Is this the first year no one has messed with Yao?

There's a huge difference between talking about playing tough and actually doing it. Frankly, this is the first season I've seen Yao impose himself on a game, even on a bad night. I wonder how much of it has to do with Artest's mentality rubbing off on Yao, ... or maybe tmac's departure put leadership squarely on his shoulders and he had to respond.

 

well, he was invisible in game 2

 

It didnt show up in points, but despite foul troubles the Lakers still had to respect Yao's presence in the post. If you sag off him, he's going to make you pay. If Artest had been in the game, we could have stolen it. In the past, Yao would have wilted.

 

yao's been respected in the post for most of his career. he's been one of the best scoring big men in the game. game 2 was a very bad game for yao. he had very little impact. let's hope he'll bounce back tonight in a HUGE way.

 

Trust me, with Artest around, it's a matter of time for us to see Yao wearing headband, tatto his right arm, and singing gangsta raps.

 

In part it is Artest, but overall, I think it is just now we have a much better team surrounding Yao and the fact that Yao himself is probably pissed off because 2008 sucked for him.

He knows we probably would have made it out of the first round if he was playing, maybe even had a longer winning streak, the fact that no one will remember him helping start streak up because he fell out half way through it and he failed to do what he has always set out to do and bring China Olympic gold in basketball, especially after the devastating earthquake it had that year.

Yao is probably hungrier then any other person in the Rockets organization for a good year and to prove himself. As far as Yao being soft before, I honestly didn't see it, old boy just knows if he actually appeared to retaliate to full degree the refs would toss him like they did Artest and probably suspend him for a game or two.

 

Josh Howard and Greg Oden are the only people i've seen mess with him.

 

Ever since this guy stopped playing...

Yao has been much tougher and much better.

 

All I know is that Yao better wake the hell up tonight...

 

i don't see how yao plays any differently this year, and i don't see how he is played or whistled differently either.

 

lol, always a subtle jab at yao. every chance you get.

some things just never change.

 

Yeah Oden pushed him, and Anthony Randolph taunted him.

Other than nothing, but Yao is a nice guy so I wouldn't expect too many players to just flat out disrespect him.

 

criticism isn't a jab. yao had a career-defining game in game 1 where i truly thought that could have changed his career. he was truly dominant, outshining kobe easily. he displayed everything all rocket fans wanted in that game 1. wouldn't you think yao would feel invincible after that game? and take his game to the next level?

he WAS invisible in game 2. we were -29 with yao. facts are facts.

 

Kinda like T-Mac this season right?

 

yes tmac was invisible this ENTIRE season.

 

whatever, man. (or are you a girl? lol.)

 

Sounds crazy, but I think since Yao is now a several time all-star/multi year veteran, he has garnered a lot of respect among the league as both a good player, good guy, good teammate, good to play against etc. You've got to remember, even young guys in the league now were in college/high school when Yao was playing in the NBA making allstar teams.

 

It's funny to think that even LeBron was in High School when Yao made his first All Star team.

 

guys, im not feeling good about this one.
QUICK...somebody tell me the silver-lining of this cloud.