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Dedicated Thread about Yao Ming & 2008 NBA All Stars

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by pryuen, Feb 15, 2008.

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nycundaground Member

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Amare and Yao best new buddies?? Sure looks like it in those pics.

#41 nycundaground, Feb 16, 2008

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conquistador#11 said:

yao sat down with the U.S american media and had the following interview with the ESPN empire:

http://media.switchpod.com//users/vladthegreat/yaoming.mp3

*gives credit to van gundy for current defensive rankings
* yao couldn't stop laughing when he mentions devin george

also, espn is reporting that yao's english is perfect.
Click to expand...

thx, mate for posting that link...

#42 oneonepyopyo, Feb 16, 2008
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nycundaground said:

Amare and Yao best new buddies?? Sure looks like it in those pics.
Click to expand...

Well the rivalry is limited to on-court......

Besides in the 2 photos shown with Yao & Amare; in one, they happened just to be together waiting in queue for their food; in the other, they were just smiling facing the camera;...no conversation; no exchange of eye contacts; nothing.

#43 pryuen, Feb 16, 2008
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Heaps of accolades and praises to Big Yao enjoying one of his best seasons so far ...........

http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/Yao_enjoying_best_season_at_Al-258180-34.html

Saturday February 16, 2008 5:07 PM

Yao enjoying his best season at All-Star break
NBA All-Star Game, Sunday, 7 p.m.

Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS -- Before taking center stage in the Big Easy, Yao Ming vowed to do something that he has never done before at the NBA All-Star Game.

Win the All-Star Game MVP trophy and guide the Western Conference to a blowout victory?

Not quite. The Rockets center actually had a more incredible feat in mind.

"I'm thinking about shooting a half-court three," Yao said.

He might as well try it. Yao has, after all, done everything else leading up to the NBA's midseason classic.

The Rockets' star center, who will be making his sixth straight appearance as a starter in Sunday's All-Star Game, is evolving into one of the elite players in the game. Enjoying his best season as a pro, Yao has guided the Rockets (32-20) back into the thick of the West's playoff race after a sluggish start to the season.

During his six seasons in the league, Yao has honed his skills, improved his conditioning and -- according to many observers around the league -- become confident that he can take over a game. The center has developed so steadily that he said during this season's All-Star weekend that he felt more comfortable at the weekend's festivities than he ever had in previous visits.

He's been showing that confidence throughout the course of his latest season. Despite being the focus of opposing defenses on a nightly basis, Yao is averaging a double-double with 22.2 points and a career-best 10.8 rebounds. He has been the main reason why the Rockets survived without Tracy McGrady during a lengthy stretch, creating openings for everyone else because of the attention that he demands in the paint.

The steady progress has Yao on the cusp of becoming one of the game's greatest pivots.

"He's one of the top three centers in the NBA right now with Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard," Hall of Fame center Bill Walton said. "Yao Ming is coming to that level. He's got the game. He is starting -- this year more than ever -- to get the impact. He's on the verge of having it be his league. All the pieces are in place for Yao Ming to say, 'You know what, there is nothing anyone can do to keep me from what I want.' He's so smart and so determined. He's incredibly disciplined in his approach to what he wants. I just don't see it as might or might not happen. I think it's going to happen."

Yao has made such stives in his game despite dealing with early-season doubts coming into the season.

During the season's early stages, the Rockets star endured some growing pains as he adjusted to Rick Adelman's high-motion offense. The new system asked the big man to become more of a passer from the high post.

Yao didn't feel as comfortable facing the basket as he had with back to the rim. Four months into the season, he is still catching passes at the free throw line and taking more spot-up jumpers than he did in the past. But the Rockets have been giving him the ball in the post with increased frequency. Since leaning on Yao in the paint, the Rockets have bounced back from a 15-17 start to win 17 of their past 20 games.

The Rockets' star center still sees areas where he must improve, like lowering his 3.4 turnovers per game. But even the center admits that he's never had a better season.

"I feel comfortable and I feel a lot of confidence," Yao said. "I feel like I'm playing consistent. Not much up and down. Hopefully, I'm getting better and better."

