http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/051102 THREE GUYS WHO HAVE REACHED THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON EXCUSES 1. Yao Ming After three straight years of playing for the Rockets and his Chinese team without a vacation, Yao took much of the summer off to recharge his batteries. I know this because I have read it in every single "Look out, here comes Yao!" piece written over the past six weeks, which is starting to sound like the "Look out, this could be the season that 'Scrubs' becomes a smash hit!" campaign. So fine, his regular-season stats should climb this season ... but does that mean he won't disappear in the playoffs again? Personally, I think he's too nice -- Yao seems like the kind of guy who would take a cheap-shot elbow, then apologize for hitting the guy's elbow with his teeth. Don't you need a little bit of a mean streak to be a franchise center? Remember, even Kareem had a nasty side at times, and he was an absolute ninny. At the very least, couldn't Yao grow a wispy fu manchu or something? 2. Carmelo Anthony Not only are LeBron and Wade leaving him in the dust, but even Darko Milicic is getting some "Leo the Late Bloomer" buzz lately in Detroit. Meanwhile, 'Melo is the Marissa Cooper of that 2004 class -- a strong first season with a ton of promise, followed by a disappointing second season when everything possible went wrong. Of course, Marissa took a major leap in Season 3 of "The OC," suddenly started looking like a woman and seems headed for the Jaclyn Smith Hall of Fame for TV Babes. Good sign for 'Melo. And yes, I think he springs for 25-plus a game this season. 3. Paul Pierce Statistically, he had his best season since 2001 ... although stats don't reflect things like "Number of scowls," "Number of times the coach was shown up" and "Number of legitimately bizarre decisions that made you question how late he stayed out the previous night." This season? He seems healthy, he's in shape, he's in good spirits, and his first step has mysteriously returned from a two-year sabbatical. What happened to the black cloud that followed him around for the past two seasons? You got me. As the Sports Gal randomly said while watching two minutes of an exhibition game last week, "He seems happy, he looks like the old Pee-Pee again!" (Yes, my wife calls the best player on the Celtics "Pee-Pee." Don't ask.)
i do like the idea of the fu-manchu... i mean its better than what he has going on under his chin right now. its like a hairy cocharoach on his chin.
LOL! Did the writer watch last season's playoff between the Rocckets and the Mavericks? Or does he need a prescription for a pair of new glasses?
i remember in the playoffs last year when yao got knocked down by somebody really hard... he got back up real quick to get in the guys face about it...but tmac was pulled em away as he was smiling at the fact yao got some fire under his ars. no only was he fired up, but he played really well in those playoff games... was one guy who was consistent with the ball when he got it. so to say he doesn't get into the game is just plain idiotic... it frustrates me when writers dont think for themselves or RESEARCH their topic. instead they just write fluff for the sack of having an article. arg....
Somebody (who are playing for the rockets, I know there are a few of you) print this out and post it on Yao's locker
Yao does need to prove himself this season but disappear in the playoffs??? Yao shot 65% during the playoffs against the Mavs and turned the self-proclaimed 2nd best center in the league into a scrub. McGrady and Yao did their part, the rest of the team did not... I seriously question the 'expertise' of these so called experts. Its people like him who misinform and bring misconception about Yao to fans of the sport. -G'day-
disappear? lol interviewee: "hi I dont watch basteball games, I just go by the opinions of other misinformned idiots" ESPN: "You're hired!"
If averaging close to 22 ppg on a league leading 65% shooting equals a disappearing act, Hakeem's greatish performance in the playoffs in those championship runs probably has to be labeled subpar. My only knock on Yao's performance in the playoff last season was a little bit lack of consistency. What I am asking from him this season is that in a 7 game series, he averages 23-24 ppg on 55%+ shooting, and limits subpar games to no more than 1.
Not quite sure where you're going here but to compare Yao's playoff run last season with Hakeem in his prime is absolutely ridiculous. In 95 Hakeem averaged 33 ppg in the playoffs, against Shaq and Robinson, who were a tad bit more of an opponent than Eric Dampier.
The reporter called Yao's performance a disappearing act, which equals an "F" in a grading system. As such, it's not far fetched to say that Hakeem probably only scored a solid "C" in the eyes of the journalist even if he averaged 33 ppg during the plaoyoff.
Bill Simmons, ESPN.com, May 2002: Years from now, we will remember ‘Yao Ming over Jay Williams’ the same way we remember ‘Bowie over Jordan,’ ‘Traylor for Nowitzki,’ ‘Carroll for McHale and Parish,’ ‘Aguirre over Thomas’ and every other great draft day blunder in NBA history. I’m not just predicting it, I’m guaranteeing it.
you should read the entire article if you haven't. it's a pretty entertaining read. it's too bad it starts with that yao crap.
Before there was Bud Selig/league official, and the unfair advantage of the roof, there was Cuban/Stern/league official, and the unfair advantage of Yao, which is why Yao did disappear in the playoffs, at home.
