Well, most draft experts even said before the draft that (1) Ming would need time to adjust to the NBA and (2) that Nachbar was one of the most NBA-ready players available. In fact, ESPN's Andy Katz said his pre-draft predictions for All-Rookie Team were: Jay Williams Dejuan Wagner Emanual Ginobili Caron Butler Bostjan Nachbar I know that's all guards and swingmen, but his point was that those were, in his opinion, the player most ready to contribute to their teams. Don't take it as a knock on Yao, just as a compliment to Boki's NBA readiness.
Yao will be on the rookie first team at the all star game based on size and talent, somewhat on actual performance, and to sell 1.3 billion Chinese people the viewing rights. I agree Boki should do well, partially because he will have the opportunity to play a lot, resting Rice.
I think Yao Ming himself will tell you that he would rather have the selection based on his actual performance, somewhat on his size and talent. It is simply not fair to let the marketing power to ruin the basketball game. On the other hand, since Zo, Patrick, Dream are going to retire this year, I can see the centers who will seriously challenge Yao Ming this season will be Shaq (for sure), David Robinson/Tim Duncan, V. Divac. Any other centers, just remember the Dream Team vs. China in WBC. J. O'Neal, Wallace, Rafeaz and Brand are simply not able to handle Yao Ming now. So, I bet Yao Ming will be on the first team at the all star game then.
Thanks for sharing it, I'm even more proud of City of Houston to be the primetime sites for NBA players. Great aricle!!
The first team on the allstar team is voted by fans. Let's figure a way to get Yao those 1.3 billion votes.
Clutch you are da man! Even a betting man would find it tough to believe a guy more than 20 pounds overweight now (according to both you and espn), a season removed from basketball, and can't yet dunk (as espn just said) [/list=1] Would be destroying Kenny back in the first week of July as rumoured
Can anyone get a list of players that actually live in the Houston area? I think it would interesting to have.....
not sure if this answers the question OS Taylor and Harrington are drenched in sweat and trading shoulders and elbows each trip. Lewis spots Taylor cutting and feeds him in the lane for a finger roll, tying the game at six. "He'll be dunking that soon," Boylen says.
Maybe, like with Francis, they (docs/trainers) are tell him NOT to dunk. They've told Francis to not rebound because of his shoulder. os
Boylens don't make apologies for their players by saying "soon we'll lift the moratorium on his overweight self so that he can dunk". Taylor needs to get in shape to routinely dunk in games. That's the only context I've seen Boylen's words in, ever.
I think the reason was stated in the article. NO people allowed unless you have NBA credentials. Reporters have NBA credentials, so that would be how this guy got in. I understand why the players want it that way, I also understand why we ALL would love a weekly report! That was awesome wasn't it? Wow! I just wish I could be there to watch the action! It is just different playing pick up games. Having done it myself, I can't imagine what it must be like to be at court level watching NBA players play them.
