Part of the problem comes from the double standard Yao plays with. I've seen him get shoved around for game after game, opponents with two hands on his back, pushing him off the block, and Yao just takes it. The problem is as soon as he pushed back and dishes out the punishment that he's receiving, the refs blow their whistle and he's called for an offensive foul. It's almost like there is some kind of anti-shaq backlash from the refs, a bias that says the biggest guy on the court isn't allowed to play as physical as the smaller guy trying to guard him. Shaq was notorious for bull dozing his way into the paint. Yao isn't even allowed to back his man down like most post players are. Yao's a hell of a player. Far far from soft. As people have said, if you get the ring, the critics get quiet really fast. Look at Tim Duncan. He doesn't yell or scream, doesn't put on a show, doesn't beat his chest, but no one questions him at all. Would love to see Yao get a ring just to shut up the talking heads at ESPN who haven't watched 12 minutes of a rockets game, but love to rag on Yao Ming. (looking at you tim legler)
Well said. A lot of fools confused dunking the ball with being tough. Toughness means the courage and the determination of a player to contest shots no matter how little chance he has to block it. He doesn't care whether he would be embarrassed if he got dunked on. The ones who start running up-court when his man is ready to slam the ball in are soft. Yao is a warrior.
Well first of all I don't consider Yao "soft" but I do believe your looking at it in the wrong way. When people label him "soft" they are not talking about his heart, or rather what he does on the court. And I have no idea where you going with the "going ghetto" thing. That been said I do think a lot of people are overeating when it comes to Yao, just because someone criticize a certain aspect of Yao's game or talk about in which areas he need to improve upon doesn't necessarily mean they don't support Yao. Who on this board doesn't appreciate Yao? Like I said before just because we don't all go Pruyen over any little thing people say about Yao doesn't mean we don't recognize Yao's importance to this team.
I think that was more Okur exploited a hole in Yao's game, i.e. his inability to put the ball on the floor. He was able to crowd him to prevent the faceup jumper, and Yao had little way to counter. Okur said as much in interviews. I think he was recovering from a broken foot, which might have played a part in his inability to get better position. And Okur did not dominate him, he just played him well defensively.
Leave mlwoo alone guys he's "hard".......you know like Tupac hard.....I mean he has to be all bones by now right? that toughness got him real far....what about six feet? keep on playing Yao they love you babe when it suits them.....if not there is 31 other teams for them to go to......you just stay in Houston we need you not them......we'll take a soft championship.
yao also had to make up for our weak guard play in those games that they allowed their guys to blow by them the whole time....few players could have stopped that......and at least yao was trying which is more than other guys were doing..... 7 footers that love the 3 point line instead of the contact and scoring inside are soft....not the guy who is trying to cover the whole court.....and you guys still want Alston to be the PG, no argument, wait until it happens again. Thank God we have Scola to help Yao more but we could still stand to have more help, preferably with a jump shot....sure Landry can dunk but when he can't jump anymore, too bad he never thought a jumpshot could make him more money. All dunk and no game now that is soft.
Soft means shy away from challenges. Soft means shy away from physical contact. Soft means duck out of the way rather than challenge the shot risking being "dunked on." Yao is none of these.
Yao's main weakness during that series on the offensive end was the lack of another inside scoring threat, where AK would simply leave his man (Hayes) to block Yao from the weak side because there wasn't any danger from Chuck on the offensive end. That combined with our lack of a bench caused our downfall. But all of which have been addressed since Morey and Adleman took over, as we could see from parts of last season having Scola and Landry really made the game easier for Yao. Right now the only thing holding him back is injuries. I also think you and the OP are missing the point, or rather miss informed. I don't think anyone who watched any number of Rockets games, especially Rockets fans are calling Yao "soft". There are aspects of his game that still needs improvement but just because people admit to this doesn't really equate to them calling Yao "soft".
People are critical until that player provides a ring. It is sad but unless Yao brings home a ring and says his way of play is what gets things done... then sadly he will be labelled as a 7'5 softee for years to come. He will go down in history with the Sabonis's, Rik Smits and Ewings. Big guys who were talented and had some potential in them... but at the end could not pull through. It is the same with Tmac. We know his potential. He was once in the catagory of Elite stars but he hasn't gotten passed the first round. Until he gets us that ring and brings home some results... he will be labelled as a softee or a player lacking the edge. We however know what he is capable of when he has his confidence and isn't injured. Remember Drexler during his portland years. Yes he was a good player but until he won a championship in Houston he was just another good player. It is how this world works and hopefully it is drive for our two superstars to win something. This year it's time to Win Now or Die trying.
^^^^^ To be honest I would be more then happy if Yao is mentioned on the same line as Ewing and Sabonis when its all said and done.
Do not worry, my friends At the end of the coming season, nobody will say YAO's soft anymore..... because we are the champion
