For the record, the first time I said Yao Ming should demand a trade was two days before Yao got injuried in a reply to the thread "Should Yao Ming stop wasting his time in Houston and demand a trade?" with which OP was trolling and making fun of the so called YOF. I said "Bussiness is business, do it fair. Either the owner do something now, or Yao should seriously consider requesting being traded. A one-way royalty in today's world is not far from stupidity." I was trying to say the owner should do something, making an effort to give the team a realistic chance for a chimpionship run rather than advocating Yao demanding for a trade. Today, when I read a cold blooded reply to "JVG, win or lose, please limit Yao's minutes", I was upset and write "The more I read the post like this, the more I think Yao should demand a trade. Yao does not have to be royal to "fans" like this. Impossible!" In a frustrating time like this, it is easy for fans to loose cool and talk something they do not really mean, especially for me typing in a hurry with English as a second language. I can take heat because of it, no problem. But, what really bothers me is: There has been a pattern in this forum that some people tend to find anything that they consider to be the indication of so called YOF. And once they lable you as YOF, they tell you this is Rockets forum, you needs to go somewhere else. This tendency is not because they lose cool in a heat conversation, it is something else. You know it, I know it. Well, if you do not know it, just take the example of the Laker's board you gave. How would Lakers fans react a fellow member talking about Kobe's trade? Do they lable you as KOF(if there is such a thing) regardless whatelse you have said and demand admin to ban you? Do they use all kind of foul words against you and still feel they are doing the right thing? In extreme case, maybe. But not in a pattern for extended period. Can you tell me why? I just hope some people realize we are equal as Rockets fan in this forum. You may be a longer Rockets fan, you may come to this forum earlier, you may talk smarter with English. But for the time being, we are all just Rockets fans. you are not the judge whether I am a Rockets fan, you do not have the power tell me what to say and you do not have the right to insult me.
think of it this way; without knowing the schedule, you wait for the bus for 5 minutes, or you wait for the bus 15 minutes, which would give you higher chance to catch the bus? i'm not saying limit yao's playing time, effectively manage playtime will reduce chance of an injury.
i think most people will be fine with 25 pts 10 rebs 3 ass. 2 blks per game as yao's prime stats. and we all prefer that over a ten year span instead of 30+pts 12 rebs 5 ass. 3 blks per game for a half of a season. i don't think any1 franchise player can bring a title to a city, just too much to ask for and in the long term, reduce the length of effective career. i always hear commentators on tv saying that who and who play too many minutes during the regular season, worn out by playoffs time. and they are not making that up.
I'd swear this thread is getting slightly out of hand. I hate it when Rockets fans start bashing each other......
what if those numbers over a 10year span aren't good enough to get in the playoffs? What if he becomes a zach randolph type player? who said one franchise player cant bring a title to a city? Do you not know who dream is?
if that's not good enough to get the team into the playoffs, then it tells a couple of things. the organization did not get the right players around yao, and also yao did not mature as a leader. it takes time to become a leader, especially for someone who has to learn how to express himself in another language. yao was never soft or timid in china, the problem is the language barrier. i'm sure hakeem had more help than yao has if tmac continues to broke back. i understand what you are saying, don't you think zach randolph just got stuck in a bad team and organization?
I feel kind of bad now. That is why I chill out a bit. First of all, the thread revealed my concern over Yao's play time, "42 mins average lately vs the 38 mins limit." As some have already kindly pointed, the source that I read was WRONG, Yao's average play time was much less than that. So I made a mistake in assuming what the article said was true. My concern itself is valid. Of course, if Yao have to play one more game in two weeks constantly, it is not wise. Overplaying the big guy could cause more injuries, especially when he had 3 injuries in the past 1 year, no matter fatigue related or not. In that case, I would rather take his long term health than a couple of non-important regular season wins... Well, if you think every win in regular is important, we have different opinions but that is another issue. I am a YF but not a YOF. I wouldn't trade Yao anywhere even if Tmac becomes Hill V2. I wish JVG (OR a better coach) develops our teen wolfs to construct a more balanced, energized team with more scoring options. I am sorry for all the fuss. Thanks for the guys who kindly pointed out the flaw in my original post and showed understanding. I hope the debate ends here.
what makes you think yao hasn't already established himself as a leader? Tmac has been out and yao has already made huge clutch shots in the last 2 weeks alone? He has carried this team to 16 wins already this season. i think the organization has done a fantastic job to surround yao this year with great complimentary talent. Thats what they are though...complimentary. Without yao it will be hard for them to contribute more...they aren't accustomed to it. If yao plays limited minutes than before, how do you expect this team to win enought to garner home court advantage in the first round? BTW, look at hakeems 94 squad...you will see that he was surrounded by shooters only and one tough rebounder. They all were great complimentary players...but this squad, i think has better talent....which is a testament to dream's game.
Guess who probably doesn't want Yao's minute to be reduced? Yao himself. My response to this kind of thinking is the same as my response to fans calling for Yao to stop playing for the Chinese National Team. Does Yao want to play less to supposely "preserve his body"? The answer in both instances is likely "no." Yao is an athelete, and atheletes want to play. That's what they do. Yao eve has said that he itches to get back into the action whenever he's relegated to rehabbing an injury and watch instead of playing games. If Yao himself wants to play and he and all the relevant medical personnell decide he can play, then why are fans advocating the contrary. Sure, any atheletic competition wears on one's body and incurs risk of injury, but that doesn't mean a player want to or should play less. Basketball players are meant to be play, and they want to play, injuries are just a part of the risk. No, no athelete should play in unreasonably dangerous conditions. For example, Yao shouldn't play, say, 2 weeks from now, before his fracture is healed. But as long as he's healthy and the doctors don't see any unreasonable danger posed by the 38th to 40th minute in the game, why not let him play? Are people on this board so delusional as to think their opinion is more accurate than that of people with actual medical degrees and expertise in the field? Anyone who doesn't understand the idea that players are meant to play (in NBA season, in the Olympics, in World Championships) need to educate themselves by watching the movie "Toy Story 2." You can learn an important lesson from Woody, Buzz, and Jesse.