Yao had his strongest stretch in January.

The All-Star center guided the Rockets to a 10-4 month even though Houston played nine games without McGrady. Considering that the Rockets had never won on a regular basis with McGrady out, the center's play was even more impressive. Yao averaged 25.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.92 blocks, earning the West's Player of the Month award.

Former Spurs star David Robinson considered those numbers the strongest evidence that Yao is transforming into one of the game's elite players.

"Yao has really developed as a leader quite a bit," Robinson said. "With Tracy McGrady out, the team is still playing extremely well. They've leaned on Yao a lot and asked him to be a force. Yao has done that. Being able to respond in those types of situations and take the team to a higher level, is the biggest area where you can see his maturity. When he came into the league, he was a little unsure of himself. He wasn't sure what he could do and really wasn't even sure if he could play at this level. Now, he's dominanting games. He's taken that Houston team to a place where they're really ready to contend."

New Orleans Hornets coach Byron Scott, who will coach the West's All-Stars on Sunday, has noticed Yao's ascent by playing against the center on a regular basis in the Southwest Division.

Scott noted that teams are still trying to wear down the 7-foot-6 center by making him run up and down the floor for 48 minutes. But Yao's improved conditioning is making it harder and harder for teams to find a weakness in the center's game.

"I think that's still probably the approach because he is so big," Scott said. "That size he has is going to make him tired sooner or later. But I think he's gotten in such better condition this year than I've him in past years. The philosophy is probably the same with every team. Try to run him as much as possible and put him in as many as pick-and-rolls as possible. He's done a better job on defending pick and rolls and getting back on defense. But the bottom line is that he still makes your job a nightmare."

So what is the next for Yao to become one of the game's elite players?

Walton has an idea.

"The only real step for Yao Ming is the championships," Walton said. "Not everybody wins the championship. It's a huge mistake to say someone who won a lot of championships is better than someone who didn't win. There is no way I can sit here and diminish the career of Patrick Ewing, Elgin Baylor, John Stockton, Karl Malone and all the phenomenal players who didn't win the championship. Not everybody gets to win the championship. But all those guys competed at the championship level. We haven't seen that yet with Yao. They've lost in the first round. But (they have) to be in that championship mix because it is about winning the games."

Before trying to take that next step in into the NBA's elite, Yao will enjoy his latest All-Star experience.

During a meeting Friday with the league's All-Stars, Yao felt comfortable being in a room filled with the best players in the world. He didn't always feel that way during previous trips since he needed to make improvements to his game.

Now, with the strides that he's made, Yao is so relaxed being among the game's best that he's willing to think bigger. He might even show it Sunday by launching a shot from midcourt.

"Hopefully, I'll hit the rim," Yao said with a grin.
Click to expand...

#44 pryuen, Feb 16, 2008
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Quite a moving article about Big Yao and Deke Mutombo lending a helping hand to rebuild the community of the New Orleans City.

The Houston Rockets is lucky to have such players.........

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5546861.html

Feb. 16, 2008, 12:07AM
Rockets stars give New Orleans a helping hand
Mutombo upset to see city unchanged 2 years after Katrina struck

By FRAN BLINEBURY

NEW ORLEANS — Yao Ming's extra-large basketball shoes and his giant-sized work gloves were covered in mud when he finally stood tall to survey the work he'd done to help cover what had been a barren dirt playground with a fresh layer of sod.

"This is why I bought a house in Houston that was completely finished with the grass already installed," Yao said. "The kind of work that I mostly enjoy doing is passing the ball, making assists to my teammates."

Yao and Rockets teammate Dikembe Mutombo were among the dozens of players and coaches who took part in the NBA Cares Day of Service, an All-Star Weekend project dedicated to rebuilding the city of New Orleans.

Mutombo and several of his children worked inside Capdau Elementary School in the Fairmont section of town; Yao joined Chinese action film star Jet Li laying sod for nearly an hour in a steady rain.

"I think it is good to just do something for the people who are living here," Yao said. "They paid a lot due to (Hurricane) Katrina. They are also basketball fans who have done so much for us.

