The criticism is deserved. Why? Well, Francis at this stage of his career has shown little improvement since his Rookie season. Yao, in his 2nd year, in proportion, has shown a lot of improvement since his first day in the NBA until now. Francis is the "leader" if this team. So, it wont matter how good Yao improves, Mobley improves, or Griffin improves. If Francis does not, he'll hold the team back. I mean, a PG does have the ball in his hands the most, right? And the job of distributing the ball to other teammates a responsibility that has more negative effect if done wrong compared to a center that just stands in the post waiting for in entry pass. It's been said that the point and center positions are the hardest to fill. The center because of a "post presence," "defense" and "rebounding." The point, for ball distribution, play setup, tempo, deciding which options to take, and just over-all style of play. I'd say that Francis's responsibility is much greater than Yao's at this point. So, four years and very little improvement...does Francis need MORE time? I'd say so... Thus, he will get criticism, and Yao will not. And Yao has more time in the NBA, he'll get more of the burden. And maybe he'll be promoted. And with that responsibility, comes criticism. If there's something wrong with the "program," you go after the guy at the TOP, not the little guy on the bottom.
Ok, a couple of points JVG trying to make here: 1) come in during volunteer work outs (before Sept. 29th) to learn the new system, coaches and note conditioning. 2) show the leadership and commitment hat this team is always talking about in the media. I feel this was directed at Cat and Steve, for good cause. This is a new start for everyone in the organization and when going through such a dramatic change, you need 100% buy in (commitment) from everyone involved. If there is any discontent on this team at the beginning of the season, it will be very evident in the interviews with the media, lack of cohesion on the court and inevitably a real trade that will shake up this organization. I am all for believing that Cat and Steve will come into camp in great physical condition. It's their mental condition that I am questioning. We can support them all we like, but if we look at past behaviors and on both the couching staff and Cat and Steve, we can come up with a few conclusions: 1) JVG is known for running a tight ship, with discipline and methodical way of play. (Note: the way JVG ran the Knicks and all anyone would have to do is refer back to the commits Rice made when he learned JVG had become the Rox new head couch. Refer back to interviews with Knick players who were under JVG. This has been well stated in many interviews.) 2) Steve is known for making his feelings known if he is not on board with certain ideas or direction in which things are headed. (An old saying keeps popping into my mind every time I try and give Steve my full support ", how you meet your man is how you loose you man!" (My mom use to tell my sister this when a guy would try to start dating my sister while he was still in a relationship.) Steve made a very unprecedented move by stomping his feet, crossing his arms, and sticking his nose in the air when he learned he would go to the then Vancouver Grizzlies. I still am waiting to reap those seeds that we sewed for that move. Not that we were totally wrong for making a that any other team may have made in the same position. But I can't help but feel that Steve undermined the sense of fair play of sportsmanship and we helped him do it. Does anyone honestly think he would have sat out a year? Look at the backlash J.D. Drew received for years for pulling the same antic. I want to believe that he had a legitimist grievance and had no another choice, but I can't help but feeling that he behaved like a crybaby and was looking out for self. (I know I'm going to get slammed for this.) 3) Cat will give it the old college try, but once the waves start to hit, he will back Steve. (Cat was on point when lobbying for Steve to sign a long-term contract. But I got the feeling Cat would have done all he could do to get a trade from the Rox if Steve was not here. Of course this could have gone either way, but where would Porky Pig THE EAGER YOUNG SPACE CADET be without Duck Dodgers?) My hope, the vets come in humble, hungry and ready to learn and give this new start an honest try. I know some feathers will be ruffled, but some of these guys need to swallow their pride for the greater good of the team.
Yeah that's RIGHT!!!!!!!!! The BEST PLAYER on the team. The same person that commands constant double and triple teams and gets no help from players (i.e. Steve Francis) that stand around on the arc yelling YAO!! YAO!!! YAO!!!! As if they are just waiting for Yao to pass them the ball all the while multiple 7 footers mob him. The same player that already has the best skills for his position in the NBA. Passing, shooting touch, range, court vision. The same player that still has ENDLESS ROOM TO GROW. UNLIKE Steve Francis who seemed to max out his potential 4 years ago. ZERO IMPROVEMENT IN 4 YEARS!!!! ZERO!!!!!!
