How long will Ming stand for being a bench warmer?

When is the all star break and how long is it? Many people are talking about it. I think it is at Feb next year but I am not sure.

 

Ming says the folloiwing in his journal :

How much do you guys think this has a bearing on how much playing time Rudy gives him?

 

I bet 15 shots in a game would fix that right up

 

w&s,

All-Star is Febuary, 7-9, 2003.

You mentioned that Yao was bored.

If you want to see bored, watch Yao in 3-4 years when he goes back to
play in the Asian Leagues.

He will destroy them! It will be so easy for him.

 

He is a number 1 draft pick. He will be given every chance in the world. Cato is simply better at this point. I feel dirty just typing that.

 

Well that certainly explains the yawn pictured a few posts ago.

Yao is adjusting to a new EVERYTHING. A new culture...a new economic system...a new house...a new league...a new style of play...new teammates...etc.

Three of the top 5 most stressful things in life are happening to Yao right now...new job...new house...new city. Give the kid a break.

 

I think so Doc. The amount of time Ming is playing, and I assuming practicing, is probably like an offseason workout. In the offseason players really don't play a ton of ball they rest, but play enough ball to stay sharp. Rudy seems to be doing the same thing with Ming. I still say Ming will be a force in the 2nd half of the season. He might not dominate but he will be a big contributor this season. Also I think this is good because with Rudy holding back the reign on Ming it helps him absorb the rookie wall better. While a lot of those rookies are hitting the wall Ming will be warming up since the 2nd half of the season will probably feel like the first half for him.

 

The timing when he joined the team and when he got off playing the real games was so awkward. Hardly anyone could adapt this transition.

 

my guess is Yao won't be Standing too long...................

He will be Sitting eating a large serve of Sweet and Sour Pine!!!!

 

I'm sure Colin is scared.

 

It's official: I will never get over how ridiculously huge his legs are.

 

If Ming was given the same number of minutes Cato had, he might even produce better numbers. But it would be at the expense of the team. We'd lose games.

The important thing is NOT to lose. Because if Ming plays a lot and we lose a lot, then THAT will shatter his confidence.

BTW, Ming with a rookie seasons' worth of experience is not better than Cato, who already HAS playoff experience.

Ming will not sit on the bench next year. he will start, and he will do incredibly well after he's well rested, energized, and has enough strength.

Right now, Ming only needs to do the little things:

- Get over NBA jitters
- Increase his lateral quickness and vertical leap by as much as possible
- Lift weights to make his upper body strong, not BIG, just strong
- Learn all the fundamentals of rebounding
- Improve timing on blocking shots
- Learn English to a point where he doesn't need Pine anymore


He has 77 games + a couple of months to do that. Once that's over, he takes some time off, maybe a few weeks. When he's done resting, then he goes to work with a big man's coach. Hakeem if possible, if not Hakeem, then Pete Newell, if not him, than our very own big man coach. Just someone who'll teach him how to be BIG.

Then he could go to training camp, and the Rockets will win happily ever after.

 

Man why do you people keep complaining about Mings minutes saying he isn't in the game enough? The Rockets as a team needs to win, and Ming is just not ready for the NBA. Rudy has given him 20+ minute games a few times already and what has he done for us? 1-5, 2 pts, 3rbs, 4 fouls, 4 turnovers, and that is against bad competition. It seems like the turnovers rise and our offense and defense goes to hell whenever Ming is in the game, so he needs time to adjust. I know he has the skill and agility for a big man to become a star. Just be patient and give him time. In the meantime lets root for the Rockets to make the playoffs!

 

I was going to suggest Pete Newell myself, but then I remembered that this is suppose to be his last year with the big man camp. Plus, the remarks he made about American centers makes me wonder.

However, if we could work it out so that he could coach Yao in the offseason that would be perfect. He(Newell) has a vast wealth of knowledge about teaching the big man skills to others.

I know you can improve your vertical through exercise but can lateral movement be improved that way too?

That's the one part of Yaos' game that worries me the most.

 

I believe Ming will play much better next year.

If Ming is frustrated, ask Boki how he feels. There is no reason to be frustrated when being paid 4 million doallars a year. Rockets is not Ming's mom who can feed him many years without any return. Rockets need to win games. Rockets is a business. Players are grown men. Nobody is Rockets' only child.

 

Actually, there was a little blurb in the Chronicle Sunday where Pete Newell PRAISED the Rockets for bringing Yao Ming along SLOWLY.

Newell is also chomping at the bit to work with Yao Ming on his game, he thinks Yao is going to as good as he wants to be.

Now, unless one of us is Newell or John Wooden, I would bet a year's salary that Pete Newell has FORGOTTEN more about basketball than what this entire BBS COMBINED knows about the game.

If Newell says that about Yao Ming, trust me, take it as "the law of the land."

 

My bewilderment about Yao is not his minutes, but how he's being used offensively when he is in the game. In the few touches he has gotten, the play has been set up for him to catch the ball in post up position with his back to the basket so that he can go one-on-one. It was my understanding that Yao's strength was more as a high post center who could receive the ball at the elbow and either face up to shoot, pass to a cutter, or give a fake and drive towards the hoop. I've never seen him get the ball in this position since the preseason game against Philly.

 

In asian culture, elders are given the utmost respect, therefore Yao knows his place.

 

Yao has to EARN his Playing Time.

Right now, he looks lost out there and is not playing with much fire.

As soon as he gets more comfortable, and shows a little YAO MEAN streak then he will get more time.

Until then, he can have a nice comfortable seat on the bench.

DaDakota

 

Yao is fine on the bench right now. He knows his role is to learn and adjust.

interesting note on Newell. Insiders within the organization and those in the know outside are absolutely amazed at his ability to run the court and his athleticism. Some are quietly saying that Ming is like a freshman in college with his game experience and that 2-3 years of skillwork will make this guy something to behold. Newell is one that apparently commented on this.

We need to start thinking it terms of athleticism for a guy 7'6"..absolutely incredible and he has had minimal b-ball training from the best.....