Maybe our guards need to play defense first and stop the penetration. Let MING take care of the offense.
O, finally Rudy explains his line of thinking concerning his rookies, Familiarity? Familiarity over talent, eh? Well, hell, one would think the best way two obviously talented rookies could gain some familiarity is by actually PLAYing them! Look Im sure Rudy can't have Ming and Nachbar cutting and moving into his guards lanes because as of now they are unfamiliar with how to properly stand out of the play with their hand up their ass but if he would give them time on the court he could break them in fairly quickly. They will learn to get out the trio of dribblers way in no time....if he would just play them!
Ming is tired, sore, achy, and still learning not just the NBA but the Rockets as well. You know what's sad? When I play my "church league" ball, I try not to make any excuses for myself. So I'm sick of hearing all of Yao Ming's. He needs to freaking start making it happen. Soon.
Having lost my father 7 years ago, I know how deeply such an experience can affect a person. As many criticisms as I have had in the past regarding Cato, all I, or anyone else, has really wanted was for him to be the best he could be. Thankfully, it seemed as though he had possibly turned the corner this year. And now this happens. I truly feel for him, because he has always come across in interviews as a thoughtful and intelligent man. So let us hope that, for his sake as well as the team's, he returns to his Rockets family undaunted, or perhaps even more focused and strong-willed. I know what it's like to dedicate yourself to someone's memory. Something like that can help bring a team closer together. We're all thinking positive thoughts for you, KC.
I agree with everything said in this post. I find it unbelievable to start Collier over Ming. Condolences to Cato as well.
If Rudy doesnt give ming at least 20 minutes today. I will give up on my hopes of Rudy coming to his senses
So, am I the only one who doesn't consider this significant. Yao has not really played well, and in a bad way. Slow, soft, indecisive, confused, passing up shots, etc. Starting or not, he will not help us win until he stops playing tentative and slow. This game is about KT, EG and MoT playing in a 3 PF offense. I have no problem with Yao coming in when the opposing starter sits in the 1st, and that seems to be the method here. Rudy then plays him based on his performance. He got 1/2 the minutes against Toronto, and probably would have had more sans foul trouble. Surely you guys have seen Rudy run up and down in excitement everytime Yao does something great. Surely you can see that Rudy enjoys seeing do well. Rudy is just being reasonable, when a player is providing nothing but confusion, he has to sit down and try again the next day. Yao is in a clear rotation, with variable minutes based on whether he shows up to play or not. He does have excuses of multiple reports of fatigue and clearly placing way too much pressure on himself...all that I understand. I just don't understand how someone of you want to force the progress to the point of getting 10 more minutes when he is so clearly clueless out there. He can take his 10-15 minutes on bad days, and try again the next day for his 25-30 minute. Rudy clearly wants him to get there now.
Sorry Kelvin. When I read the thread title, I first thought, "So that's how Taylor's gonna get 'Mo' playing time tonight." Then I read that Kelvin doesn't have a hangnail, rather, a death in the family, and I felt like a cartoon Elmer Fudd whose head turns into a braying donkey....or a "sucker," etc. This should get Mo more playing time tonight, however. See you when you get back big Kev.
1) Condolences to Cato's family, definitely. 2) Didn't W&S already suggest Yao's a little banged up (ankle?), which could be affecting his play and minutes? If true, I agree with the fewer minutes he's been receiving, since that would help to explain his weak play. But if he is all right, and we're up by a comfortable margin somehow (I know, dream on...), I'd rather see Yao's first NBA DQ than see Collier get major minutes tonight, but that's just me. 3) If Sabonis is in the lineup, MoT is of more similar build and affords us the luxury of keeping EG on Sheed. MoT's got some bulk and could outquick the oldtimer - wouldn't that be a better matchup than moving EG to center for this game? I worry about Rasheed having a field day on MoT/KT. (Good thing we at least got MoT back for this game on this tragic day. As for Collier, he's built like Sabonis too, but I fear he'd be too slow to take advantage of Sabonis' age, and not as savvy or able to box out as well as Sabonis in the paint.)
What does this have to do with his decision to start Collier? Ming, in helping with the attendance problems, has alraedy provided the team with more than we've ever seen from Collier. EDIT: IF Ming isn't there, he isn't there. I'm comfortable with that. But, come out and and say Ming isn't playing because he simply isn't good enough yet. It's the truth. Don't continue to market us on being "part of something big", don't tell the press how you plan on starting Collier and then qucikly follow it up with a "you know, familiarity." They are excuses, and excuses are quickly seen through by fans and media alike.
