of letting fanaticism create Rockets blinders on you like it did to some here who obviously didn't bother to take a moment and think about what I am asking in the first place.
Whats up with the personal comments, Its America, HERE we can critisize people with valid points backing it up. Telling others to shut up isnt exactly the nice way to go around saying that you dont agree. With all yyour hatred that spews towards francis the same could be said towards you... I dont neccessarily agree with the point that he doesn't care, but to me it looks like more of a he shows respect towards the veterans that tought him how to adjust in this League and gives them that acknowlegement(spell check). He may not have the killer instint/ leadership quality, but I am still willing to givve him a while if we do say trade francis and or mobley. Its worth it to wait and see if he does have it or not, but then again if he doesn't we just traded away a player that does... so its a well see type of thing.
Personally, I think the team is a good PF away from bringing the league to its knees for many years to come. Providing that the guards continue to play someone smart and they stay healthy. On a more positive note, Kobe can opt out after this year. Who needs Yao to be the man with Kobe at the PF.
I think he does give a crap, but he is still learning the game. This experience of the playoffs will make him become a better player next season. He is capable of much more, just needs to learn the game better for him to be dominant.
When you say he did not jump for the rebound, there's at least 7 or 8 times Yao play great D boxing out and allow his teammate to get the rebounds (JJ, Cat, Francis). Our game plan works pretty well up til the over time after Yao fouled out. The picks Yao set are so good it frees up everybody with the ball to drive and we got a lot of good shots out of it. Having Yao banging down low with Shaq is not a smart move, it's obviously not working after the first few possesions where Yao get double or triple team and people physically rough up Yao inside and the refs don't do ****. Yao made some great passes out from the low block we just could not cash in all of them. Most importantly, he did a great job guarding Shaq and rotating to double team. It's so obvious once Yao was out on the bench, our defense just dropped a notch. If you don't think Yao has fire and he just doesn't want to be the man, you're wrong. I believe Yao and Francis were executing the game plan by doing pick and roll, and the ball does not go to Yao enough in the 2nd half. Remember he was in foul trouble and sometimes he does not play aggressively because he does not want to foul out. So the choice is simple, do you want Yao on the court or a hotheaded Yao going crazy and showing fire and foul out really soon. Pick and roll is the key to kill the Lakers, we just does not execute at the end turning over a few times and let Kobe get the shots he wanted. Yao and everyone did a great job tonight and I'm proud of them. I will be so much happier if we win but Lakers did play great at the end.
Nick.... that was the best post ever describing the logical reasoning behind letting this team grow together. I could not agree more.. Outstanding job.
Francis trying to be the man by himself has this team down 3-1.....sooooo you think this is a good situation? Bottom line is Francis being here is impeding Yao's growth plain and simple. CD and JVG can see this but won't say it publicly. The media however does as they are free to write what is obvious to everyone but the SOFs.
Yao has been "struggling" this series, but that doesn't mean he doesn't give a crap. There is no doubt Yao's heart is just as huge as the next player, but he is big and slow so it makes hard to see. Yao will be a great player, and already is a force. The worst part about threads like this, they end up going back and forth with bashing of either Stevie or Yao. Definetly not a title I agree with....
Shaq is avg 1 more point than Yao this series. I guess Shaq is struggling as well then. The difference is shaq is kobe and malone to make carry the load as well. While Yao has to rely on Francis and mobley, which is a huge descrepancy in talent.
Ummm Did you just notice the players you pointed out!!!! MALONE is a PF!!! We don't have a PF!!!! We have nothing of the kind. You didn't say shaq has GP and Kobe....you said MALONE and kobe. well, if Yao had a real PF along side of SF don't you think you would say that is our problem too? I mean, you are dogging our guards so badly. You pointed it out yourself, our BIG problem is the #4 spot. End of story. EDIT: And if you noticed, I used quotes when I said struggling. Because he hasn't been flooping around. He has been scoring and such, but not to the capacity that this team needs him to.
Please STOP all comparisons to Hakeem, who was tutored in American basketball at University of Houston before joining the league. Didn't Hakeem loose the NCAA championship game along with Clyde Drexler in his 4th year? Was that a dominating performance? Although it's tempting - comparing Yao to Hakeem is not meaningful - nor is comparing him to Rik Schmits (?spelling) - which is degrading in a way. Yao is Yao - he's singular - one of a kind - IMO and it's fun to watch him develop as a player. I think Phil Jackson said it best - Yao is going to develop incrementally. There's not going to be a big bang - however - if he continues to improve next year - the following year - his 4th year in the league - and the third year of JVG's tenure - he will be unstoppable - perhaps similar to Abdul-Jabbar - and the Rockets will be legitimate contenders.
Reason number 1 why he will never have the mentality to dominate. You have to take it in this league. No one is going to give it to you.
