You have your wrestlers confused, my friend. JYD's signature move was the head butt or belly bump, a la Shaq. The master of the bear hug was one Big John Stud...Yao needs to develop a Tito Santana or Randy Savage elbow and learn when to drop the hammer at just the right time...ooohhhh yeaahhhh.
I like the timing on JVG's further comments about the officiating regarding Yao. I still think that issue's going to "blow up" in the playoffs when things get more physical. And I think it's going to force the officials to really take more control than perhaps would in previous years. The WC is just too tough and I think it's going to be "take no prisoners" across the board. And I've said this before, but I think Yao can really benefit more than most this postseason from increased ref scrutiny. I'm wondering if JVG's thinking along similar lines.
I wouldn't call him a moron. Yao did play poorly against the Spurs in a couple of games last season. I think those games gave him that impression. But I agree that it's very obvious he hasn't watch the Rockets games lately.
I don't know if the Phil Jackson love on this board is legitimate or not but I could have won championships coaching the teams he's caoched. That guy is the most overrated crap coach in the league.
I'm glad the goofus is finally saying something. Yao has been getting beat up out there and I've been wanting Van Gundy to go ballistic at least once... get himself tossed. I guess it ain't his nature.
The rule is there, they just don't implement it. You can only have one forearm in the back when you're defending the post up. Using two forearms is illegal, period. You can only use this forearm to hold your position and not push anyone away from their current position if I understand it correctly. Using an open hand in the back is and will ALWAYS be ILLEGAL (Wether pushing or pulling or anything in between). When guards like Kobe, Penny (at his prime), or MJ post up, I don't remember them being pushed and their opponent getting away with it...they can barely touch them. This rule technically should be applied everywhere on the court at all times, not just down low. If you have position for a rebound, can you push him with one forearm in the back? Nope. By rules, you cannot EVER push a player. I'm not 100 percent sure about this, but it seems very logical to me. Can anyone verify?
In the old days they always say that if you don't get to the line it's your problem. Yao doesn't get calls from the refs because he is too big. That's a fact. But he also doesn't do enough to get to the line. That's a fact as well. There is something about this with Yao's style. He avoids contacts too often--i.e. his fadeaways, fingerolls, etc. That's great, but he also needs to learn how to initiate contact. One thing about Yao though is that he's a brilliant learner and he'll figure it out sooner or later.
JVG should check the offensive foul numbers for Shaq and Yao. If Yao is committing offensive fouls at a similar frequency as Shaq, then that would refute the argument that Shaq is more aggressive in post. If Yao is not getting free throws, but IS getting called for offensive fouls, then something is very wrong.
Here is the latest chronicle regarding the officiating against Yao. I really like JVG standing up for Yao. I think Yao is quiet simply because his English is not good enough to argue with the NBA officials. Link: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/2479321 Yao's treatment a sticking point Rockets note disparity in officiating By MEGAN MANFULL Jeff Van Gundy doesn't know why no one is listening to him. The inequitable officiating experienced by Yao Ming seems so obvious to him. He has talked about it numerous times -- directly to officials and through the media. But nothing is changing. The problem becomes even more apparent when Van Gundy watches film of the Lakers and Shaquille O'Neal, who the Rockets will play tonight in Los Angeles. He has also looked at the statistics and monitored how differently Yao and ONeal are officiated. In the Rockets' last game, Yao played 38 minutes and never went to the free-throw line. It was the seventh game this season and the 17th time in Yao's career that he has not attempted a free throw. In comparison, there have only been four times in O'Neal's career (801 games) that he has not attempted a free throw, according to Elias Sports Bureau. "It's not just bad for Yao, it's bad for our organization," Van Gundy said. "We do not deserve to be penalized because he is 7-6 and has a wonderful attitude and respect toward officials. Again, I'm not begging, but it's impossible as much as we go to him, it's impossible." Yao avoids the topic as much as he can. He didn't want to talk about it after Wednesday's practice. He usually avoids addressing it after games. But Van Gundy is bringing the topic up more and more often, especially since he doesn't see the trend changing. "It's inequity, it really is," he said. "Yao Ming does not get officiated correctly. Plain and simple, Milwaukee (on Sunday), three flops, three offensive fouls. Last game, no free throws. That doesn't spark outrage, but if that was another center or another player, he'd be kicking the ball into the stands. It's a joke. It's really a joke." In 73 games this season, Yao has averaged 5.6 free-throw attempts per game. O'Neal averages 10.6. While Van Gundy often uses O'Neal as a comparison to Yao as far as officiating, the Rockets' coach said neither player is getting to the line enough. He has heard it said before that O'Neal is the toughest player in the league to referee, but Van Gundy doesn't think that should be an excuse for bad calls. "He's hard to officiate, but I feel it's like saying some team is hard to prepare for as a coach," he said. "We get paid for it. I don't know what that means. If it's so easy, all of us could do it. O'Neal deserves his free throws. Believe me, he deserves his free throws. Probably more. All I'm saying is it's impossible what is happening (to Yao). "I don't know why it's happening. All I know is I'm right. I don't know the reasons. I don't know know the psychology. I just know I'm watching, he's getting fouled, he should be living on the line, and it's not happening." Yao won't talk about it, and his teammates would rather avoid any discussions regarding the officials. They are trying to shake the image that they are whiners when it comes to the referees. But they did acknowledge noticing a difference in how calls are made around Yao. "It's been happening like that for years," Maurice Taylor said. "The big dudes don't get the calls. I mean, they are harder to referee than anyone else in this league -- Yao and Shaq. You could really call a foul for them every time down the floor, if you really wanted to. But that's not the way the game is called." Steve Francis said it may take three or four more seasons before Yao starts getting more calls to go his way. But Van Gundy hopes to see a difference long before then. He wants to see a difference tonight against the Lakers. He wants to see a difference in the team's final nine regular-season games. Van Gundy said in nearly every game he asks the officials to make "correct" calls. He doesn't badger them about it, and Yao rarely complains. Yao will sometimes throw his arms up in frustration or comment about a certain call. But his discussions with refs are rare and always very brief. "(Yao's) very easy to officiate, because no matter what you do, he's just going to walk to the other end," Van Gundy said. "He's not going to make a stand. He's not going to get a technical foul. He's not going to kick a ball in the stands. And I applaud him for that. But he's also being taken advantage of for his kindness and his respect, and he's not being given the respect back."
"It's inequity, it really is," he said. "Yao Ming does not get officiated correctly. Plain and simple, Milwaukee (on Sunday), three flops, three offensive fouls. Last game, no free throws. That doesn't spark outrage, but if that was another center or another player, he'd be kicking the ball into the stands. It's a joke. It's really a joke." -JVG This pretty much sums it up. Against the Bucks, Yao got to the line, but was called for 3 weak offensive fouls. Then the next game is called completely differently. It's funny because I have been secretly hoping that Yao would someday kick the ball into the stands or throw a monitor of some sort onto the court.
If the refs would keep the defense off him before he got the ball he would already be the most dominant player in the league. No doubt in my mind but until they stop teams from beating on him this will continue to be an issue.
I was thinking the same thing. Nice timing with the game versus the Lakers being tonight. No kidding. Spurs-fan lives in denial.
If I could afford the seats where I could be heard, the refs would hear it from me through the entire game.
He's been bumping guys off then taking his shot for weeks. 'Learned from Ewing', is the frequent comment. Yao's game continues to evolve and mature. JVG is applauded, by me, for his comments and the development of Yao.
