Win games. .500 or better in 6 games. This team is better than the one when he missed 30 games. During that stretch, they beat some good teams. Also, don't act lke la isn't missing players. Sasha,farmar,odom, and walton. If you puts up big numbers and the team loses because the others struggle, then they need to trade some of the role players.
How does a post player "step up" as a leader? They depend so much on others doing the right thing. Should Yao demand the ball more? Attack triple and double teams instead of passing the ball off? Yell at teamates when they mess up? Just wondering what your expecting to see from Yao that will tell you he is stepping up. Also, I'm not convinced "real" leadership is as easy a thing to spot as some seem to imply. Not saying I totally disagree with you, just wondering what criteria you are going to judge him by.
if fans think in this way, it is a huge mistake. bball is a team sport. you have to trust teammates to win games. it came out from kobe's mouth a couple month ago although he is a frachise player w/o question. it's the reason why usa olympic teams didn't win gold in last a couple olympics until last year when coach K emphasized the team work and sacrifice. to me, if yao takes the responsibility and is not scared of being the center of rox offense, if yao shoots or attacks when he has chances, and if yao doesn't force the issue and ignores his teammates when they are open, he steps up. the rest depends on his teammates. to me, if you don't trust your teammates and don't encourage them to be themselves, we shouldn't talk about chemistry or team work at all. how can you expect your teammates working hard if you don't trust them? please tell me. if you don't work hard, how can you win a game?
Yao is not charasmatic enough to be the leader of this team, he is a gentle giant, and he has not fire or flare...he has a 1 dimensional personality....doesnt seem like people would respond to him trying to fire everyone up.
Unfortunately people are raised over there in China brainwashed with humility and respect for others, and the communist government there seems to suppress the outward personalities so people won't be outspoken about their real thoughts.... Yao needs to stop hanging out with Chinese people altogether for a few months and get high with Ron & Rafer much much more.
Yao is what he is. He'll never be a Shaq or Dream or a "dominating" center. He is a very prolific scorer but not dominating. That being said, he needs to be much more aggressive in the next 2 weeks. Yao will also benefit mightily if Rafer isnt chucking up a load of bricks. We cant even run a basic pick and roll because our starting backcourt are brick chuckers. Right now with the way things are going we should hope that Yao doesn't injure himself, let alone "step up".
If the players need extra "fire up" under current circumstances, we are in bigger trouble than we thought. TMac and Ron are out, Shane is still hurt, and we are playing tough opponents. There were so much drama going on around the team and locker room. Yao knows all eyes are on him; Rafer feels the pressure Brooks is giving him; Wafer wants to make best use of this opportunity to make his case; Brooks wants to replace Rafer, Chuck wants to prove that he's still useful; Landry is fired up as usual; Scola is a winner who always fights hard; Shane always knows what to do. They don't need to get too emotional, just get on the business, seriously.
The only guy on this team that needs to be "motivated" is T-Mac, and maybe he's suffering from clinical depression or something. Everyone else, down to the younger guys like Brooks, Landry and Wafer, is more than capable of motivating themselves. What they need to do is step up--all of them, not just Yao. I really, really like the current roster because there's so many stand up guys on it and I'm confident that the whole team is going to play hard and professionally.
jesus threads like this are dumb, yao isn't going to yell at his teammates and cuss them out like bynum does vujacic, yao is known to be funny, so for him to get fustrated at his teammates and scream at them on the sideline, that wouldn't make him a leader, that'd make him Kevin Garnett.
Leeb - I don't think Yao is going to show you anything new that you haven't seen from him before. He will have some good games and then some mediocre games. He will owned guys like Dwight Howard, then he will get neutralized by guys like Troy Murphy.
Solution: Give Rafer's shots to Yao. This will work, keep reposting until it does. Rafer should be limited to maybe five shots a game, all beyond the three point line. Yao should be getting at least 15 shots a game. He rarely does.
I've said it once and I'll say it again, Yao needs to knock some people to the ground. He's 310lbs and should be knocking people around with that weight. Until he starts imposing himself on the game, neither his opponents nor his teammates will fully give him respect. Nor should they. No more of this gentle giant stuff. To win in a competitive contact sport, you've got to have an edge.
The only good thing about Yao playing better against better centers than scrub ones is that most elite teams that we will face off in the playoffs don't tend to stack up on the latter.
aggnrox- Stars do need to trust teammates, but they also know when not to pass. Dream trusted maxwell and crew, but he also knew when he had to score or make a play. If its in the 4 qt and they're singling yao and nstead of being aggressive he waits for a double and kicks it to rafer who is 4-17, I want yao to take the shot. Because if yao dribbles the ball long enough close to the goal, every team is going to help. Get the ball, make a move.
actually its the others who need to step up. yao will be double teamed like crazy and guys just need to make their open shots.
Yeah but the playoffs is also more physical and faster pace which doesn't benefit Yao. You also wonder if teams have already scout Yao enough that they know his weaknesses such as fronting him. Will Yao's liabilities show during a 7 game series?
People just want to stir up fans expectations and criticize our players heavily when they lose. It's sad. It's never been constructive from some of you guys.
as a fan, i want yao to shoot the damned ball since he has the high %. however, as a player, he has to make a right decision. i don't think any coach will appreciate if yao forces the issue when his teammates are open. if he treats the last shot as a hot potato in a tigh game and throws it to his teammates when he can shoot or no time is left, it means he doesn't step up.
