http://www.nypost.com/sports/30874.htm YAO-ZA! By ANDREW MARCHAND -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- February 21, 2003 -- The 7-foot-6 phenomenon's arrival should fill every seat in the Garden on Tuesday. Yao Ming, the Rockets' center, is only a rookie, but he's already as much icon as athlete. "It's going to be huge, like it's been everywhere he has gone," Greg Anthony, the ex-Knick who's now an ESPN analyst, said of Yao's only Garden appearance of the season. The Garden fans will see a rising NBA star - but also a player who's big for reasons unrelated to his giant physical size. "His cultural significance can never be downplayed," Anthony said. Yao, the No. 1 pick in last year's NBA draft, is the first China native to make it in the NBA. "For China, it's up there with what happened with Jackie Robinson," Anthony said. "You have to put in that context. As much as the phenomenon has grown here, I still don't think we have an appreciation of what [impact] he has had in his homeland." Yao's made a big splash in this hemisphere, too, as evidenced by the sellout crowds wherever he goes, and by the commercials in which he's starred - one of which debuted on the biggest of all TV stages, Super Bowl Sunday. "Much like Jackie Robinson was the right person, this guy is really the right person because he is such a classy person and he has such a great demeanor," Anthony said. Who knows? Yao might also spark other NBA teams to look East, widening the NBA's increasingly international mindset. On the court, said Anthony, Yao won't dominate the way fellow giant O'Neal does. But he's no Shawn Bradley, either. "I think he is definitely going to be a force and a factor, but I don't know if he is going to be that dominant force and factor a lot of people are projecting him to be," said Anthony of Yao, who's averages 13 points, eight boards and around two blocks per game. Anthony thinks Yao lacks the aggressiveness to be a dominator. He envisions Yao peaking at 18 points and 11 boards, while blocking and disrupting shots. "He's head-and-shoulders above a Shawn Bradley-type," Anthony said. "He won't necessarily be a journeyman, the way a Shawn Bradley has become. His size and his ability to play the game will always set him aside. In terms of impact, he is more like a Ralph Sampson-type. He is a guy who is going to be a solid contributor, an All-Star for many years."
He's got a point. Yao Ming is indeed not aggressive enough. However it is absolutely ridiculous to predict someone's prime numbers during his first year, especially if that player is from a foreign country. The ESPN people seem to be really hard on Yao. Sean Elliot was dishing Yao the whole game tonight.
Sean Elliot wasnt dissing YAO all night, if anything he was praising him more than he shouldve. Pointing out weaknesses in someones game isnt necessarily "dissing" them. Maybe you should watch a replay of the game and stop talking crap
Gimme a break! Greg Anthony probably thought during the NBA draft that Yao Ming was a "Ming BUST"! Now he thinks Y. M. is a 18/11 player now and forever, amen! I think he's just getting warmed up !! Anyway, I'm sure their were some idiots who thought that Shaq, in his rookie year, will only peak at 20/14!!
First of all, what the hell does Greg Anthony know? And secondly...wait, that's all there really is to say.
Elliot was b****ing about anything Yao did other than dunk. I usually like Elliot's broadcasting... but hey, genius!... remember that man named Hakeem? He didn't dunk all that often. Give me a center with a hook shot and midrange game above a dunker any day (unless he's Shaq, and even then, I still might take Hakeem). When Elliot bashed Yao for taking the 18 footer I thought... "what the hell? It's a *good* thing that he can take that shot. You don't want him taking it every time... but once or twice a game? That's just smart, keeping the defense on its toes." The anti-Yao regiments are rising.
Firstly, Elliot didnt bash yao when he took the long range jumper. Secondly, even mentioning yao and DREAM in the same context at this stage shouldnt happen. Yao isnt even a shadow of what Hakeem was in his rookie year. So to say in a round about way that Yao has the a hook shot and midrange jumper that could compared to Dream's is a joke. You can call me a Yao basher or a "troll" or whatever but the fact is Yao still has a long way to go, and some work to do, before he becomes a complete player, adn i think thats all Elliot was pointing out with his comments
Not a slam just a question. Does Yao have really small hands for a big man? He seems to have a hard time holding onto the ball compared to a lot of other bigs.
I would guess his hands aren't meathooks, but it does look like he can palm the ball pretty easily. Also, did anyone else think Yao has showed a lot more aggressiveness these last few games? I like the attempted facials on Bradley, even if they did get blocked.
Yao's biggest weakness is his lack of aggression. 18/11 is about right. That is nothing to be ashamed of. Think about it. He scores 12 points in Pheonix. That means that he has to score 24 points in another game, just to maintain an 18 average. How do you expect him to average above 18?
I don't think anybody is saying Yao is as good as Hakeem was in his rookie year. But to say Yao "isn't even a shadow" of what Hakeem was is not accurate either. At least Yao may win ROY in his rookie year. I agree with you, however, that comparing Yao's mid range jumper to Hakeem's is a joke. In his rookie year, Hakeem didn't have a mid-range jumper.
Yao probably will be better than 18/11. Friday he had a bad game, and got 18/11. He can easily get 20/10 if a little more selfish.
Yao is the first Chinese player to "make it" in the NBA. The others haven't done much at this point in their careers.
He was RIGHT to do so...Yao needs to throw the ball down Bradley/LaFrentz/Eschmyer's throat! Yao played like such a wuss tonight. And I'm a HUGE Yao fan too...but I won't just close my eyes and pretend like Yao does everything right on the court. He needs to learn that this isn't the CBA and that no one cares about finesse here. It's nice to see him show a little finesse but it's heaven to see him throw it down like a man. THROW IT DOWN, BIG MAN! ONE TIME... Sorry...had to get my Bill Walton quote in there.
I wonder what was this prediction for T-mac's peaking numbers from his first year.... The guy didn't say much about his passing either... I wouldn't mind 18 and 11 and double digit assists
