If that's the case, they should let Yao contract run out, shake his hand and tell him thanks. There isn't a team that can win a ring if they can't count on their highest paid player to log 40 minute games in the playoffs. There will be games when u don't want to or can't pull guys out. Phil did it game 4 because the game was in the balance. Its basically impossible to save Yao for the last 50 games unless you have a damn good backup. Its not worth it, he's not worth it.
So I guess China wants the Nba to shorten the season so their big icon wouldn't injure himself? So the nba have to do everything to keep Yao from injuring himself and make the game less intense for Yao? The Nba had been around in United States for over 50 years. 82 games is part of the great intensity of the Nba. That is why NBa isn't for everyone. But china wants to change that for their center Yao Ming. They want to shorten it so it be easier for him? Yao is not even the top 10 greatest center of all time. His stats is average. Any PF or C can average just as much as him or more. He is not dominant and he brings weakness to offense and defense. Greatest player of all time? I don't think he can even crack the top 100. Sure he is a big icon for china and is their best player. But the Nba is the best league in the world and if Yao Ming cannot handle the intensity, then he just can't. It is not reasonable for the NBA to change it's system for a fragile player who cannot handle it. If anything, the Nba made itself more intense by making the first round playoffs from best out of 5 to best out of 7, which I think was a great idea. More games mean more money to be made and more fun to watch. China must be crazy if they think the Nba would shorten the season for Yao
The fact is: It is the long nba season, the service in Chinese national team and those commercial activities all together should be responsible for his injury. Pointing fingers never helps. So the only problem is: Which one should he quit first? I vote for him quitting CNT.
For real. They acting as if they own him or something. This is 21st century. Yao works for NBA not China so who the hell care what China has to say.
Well I always argue that China should only play Yao on meaningful tournaments such as the Worlds and the Olympics and not play him on qualifying tournamnets such as the FIBA Asia and meaningless tournaments such as the Stanakovic Cup China needs to be less dependent on Yao, they need to showcase all their players to give them enough experience. With Yao, China might be unbeatable, without him, they are still Top 3 in Asia
A better alternative would be offering him a contract more aligned to what he can offer. Whether that is 60 games a season, or 30 minutes a game. I am not sure he would be willing to accept though. In the end, as long as we generate more revenue with Yao than without him, he will remain a Houston Rocket. For most players that means helping to win games. That is true for Yao as well, but not a necessity. The Rockets is a business, and their goal is profitability. Most of the time that means winning a championship, sometimes it doesn't. Like it or not.
Wow 100 games in a row. What a crock. Doesn't every NBA starter play the games in a row. Where did he come up with that number? There's not even 82 games in a season. Yao hasn't even played a full season, since his 2nd year. 2008-09 regular season 11 games straight missed 1 game 32 games straight missed 2 games 22 games straight. missed 1 game 10 games straight missed 1 game 2 games straight. missed 2 games
NONE OF THE ABOVE! IT WAS A COMBINATION OF (a) Inadeqauate back up Center causing Rick to over Play him. (b) Off season additional play and Championship Competition forced by the Chinese Basketball Association. Yao made it his duty to obay them as he wanted to play in the NBA and he loves his heritage .
I think Yao will eventually have some physical problem just for standing tall and then you add running and jumping! Hope he come back in just healthy stage!
Closing this thread despite the fact magnetik posted the newer article first. The new article is also being discussed in this thread : http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=173083. I'd merge it, but the new article would get lost on page 298347 of this thread.