"It's time we give back to them. Just something. This is not much, but at least we can help them."

Yao, as usual, was the center of attention. Capdau pupils alternately helped the Rockets All-Star, exchanged high-fives and posed for pictures with him.

"I've never been close to anyone so tall in my whole life," said Davon Haynes, 12. "That's one big, big dude."

That became evident a short time later when Yao joined Mutombo inside to try his hand at painting the walls.

While several other volunteers climbed stepladders, Yao reached up with his paint roller, almost to the high ceiling, without even standing on tiptoe.

"Don't tire yourself out," Yao chided Mutombo. "You have to save your energy. Tomorrow at 12 o'clock, aren't you playing in the retired players' game?"

Mutombo, who was accompanied by several of his sons and daughters, roared with deep-throated laughter, then turned serious when speaking of New Orleans.

"I think I am more shocked," Mutombo said. "I thought things were bad here, but I didn't know it was this bad. To think that two years later the city is still in the same condition that it was two years ago. My question now is: Why?

"I think this should now become the main focus of the NBA. We should get the players on a bus tour of the city and let them know what kind of difference we can make.

"I don't think it should be just a one-day thing. It should be a continuation.

"I told my wife that this trip would be meaningful, not just to myself but to my children. They have seen their dad do so much in Africa and the rest of the world. I want my kids to start seeing life in America on the other side.

"Maybe they know the pain and suffering of the people in Africa. But they don't know that there are such poor, poor people here in America, too."

fran.blinebury@chron.com
Click to expand...

#45 pryuen, Feb 16, 2008
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nycundaground said:

Amare and Yao best new buddies?? Sure looks like it in those pics.
Click to expand...

That's pretty ironic considering their "rivalry" during their rookie year.

#46 devin23, Feb 17, 2008
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pryuen said:

Click to expand...

Boozer and Others - "Shut up Yao. Do you want us to iso-ed you?"
Yao - "No... Please don't. Leave me alone."

#47 WhoMikeJames, Feb 17, 2008

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NICE PIC

#48 win1031, Feb 17, 2008
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pryuen said:

Well the rivalry is limited to on-court......

Besides in the 2 photos shown with Yao & Amare; in one, they happened just to be together waiting in queue for their food; in the other, they were just smiling facing the camera;...no conversation; no exchange of eye contacts; nothing.
Click to expand...

lol, you say all that like you were there. I'm guessing you got that information from looking at pics like everyone else right? Whats the big deal anyways? Yeah they might have a little rivalry or whatever but that doesn't mean they can't be cool with each other off the court and during All-Star weekend. The Jet Li pics are pretty cool though.

#49 Angkor Wat, Feb 17, 2008
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dreamrockets said:

Recap: Yao as the commentator on the rookie challenge on CCTV.

Yao became a commentator on CCTV for the second half of the rookie challenge. Chinese fans really enjoyed his humour and inside views. Here is a brief recap:

About T-MAC
At the end of the game,
解说：一年级没什么希望了 Commentator: The rookies have no hope (to win)
Yao：要是有个35秒13分就行了 Yao: Only if 13 points in 35 seconds happens
解说：那个人在你们队。。 Commentator: That player is in your team
Yao: 哈哈哈哈哈哈 Yao: Hahahahahahaha

About Scola:
“很强大”, “Very impressive”
“给点阳光就灿烂”, I do not know the context. If it refers to character, means “easy going”. If it refers to basketball, means “can shine whenever given opportunity.”
Yao was also impressed that Scola took two charges against Manu (Translator: who is an expert at taking charges) in a game.

About Novak:
The game winner shot Novak made in the game with Kings may be the shot that change Novak’s life.

About LBJ:
One time, Yao tried to take a charge against LBJ, He felt like hit by a huge brick.

About Rockets former assistant coach Tom Thibodeau
Yao spoke highly on Tom. Tom helped Yao a lot. Even now, Yao still does strength exercise in Tom’s way.

