No, it's not the lottery. The lottery is for losers. The Yao Ming we're seeing post-injury looks to me like a completely different player from the Yao Ming we saw before. Smarter, more aggressive, more comfortable on the court. I see better passing, better rebounding, better defending, and above all, more leadership. Unless this is a one-month or one-season aberration, it's more important than a season of injuries and personnel decisions that didn't work out. We can get new role players to put around Yao and McGrady. But those two guys are the core of this team. We can't afford another max player, even if we could get one. And if Yao kept playing the way he was playing earlier this year, I don't think we could have assembled enough talent around him to make up for his deficits. But if Yao plays like this or better for the next few years, sooner or later, through sheer trial and effort, we'll put the right combination of role players around him and McGrady, and we'll win a championship. Bank on it.
that is pretty positve. i still cant beileve how well yao has been rebounding lately. i think as soon as you have another player at SG that can shoot pretty well. and a typical PF that can rebound a play good D you will have a team to be reckoned with.
You're right. Yao is starting to look like, dare I say it, the best center in the league. Sorry Shaq. I also agree that we have all the reason in the world to be optimistic about the future. But, this season is not over. We got beat by a magnificent performance by AI and a Suns team that we can't seem to matchup against at all. That's not going to happen to us every night. I Believe.
My only complaint is he has to knock down some shots in the fourth QT. He chose too many fadeways and rushed his shots quite a bit in the clutch time. Still, there was no excuse for David Wesley shooting the ball himself and not passing to either Yao or T-Mac when game was the line.
Without question the highlight of this season is the maturation of Yao Ming. He is moving from a great role player to a star player. That's a big step. Clearly this team needs a major upgrade in its role players, but the play of Tmac and Yao is what will decide if this team is a championship level team. Yao's progress without question is great to see!
Not to derail the thread, but I threw up in my mouth when he did this. If he was standing with his feet set, it would be one thing, but he did a freaking jumpstop sideways from 3 with lots of time on the clock ... Anyway, I'm hoping that Yao just needed some time to feel comfortable here and assert himself. we know he's capable -- he does it on the CNT and did it for his old team in China.
OK, and yes, wow Yao. And TMac will be BACK. Now, how come none of the other pieces come together and/or develop? How come no WOW surprises? It may be JVG. It may be Lindsey's group. Whatever, whomever. For more WOW Rox need better personnel decisions this summer. (Assuming Lotto, and how not to, how come it's a 2000esque appearing top o' the class?))
If this season does end up being a lost one that will be the major positive out of the whole thing. I hope he continues it for the rest of the season.
Not to be too picky, because Yao is playing some awesome ball, But i still think his defense needs to be worked on. Especially defending the paint, it seems like guards and small forwards are not scared to take it in on him. But otherwise he is doing great.
He should pick his spots to avoid fouls. I would bet Hakeem would be in foul trouble with the stupid restricted area rules etc.... The NBA has become a guards dominated league. DD
Yeah, if I was given the choice, I would much rather have Yao making the transition from very good player to superstar over making the playoffs. Sucks losing out on a year of opportunity though when this team is capable of great things.
I agree, Ming has taken it to another level, if this continues he will be the dominant player we all imagined. He seems to have more fire. Now it is TMac that lacks fire, but hopefully that is temporary and the progress of Ming isn't. My problem is with the role players on this team. The organization has tried, but has not done well in this area. They may have assembled the most inconsistent set of shooters I have seen at the NBA level. And this has been going on for years, even during the Francis era. The Toyota Center has become a "brick" yard. This drives me crazy. Missed shot after missed shot is demoralizing.
I will go you one more. Missed WIDE OPEN shot after missed WIDE OPEN shot is demoralizing. I mean it is not like we are not getting guys open...Yao and Tmac are drawing the defenders, but the rest of the guys, particularly the guards STINK ! DD
If Yao can continue this kind of dominance, maybe he'll start to get those superstar calls for once. Maybe he already is.
Ditto. Just one good shooter would make a huge difference on this team. I know game shots are harder than "horse" shots, but this team misses "horse" shots. They have time to set there feet, read "Spalding" on the ball, clear their throat, line up, and shoot. Ridiculous. I am an old fart, and I can make those shots all day long. Probably many people on this board could. I think they are so worried they are not going to make it because every shot in the Rocket's games seems to be so critical. Also, Head has a weird shooting motion. Alston consistently hits the front of the rim. And Wesley has good technique, but seems to lack confidence. Bogans is just "off" right now. He looked really good in his first game hitting consecutive threes. We need someone like that Korver kid who can come in and nail shots.
Lets not nit pick Yao, some of those shots were in and just rimmed out. On another night it would have been another story.
The season is over if not by the playoff starts, then by the end of the first round. Let's be realistic, Rox should trade Wesley away when other teams were interested in him. If Suns ex-GM thought the same way as most people thought, he would never trade Marbury and Penny then got the cap to sign Steve Nash. The Phoenix Suns would still be stuck with Marbury and his contract. I firmly believe organization wins championships. Detroit is a perfect example, Spurs is also an example. Without Pop, Spurs would never pick Parker and Ginobilli, and you think with Duncan only, Spurs can win a championship? There is no really dominant players anymore in the NBA, it is really up to the GM to put the right team on the market.
