How satisfied with Yao Ming as your future franchise player?

No doubt - Yao is "The Chosen One".

The immediate success of this franchise rests on his growing shoulders.

 

I wouldn't say he's "the one", but he's one of the two, he's the key to this teams success, and although he hit his rookie wall, and may even have a tough sophomore season, as many players do, I am happy with what he has done and excited about the potential he still has, and anyone who isn't need to quit watching sports because you don't know what you're talking about!

 

I agree. This team isn't gonna be centered around just one individual like our 94 team. Yao has Francis. The two of them are the cornerstones to this team. But so far I'm satisfied with Yao as our dominant center, though there's definitely room for him to improve.

 

he also had been playing ball for 2 straight years with no rest. not to metion that he's still adjusting to the new weight training and NBA pace. I think he'll be a bad ass in 2 years. no one will be able to touch him.

 

Plain and simple: Any team that refuses to center their offense around Yao (a) isn't serious about winning, (b) isn't competent enough to be running a team in the first place. Yao exceeded my expectations and then some. He's not ready to take over the franchise yet. To do that, he needs to get more touches than he did last year (Stevie) and become a more aggressive rebounder. If he doesn't do that, I can't label him a franchise player. I think he will though since he seems to learn/adjust quickly. I think growing up in a communist environment provided Yao with fewer distractions than a typical American born player grows up with. Yao learned to respect his teachers and I think in the end that will lead to him improving the areas of his game that need improving faster than, for example, a Steve Francis.

 

Yeah, and I forgot the injury potential if he plays year round. Personally I think he's a year away from giving the Chinese govt. the finger. I mean with the potential money this guy stands to make in America, I can't see him risking it all just to withhold his agreement with the Chinese. He will probably play with the Chinese team in big world tournaments, but will refuse to train with the Chinese team. What are the Chinese going to do, refuse to let him play for the national team? I don't think so with the kind of clout he's carrying around.

 

Im very satisfied but he has a long way to go. He needs to get stronger and more consistent and needs to learn how to play 7'5. Whomever is the next coach his leagacy after hes left will be how yao improved during those years. IMO no other team has a young big man as promising as yao.

 

I hope you're right about all that. I don't want our star getting injured practicing for the world games, especially if he's not practicing to play for the U.S.

 

That depends on what you mean. I think that aside from the Yao-haters/trolls, everybody here agree that we already couldn't be happier with him as a person. He's a great poster boy for the Rockets. But as far as a player goes, that depends on how good he gets.

 

I voted: Couldn't be happier.

I was nervous, as a fan, when we landed the pick. We had landed two number 1 picks previously - Ralph and Hakeem - and I wasn't sure which one Yao would turn out to be. After the first year, I can see if everything progresses as expected, Yao will be closer to the success we had with Hakeem than the wasted potential Ralph Sampson represented.

My only concern now is whether Team Yao will allow Yao to focus on Houston Rockets basketball. The hype in the NBA is reaching ridiculous hights and unfortunately our center is the center of a lot of it.

 

A long way to go but learns quickly. Needs a Big Mans Coach to teach him NBA positioning and rebounding. Will be ready to be the Franchise player in a few more years!

 

Right now it is still STEVE'S team, and Yao has to learn and that's how it should be.

 

I think Larry Brown......who should be our coach.....should make a system that makes Yao and Steve CO-FRANCHISE players........equal opportunities.....and everyone else being involved too....

 

Wow, Yao's got a tough road ahead of him if he wants to live up to y'alls expectations. I'll agree with Rocket _Boy he is yin to Francis' yang, He has alot to learn about playing in the NBA but I think if he stays healthy he has proven that he belongs here, mission accomplished for year one.

DamnI SoUNd r****deD, talk about your run-on sentence.

 

he did better than I thought he would. the biggest probelm I have with Yao are the fans who think that he is already proved he is in the same class as Hakeem or Shaq, he's light years away from being that dominant big man. I like his potential to be a Webber-esque type player with much better D.

 

exactly, most ignorant people forget about steve.

 

im very satisfied with yao...he has definately exceeded my expectations by breaking out of the shawn bradley mold in less than a dozen games ( i thought it would take a year or two) by displaying the types of skills that can and will make him the dominant center of his time...strength, speed and veteran savvy are sure to come in time.

 

As this poll is about "future franchise player," I had to vote that I was happy as I can be. Steve is still the franchise player and Yao could potentially supercede him. I am of the belief that a dominant big man is always the dominant player on any team (i.e., Shaq > Kobe; Kobe might have more "skills" and "ability" but no one can stop Shaq when healthy and fit, similar argument could potentially be made for Yao and Steve down the line).

Anyway, a new coach and a new teaching philosophy will hopefully do wonders to Yao's career and of the team (not that I thought Rudyball was all bad). Another exciting offseason! Hopefully the results will be better.

 

Many would argue that Steve has a lot to learn. Personally, I'm not sure that Yao didn't make more progress in one season than Steve has made in four.