it has been fixed that fakers win the title this year. It is a tough night for Yao, but I am sure he is thinking "next time I am going to kick that fat ass so hard that will shut up everyone."
Calm down. Though we lose this game, I'm still confident we match up with Lakers well enough to pull an upset in a playoff series. Give me Fakers or T-Wolves in playoff please!
It's quite clear. Another non-freebie game for Yao. They dare not give Yao any free throw, cuz he'll make everyone of them. The right day after JVG's criticism, the refs say NO to JVG.
Payton's a HOFer. He's approaching 20,000 career points with over 8,000 assists; ONLY Oscar Robertson has done that. Not to mention that for much of his career GP was one of the best defenders in the league.
I was thinking the same thing.. someone mentioned JVG's comments might hurt Yao this game but hopefully they will pay dividends by the playoffs. J
in the long run, this game will benefit Yao greatly. Great people rise from lose and get to the next level.
Could Francis have fallen down a few more times? Could Jackson throw more dumb passes in transition, or just lose the ball randomly anymore than he did? Could Yao make a shot, or attack the rim at least once? Could the team grab a frikkin rebound? Could the refs call a few more phantom fouls on Yao? The answer tonight, is no. Really sucks to watch a pathetic performance by your team, and also have to put up with Malone's elbows and flopping.
Yea... I edited my post after checking the stats myself. I realized he was, but in 20 years will anybody every remember him? Even if he wins a championship with the Lakers, his small role on this team will lead that to be forgotten. I cannot remember a single defining moment that marked his career, nor can I remember a single big game which he just flat-out won for his team. These are the things that I think about with future HOF... I guess not all of them can be like that.
Yao has an off nite really, but just see how the refs FT Numbers: Shaq 4-10 Yao 0-0 Fukers 30-42 Rox 13-16 I am not trying to make excuses for Rox and Yao having a bad game, but I just want to back up JVG's comment on the officiating. With the help of the refs, I am sure Fukers can win another title this year, otherwise they really suck.
Shaq sure didn't outplay Yao in this game in terms of EFFICIENCY. Shaq has 8 while Yao has 6. Today Yao just can't make his shot. Don't lose any faith on Yao. He is still the building block on our team. Now go beat Nuggets tommorrow!
This game exactly shows the difference betw a great team and a marginally good team. We are all witnessing the start of the fading of Yao. His stamina and conditioning problem really shows up and manifests itself in this time of the season. Last year same thing, his Fg% is dropping which shows up in his missing of the fadeaway jumpers, hook shots etc all indicative of his fatigue. His finese game exactly shows at this time of the season and post season that it will not take him and the Rox to next level. Like it or not for a guy his size he needs to play Shaq type game (Power brute force) Most of the Time to move him up to the higher level and give Rox a chance to a playoff threat not just a team in the playoffs. Yao jumpers, fadeaways outside hooks are examples of diminishing returns, the more the season wears on the more he will starting missing these shots (propably goes to anyone else relying on this type of game),. Look at Shaq, the reason he is leading in FG% is because of his brute force play close to the basket game, not a genuis to understand the probability of missing shots that close to the basket is less. I am not advocating Yao totally dismiss his outside shot but playing a close power game will definately make his life easier and Rox better. I hope I'm wrong about his fading now but last season and the way he is moving out there in past few games doesn't look encourging. just my 2 cents. Now I'm going out and shoot my dog!!!!! just kidding
Everyone has bashed Steve and Cat when they complained to the refs and said that they should leave it up to Jeff to straighten it out for them. Now Jeff speaks up, and it only gets worse. What shall we do? How do we get the refs attention without damaging our image?
sad thing is that, that is how most ball players end, with a small role... See pippen, hakeem, barkley, robinson, ewing...
They dont need to speak up in public, it should be a more private thing. Just write a letter to Stern Jeff...
