Calling Kenny, Sam, Mario, Horry and OT...

Dust off the Red and Gold. Yao is ready.

I’ve shaken my Juugie-accused myopia. I was at the two Lakers-Rockets <a href="http://get-certified.net?go=games" onmouseover="window.status = 'goto: games';return 1" onmouseout="window.status=''">games</a> in Houston. I’ve seen all I need to see. The next great Rockets big man is ready. Ready to do it his own way, as "Did I just see that?" beautiful and unique as Dream’s game.

It dawned on me watching Yao tickle the nets with 8 ft hooks in the lane. 10 ft baseline fades. Power moves on offensive follows. Facing up and taking a shorter man off the dribble. Finishing left. 18 foot rainbow swishes. 80% casual precision at the line. Taking contact. Giving contact. Playing the MDP to a standstill offensively and more.

It dawned on me watching that... take the 93-94 team (and certainly the 94-95 team)... replace Dream with this Yao... this 2nd season version of Yao... and that team is better than today’s Lakers. The Lakers of Shaq. Kobe. GP. Throw in Malone while you’re at it. We win both Houston <a href="http://get-faster.com?go=games" onmouseover="window.status = 'goto: games';return 1" onmouseout="window.status=''">games</a> easily. By double digits.

With Elie, Smith, Cassell, Max, Horry, OT surrounding and feeding this Yao, we give San Antonio all they want. The Dallas zone fades away, exposed. Minnesota, meet the Bigger Ticket. Sacramento, we are your new Lakers. The Celtics fad fronting fades like Joe Millionaire. Women throwing underwear on the court. It’s a scene.

OK, hyperbole. You caught me. Exaggerated everything except the underwear and handling the Lakers. I feel so guilty.

Is this team ready to win BIG with Yao and role players? Yes. Good ROLE players. Great ROLE players. [Insert adjective] ROLE players. Mr. Easter Bunny, here is the 7'6" basket to put all the eggs in. We need punishers off the double team. We need movement through the zone. We need pick-and-roll artistes. We need multiple, expert post feeders. We need Bob Horry saying, “Hakeem first. Shaq second. Tim third. Yao fourth... for now.” We need NO ONE saying, "Anyone on this team can lead us in scoring."

Yao must have the chance. Being 7'6" and eating everyone’s lunch 1-on-1 DEMANDS it. Who cares if he is far from a finished product? He needs every advantage and opportunity against the zone, the double team. ASAP. Why? Because Yao plus the ‘93-94 cast contends right now.

I’m pointing directly at the Lakers <a href="http://get-data.net?go=games" onmouseover="window.status = 'goto: games';return 1" onmouseout="window.status=''">games</a>. The clock is officially ticking on our contending window.
(Juugie, the doctor says my vision is perfect. It must be you. Sorry.)

 

Quick follow-up: How asinine would it be to wait on Yao being "finished" to fully commit to him?

Akin to telling to a young Akeem, "Athleticism off the charts. Work on your skills and passing. Then we may think about calling this your team."

 

Juugie doesn't bother me, personally.

IMO, he started with a valid opinion and became entrenched against everyone "attacking" him. In the process, he failed to see the bounty of positives Yao brings and became... well, myopic.

I just mention him as counterpoint. Yao is clearly not perfect, but he needs to be publicly coronated and revolved around as centerpiece of this team. By his coach. By his teammates. By his owner and GM. And finally, by himself. Don't be myopic and suggest he should take it. He won't be able to without full cooperation anyway. David Robinson stepping aside both publicly and on the court for Tim Duncan quickened Tim's learning curve for being "The Man." Had the Admiral stayed proud and clung to "superstar-of-the-team" seniority even a little.... ie "let's share." I can tell you what would have happened: NO RING.

We won't see Yao's full potential realized consistently on the court until everyone agrees to step aside.