I'll tell you what makes me think you're right: Game 7 against Dallas last year. We were completely humiliated by the 4th quarter, and that's when Yao turned on the jets. I'm starting to think humiliation is what gets him going.
If Yao can somehow have a few (ultra) 'clutch' moments this season [i.e.] JVG giving him the ball with the clock running out for the game winner. I think if Yao could nail some big time game winners his meteoric rise would become boundless.
Are you saying that Yao is, gulp, a masochist. Let's hope nobody gets any ideas and puts Yao in an S&M photoshop.
Totally agree with you. What Yao needs most is confidence, and such things as clutch offensive plays will boost his confidence a lot. This will add tremendous fresh energy to his body. Then we will see the 6th gear that a lot of you guys were talking about. We should carefully plan a way for his growth, physically and mentally. And I am worrying about T-Mac. Wish him the best in his recovery, physically and mentally. We need the playoffs.
now i wanna see him average 3 blocks and 2 assists every night from now until the end of the season! he's now the 2nd most efficient center, behind camby. but that will change friday. i imagine this stat for yao next season: 24.0 pts/12.0 rebs./ 2.0 asts/ 0.5 stls/ 3.0 blks/ 2.0 to/ 2.5 pf, with 55.0% field goal and 84% free throws. what a cool stat this would look! a little ahead of myself, but who cares. nothing bad to be optimistic.
It's interesting to see how Yao handles the games if making playoffs becomes impossible. Would he continue to play hard and dominate? or slack off and be upset? Now if only Yao can add a running jump hook, watch out. He'd able to face the basket and still get high percentage shots. If I was Tom Thibeudau(sp?), I'd train him on that.