There should be a site dedicated to Yao Ming where all of these g's that dont know ball can go and talk about how Ming would be tearing it up if only Rudy would play him. Yao Ming sucks right now. I dont know if he is confused, tired, not as good as many thought, or what but he isn't contributing anything on the court. If Ming were not a #1 pick, he wouldn't have made it on the team out of training camp playing like he has. I for one do think that Collier is a better player to start if we want to win, if you want to see a ft exhibition then go with Yao.
You Ming lover's still don't seem to be able face the truth, he is not ready to make his mark on this team yet. Let Ming take care of the offense, hell right now Ming could'nt even out rebound steve let alone out score him.
uh JayZ, It is not so uncommon for a coach to keep a rookie in his regulary second team rotation until he's ready to come out of it, regardless of injuries. You can disagree with it, but what is so hard to understand that Yao needs to be snapped out of his funk, and the game plan seems to be to let him do this at the 8 to 4 minute mark of the 1st quarter. Disagree with it, but if you call Rudy a moron for sticking to a game plan until Yao proves otherwise, then you are overreacting, imo. Yao will be in at his mark and will get more minutes based on his performance. What is the big deal???
UTBaller I just love your basketball IQ , and I love the fact that you tell it like It is , some of these post about Ming are just crazy, like the one that say's that he would take Ming over Shaq. UT keep up the good work.
I love Yao Ming, that's why I want him to have limited minutes. Leaving a guy on the court who doesn't know where he's supposed to be, while he gets eaten alive at both ends of the floor, isn't doing him any favors at all. Until he actually learns the NBA game, and the Rockets system, extra minutes will just cause him to be abused and humiliated. I love Yao, and I'm looking forward to him being a top center. But he needs time. The best thing the team could do, and the best thing Ming fans could do is be thankful that he's getting that time, and hope he's spared for as long as it takes to get him ready.
Excuses. That's the big deal. First, it's because he's tired. Then it's because he's unfamiliar with the offense, or because this or that. But I'm tired of hearing on this board it's all about the Rocket's winning now, then when they have to decide who to start it's suddenly about making sure Yao stays in his normal rotation. As bad as Yao has played - and on this point I agree with you completely, he is in a funk and needs to show he deserves more minutes, certainly - he woudl be just as helpful to the team winning as Collier. So, is it about bringing Ming along in a normal rotation (an individual player's developement) or the team winning (which, imo, means starting Ming - Collier hasn't played in 3 games and only has 16 total minutes this year)?? Besides which, if it is about keeping a rotation, just say it. DOn;t hide behind the excuse of familiarity. We know that has nothign to do with it. If Ming was playing better, familiar with the system or not, he woudl be starting. Oh, and I think Rudy is a "moron" anyway. He has now openly admitted himself that he was made to look like a better coach than he really was because he had such a great player on the team in Hakeem. His rotations the last few years have left many question marks (why on earth did he go with the small lineup against GS when we had a 10 point lead and let them dump into Dampier and get right back into the game?) and he still fails to understand that jsut because this league is generally about iso's (you got to have the talent to beat the other individuals), it doesn't mean you have to design your offense around calling plays specifically for each player.
To all blind supporters of Yao Ming: At this moment, please forget everything you know of Yao Ming prior to his joining the team. His output thus far as an NBA PLAYER should be your only resource for criticism of Rudy's handling of Yao Ming. He has not proven he is worthy to start yet as an NBA PLAYER even though he is probably better than Collier. Don't get me wrong, I want to see Yao suceed, but yes, he has to EARN his minutes and status on this team. It doesn't matter what accolades you have or what you have done in the past in other leagues. When you join the NBA, it's what you do in the NBA that merits your playing time. Try being a fan of the Rockets first, a fan of Yao Ming second and you'll start to sound a hell of a lot more sensible.
Sorry for Cato but I like it for Yao. It's time to throw him into the fire and get him some minutes. Yao vs Sabonis might not be pretty.
I heard about this yesterday and wasn't sure if it would keep Kelvin out of this game or not. I believe it was his aunt who died, but I could be wrong. Either way, I like Collier in there also. I think it is smart to keep Yao Ming limited in minutes until he is able to adjust and get better in the NBA. I'm sure all the negative press and ESPN making fun of him doesn't help him much. The less you expose him to that sort of ridicule, the better.
