Sorry for posting this again. But I didn't know how to start a thread or what the rules are for starting a new thread. I often go to the front page and click on one of those hot topics to read. Anyway, here's the good stuff. Chinese newspaper ‘Sports Weekly’ talked to Yao Ming after the season opener against the Sacramento Kings. Numbers Don’t Lie: Houston Has a Legit Shot at Title Translated by chinainenglish.com staff Reporter: I heard that before the game T-Mac invited you guys to dine at his home. Is it true? Yao: Yes. We as a team get along really well with each other. I think it’s very important for us to communicate and connect, not only on court, but also off court. Reporter: This is the first game of your fourth season. Do you feel different after the game, say, compared to the previous seasons? Yao: Each season you feel different. If you look at the stats, this is the best start I’ve had in the past four years, but behind this there’re other factors coming into play. Last year, we played the Pistons in the first game. They’re a much tougher defense team than the Kings. If we played against better defense, perhaps my numbers wouldn’t be as high. Reporter: Barry is quite old and is a bench player, but he’s a major contributor to today’s victory. Yao: I was not surprised at all by his performance today. Isn’t he nicknamed ‘Bench Bully’? If you look at his previous outings, you know what an excellent player he is. He is an integral part of our offense. Reporter: Today, another ‘Bench Bully’, Mutombo. Yao: The performances of our bench players make me feel more confident about the future of our team. Depth is one of the measurements for a title contender. I take pride in the performances of Jon and Deke. Reporter: You got 22 points and 10 rebounds today. Your assists also reached the number of four. Yao: This is where I’m most satisfied with the team today. The biggest difference between this game and past games is that we moved better without the ball. Passing is better, more fluid. As a result, our shooting percentage improves. Reporter: In the game, you missed two dunks. Do you feel you tried a little too hard? Yao: I can honestly tell you that I couldn’t possibly try too hard in the game as you said. In fact, most of my moves are automatic. Reporter: After watching the game, most people feel that you’re more aggressive on offense than in the past. Do you feel the same way? Yao: No. I make my next move based on the particular situation on court. My principle is that I must make the most out of my ability while playing. Reporter: Last All-star you got the most ballots at center in the west conference. Brad Miller was the runner-up. Do you think that you and him will still be the top choices for the next All-star game? Yao: Let the stats and game-playing tell. Reporter: Your team strengthened the power forward position this year. How do you feel about playing either with Juwan Howard or with Stromile Swift? Yao: It’s different. They’re two different types of players and it’s unfair to judge a player based on just one game. Stromile has got very outstanding blocking ability. He’s got a decent mid-range jumper. In fact, during practice he gave me the feeling that he’s also a great passer. Juwan basically can do everything and is an all around player. (Translator’s note: the title is the original title by the Chinese newspaper.) the link is here Interview with Yao Ming after Opening Night