About Rockets future schedule:
He said there will be 5 tough games in a week in March. The five teams are Boston, Golden State, New Orleans, Phoenix and "another team whose name I forget but (I know) it is a west team and is also pretty strong” (“还有一个啥队我忘了,反正是西部的,也蛮强的")
(Translator: the other team is the Lakers, Yao seems not worry about the Lakers as much as the other 4 teams)

About the Rockets draft
2006: (Translator: I guess we all know) Rockets was after Roy.
2007: Spoke highly on Scola, Brooks and Landry. When asked about who was the best rookie among the 3 Rockets rookies, Yi, and those in the Rookie team, Yao said he was not the coach.

About the games:
Gibson made a lot of 3 pointers. It is good because he will probably made less on next Tuesday versus us.
Moon Slammed a lot. He should save some for tomorrow.
Yi will be better after he adjust to the physical part of the NBA.
…..
Click to expand...

Great translation.THX.

#50 superx, Feb 17, 2008
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Angkor Wat said:

lol, you say all that like you were there. I'm guessing you got that information from looking at pics like everyone else right? Whats the big deal anyways? Yeah they might have a little rivalry or whatever but that doesn't mean they can't be cool with each other off the court and during All-Star weekend. The Jet Li pics are pretty cool though.
Click to expand...

You were wrong,dude.
I think pryuen has been there,or at least one of his friend has been there,that's why he could get those pics.So what's he said is believable.
We must give our appreciation to pryuen for his long-term contribution.
BTW,I am looking foward to see more nice pics about the ALLSTAR GAMES,thank you in advance,pryuen.

#51 superx, Feb 17, 2008
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One thing we should all look forward to this year, as opposed to years past, is Yao's VASTLY improved stamina/quickness/ability to run down the court.... which should yield some dunks/highlights as he'll be playing with guys who have the vision/skill to be able to get him the ball on the break (unlike Rafer).

It wasn't that long ago when Yao would be a.)winded after just one trip down the court, and b.) slower than molasses while he was trying to get his second wind.

Thanks to Falsone, and his hard work/dedication, those fears of how he would never be able to adapt to the faster-paced NBA are nearly all but gone.

Of course, I don't want Yao going for some amazing (Dwight Howard-like) alley-oop, only to turn an ankle or something... but it will be nice to see him in a game where he is now universally recognized as being deserving to start, and one where he's in the best shape of his life to be in.

#52 Nick, Feb 17, 2008
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So right after the NBA All Stars Saturday activities, David Stern hosted a NBA All Stars China Night/cocktail......and a lot of China and NBA-related personalities were there including David Stern, Tim Chen, CEO, NBA China, Mark Fischer Senior Vice President, NBA China, Yao Ming, Yi Jianlian, Deke Mutombo, Luis Scola, Dwight Howard, Jet Li, Georghe Muresan, Detlef Schrempf..........

#53 pryuen, Feb 17, 2008

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superx said:

You were wrong,dude.
I think pryuen has been there,or at least one of his friend has been there,that's why he could get those pics.So what's he said is believable.
We must give our appreciation to pryuen for his long-term contribution.
BTW,I am looking foward to see more nice pics about the ALLSTAR GAMES,thank you in advance,pryuen.
Click to expand...

Naaaaaaaah, I was not there and I just got all these photos by surfing the public domains on the various Chinese websites.

I was just rebuking nycundaground's comment that Amare Stoudemire has become Yao Ming's best new buddies, cos it does not look like so in those very limited photos of them together.

#54 pryuen, Feb 17, 2008
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#55 pryuen, Feb 17, 2008
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What's the highest point and rebound total Yao has ever gotten in an All Star game? Can anyone post all his all star stats for his entire all star career?

#56 SuperStar, Feb 17, 2008
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http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/m/mingya01.html

#57 mrdan, Feb 17, 2008
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neato site thanks.

#58 SuperStar, Feb 17, 2008

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the game is so boring, east is playing like in a real game

#59 NO NAME, Feb 17, 2008
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remember all star games with steve francis, Tmac, kobe, and vince carter...

#60 jasona88, Feb 17, 2008

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