Steve has said he deserves to be the number 1 option, being that he is going into his 5th year and that he is the leader of this team and wants to keep it that way. If he wants to remain the leader, he needs to start acting like a leader!~ He has sought out people like Oscar Robertson, Michael Jordan, etc for pointers and advice on how to become a better leader, but I've seen nothing that makes me believe he will ever become a real one. He seems to care more about his stats lookin' good rather than unselfish teamwork. Van Gundy personally flew out to Maryland twice to meet with Steve and again flew out to Arizona for some sort of camp Steve was in for a grand total of 3 times. I believe JVG was doing it to show Steve he was commited to building a good relationship and open communication with him. When JVG invited Steve to voluntary workouts, and he didn't show up~~what kind of message is that conveying to JVG??? It's telling him he could care less and he'll show up when he gets there at the start of training camp. Look at Piatkowski and Moochie, they've been there working out at westside for weeks now learning the new system. Even Kelvin Cato has been there working out! Steve, I love your athletecism and ability, but it takes far more than that to become a leader.
I forgot....... The same player that dominates the game just as much as Shaq by simply just being on the court!!!!!!!! All this despite: NEVER playing an NBA style of basketball. NEVER playing alongside NBA caliber players. NEVER really knowing the culture of America BEING in the GLOBAL media spotlight, the pressure to be the man, being chinese, the criticism, being in a foreign land, having very few friends, and doing all at 21 years old!
You make some pretty silly statements, but this one goes beyond silly. Yao has a long way to go before he dominates a game like Shaq does. A LONG way to go.
he does say silly things. however, i think he's just a big fan who's gotten a little carried away. shaq is far more dominant statistically but the impact that yao has on how other teams prepare to defend us is comparable to shaq's. they alter game plans more than any other players not named tim duncan.
Not as silly as you considering the Rockets 2 of the last 4 years as winning season. And like I said before codell, I guess you consider the Astros to be winners too! And the comment was in reference to his command for attention when he is on the court. If you disagree you need pay closer attention to the double and triple teams attached to Yao.
thegary, I disagree. Last season, the book on Yao was not to double and triple him (although it did happen quite often), the book was to be physical with him and push him out of the lane. More often than not, teams were succesful. Yao is going to have to learn to hold his position before teams start treating him like anything close to a Shaq. EGN, Two winning seasons are two winning seasons. After winning two titles (of which, only 4 teams have done), I am content to watch the rebuilding and growing process unfold. It takes most teams much longer to have two winning seasons and to be able to compete for a playoff spot than it did us. As far as watching how often Yao was doubled and tripled, I don't have to watch it. I saw it. And it wasn't nearly as often as Shaq was doubled and tripled. Not even close.
Not making the playoffs is a losing season. PERIOD! Maybe you should use some of your optimism to console Rudy T on how great his "winning season" was. Fact of the matter is that Rudy T had a losing season. NO PLAYOFFS = NO JOB And of course Yao Ming is not Shaq. But he damn sure commanded double and triple teams VERY OFTEN!! And as far as commanding attention on the court Yao Ming is a VERY close second to Shaq.
Yao in his first year is already closer to Shaq than much more established Centers in the NBA. Shaq played in the All-Stars and there was no inkling of him in pain. Yet, right after the All-Star games, 3-4 games before the scheduled re-match with Yao, he mysteriosly comes down such excrutiating pain that he must miss the next 5-6 games. Coincidence? Maybe, maybe not. Shaq knows he must be 100% to tangle with Yao. Against any other Center in the NBA, I have a feeling Shaq would have not missed those games.
understand me, i said comparable to shaq, not equal to. also, it's not just how many times someone gets double and triple-teamed. his passing from the high post ala duncan, for example, will be utilized even more this year. his domination will come from an all-around impact on how the offense flows. besides, egn has said far sillier things.
I knever quoted a whole post before and probably never will again but what this man said is so damn good I just had to. Well said. Excellent!
Again, NOT as silly as codell thinking the Rockets have had winning seasons in any of the last 4 years. And if you keep up the "silly" stuff, i'm going to slap the both of you around silly.
Not as much as you've solidified his place in the Hall of Fame. I mean, fuuuuuuuuck, a close second to Shaq in commanding on court attention? You ever heard of Duncan? Garnett? Kobe? I'm sure he wasn't commanding much attention during the stretch drive when he was clanking 15 food fadeaway jumpers while his FG% dropped below 50%. He got a lot of attention from Kobe when Kobe dunked right over him in that overtime game in LA.
