From this interview, yao explained the reason why he didnt hit the FTs. his right arm was knocked by somebody b4 the end of 1st qtr and painful all that game.
It’s strange because on the defensive end, Yao’s aggressive. He goes after every block shot and is not afraid at all at getting posterized. Then on offense, he seems very scared of the contact. He’ll pump fake a whole bunch of times, try to get around the player, or lay it up before the shot gets blocked, rather than just bumping the defender away and slamming one in his face. Someone needs to tell Yao that when he’s in the paint, everything is fair game, do whatever he has to do to get the ball in the hole, whether it’s a forearm to the face or an elbow to the throat.
You guys are killing me... Freakin' hating on Yao... For one thing, he's only a rook and doesn't get the calls... Secondly, this guys been playing at a high level for well over a year straight, a lot more than any NBA playa now... Lastly, given the demands of being an ambassador to China, among other things, he's been awesome... Yao will be the ROY and will be even better next year...
Did Yang Yi make something up? He said it was sunny near the hotel (around UCLA). But in fact it was very cloudy. Also the article was posted at 7:15am Pacific time. If what he said was true, Yao got up really early.
he said that it is still very painful when he did that interview.... and he can't even lift his arm up now.....
I will try doing the translation for the first time Yang : yesterday you scored 11 pts and pulled down a career high 19 rebs, not bad, but too bad u guys lost Yao : I find that the Chinese media and US media got one different thing, that is no matter we win or loss, the chinese media will relate it to me. If we win, it is because of me, if we lose, it is because of me too. Yang : So you are saying this loss is not because of you? Yao : nope, but I am responsible for it. look at the FG%, I even missed 3 FT's. I got hit on my elbow in the end of the first quarter by someone, it was a little soar during the game and it never gets better throughout the game. Now I can't lift my right shoulder up, don't know what am I going to do tonight... Yang : Why din u call a TO when u pull down the last rebound? Yao : how to call? We have used out all our TO, the last one was used by Francis to hit the 3 and pulled us within 108-109. I pulled the board down and pass it to midcourt, there's still 4 sec. Francis got a few choices, he can drive in, as the Kings defender is back but not in position ; he can pass since we have players in front to get it from him ; but he chose to shoot the 3 and miss. He is the one who will decide the game, the last shot is always shot by him, as simple as that. Yang : you beat Divac at last, holding him to 1 pt on 0/7 shooting. this is the worst game I seen him play since the world championship where he shot 1/10 Yao : heehee. The old man (he actually said something I dunno how to translate, some chinese food) was beat up by me real bad. I already know how to defend him. you see, EG is fronting webber, I have to guard webber from behind to avoid them from lobbing it in, Divac will be standing on the FT line, if he get the ball, you think I should go towards him or remain where I am? Yang : Of course remained your position Yao : Exactly. If I go up, I will fall into his trap. he can pass me by easily, and also, Webber will be open if I do so. So I remain on where I am, so I can prevent him from passing to Webber and also take one step forward to block his jumpshot. I made him feel real bad throughout the game. Yang : Your record today is 19rebs, 19rebs in 33mins, not an easy task. Your luck are really good today isn't it? Yao : Consider correct. Grabbing this amount of rebounds, half of it are consider luck. The ball come down in front of you even though you are not moving. Actually you guys din see the match, I passes very well in this game too, there's 3 special passes, too bad only made one, that's why I have only 1 assists. One of the play, I pass it to EG at the FT line, when I saw Posey is open at the other side, I shouted at EG :"POSEY POSEY", but EG pass the ball back to me, I flip the ball in the air over the head and the ball fell right into posey, too bad he missed the point blank layup. Yang : If not you will feel real cocky? Yao : I will feel so because it is Divac who is guarding me, and I pass the ball right in front of him. Aren't you the one who are called the best passing big men in the league? Look at mine. Yang : tonight you will be playing Clippers again, going to meet up with Wang. Yao : This game should be different. We have been playing on the road and I heard that Wang scored 21pts and started 1 game. If he is going to start tonight, we will be going against each other from the start of the game. the last time we are both starters are during the November 2001 Olympic, its been so long ago. Actually, I have been waiting for this day for a long time, its like the old time in CBA against the 81team (i presume is the team Wang played for last time). Normally Griffin will be the one to jump ball, but if Wang is starting, I will jump. It's been a while since the last time we jump ball together. Yang : this is Wang's 3rd season, do u think there's any major changes in him? Yao : I think his potential is not fully used yet. If his team gives him the chance, he will show it, at least he can play like me, scoring 10ppg. The last game against us, he played very well. He moved well without the ball on offense. You know his shooting touch, if he got the chance, he will make it. He is tall and fast and if he plays PF, MoT might not be able to defend him. If he plays center today, just hand him to me. To be honest, I really miss the 2001 CBA finals. Hopefully you guys understand what the hell I am writing there.... took me a while..... and its 1.20am now.....
Omegasupreme:- You seem to want things for Yao Ming that are a down grade in his life. Leave him alone and let him develop without the negative trappings. Dont you know that he is so liked because he doesn't bring all the trapping of the street.His game has a long way to go before he can lead the Rockets as a dominent Center. To this end I hope the Rox use Moses Malone to help Yao Ming.
Yeah, it's a sh!7ty looking day here in LA. Now I doubt Yan Yi's creditbility. A reporter should never make up things in his report.
Yeah Yao got dunked on by someone again! Whats wrong with this guy? you would think after the 40th time he would realize hes too slow to do those baseline helps that always leave him getting posterize. Come on yao. Arent you suppose to have high bb iq? I sure dont see it. Also would it hurt to run or jump once in awhile? Stop playing so soft. Take it in strong with authority.
Damm Yao. why you always seem to tell the media you got hit somewhere in every interview? Are you that weak? "Oh my gawd he scratch my pinky!" it affected my game after that. See even Yao agrees with me that the rebounds were luck.
so you would rather see Yao just concede the basket rather than try his best to prevent it? shows where your loyalties lie.
my gawd, there's some haters in here. let me tell ya somethin'....this is not the 1960s where if you were a legitimate center, you were the tallest, biggest, best, and strongest player on the court and the rebounds were inherently yours. the nba is filled with a variety of athletes that has never been seen before. everyone from the point guard to the center has a LEGITIMATE shot at every rebound, due to increased strength training, videos, and natural jumping ability. this is why you don't have guys averaging 30 rebounds a game anymore...and probably never will again. when you do see a guy grab ~20 boards, rest assured that at least 5 of those board are on opponents' missed free throws. factor in another 5 or 6 when the ball literally bounced right to them (even though they were out of position). that leaves about 10 boads where it was dirty, elbow grease boardwork. any that's a FANTASTIC game. this doesn't just apply to yao ming. it's ben wallace, too. it was dennis rodman. it's shaquille o'neal, tim duncan, dikembe mutombo, and every other big man in the league. luck plays a part in it...believe it. that said... if yao continues to get stronger and the game continues to "slow down" in his mind, he'll be able to get position more often in the course of the game, and that will boost his rebounding average by probably 4-5 per game. that...is...huge... at that point...which is probably 2-3 years from now (at least), yao ming could realistically average 12-14 rebounds per game (an astonishing number). just be patient and watch (enjoy) the growing process.
yes because he cant get to those and im tired of seeing people like ruben patterson dunk over him? Dont you think plays like that fire up the other team and kind of put you're team down?
Don't forget we all expected Yao to grab 20 rebounds and score 20 points every game before the start of the season. So Yao has really let us down.
I am sure the ball has never come down in front of Big Ben and he has to elbow his way to grab every single one of his rebounds.
