If Yao was injuried from the night before and felt he couldn't go and told JVG so and JVG decided to play Yao anyway, then you have a point. However, that wasn't the case, just read Yao's quotes in yesterday's Chron... 'No big deal' "A little bit twisted," Yao said. "It was no big deal. That can happen on the court every minute. It's the same spot I got hurt. We're not sure. It's some little problem in there. Today I hurt the same spot. "I can play." Yao said he had no doubt he would play tonight at Utah, just as he did not give a thought to coming out of Sunday's game. But when asked if he were concerned about playing, he said: "I worry about that. I just feel I still can play. "I think I took a lesson this year. Any hurt, tell Keith (Jones, Rockets trainer). Don't keep it like I kept my toe until I needed surgery. But now, I feel I still can play." Jones said that lesson had led to the Rockets' treating Yao's ankle for about a week before he tweaked it in "the same spot" Sunday. Yao had not shown signs of the injury on the court in the past week. Even Sunday, he was at his best after he got back up. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3782955.html
The same reason players all over the league, since the foundation of the NBA, have played in meaningless games - because its the right thing to do. Fans pay to see players, and athletes compete to win. People go to games to be entertained, and the NBA, the Rockets, and Yao have a responsibility to live up to that. Contrary to some people's opinion on this board, the world doesn't have special rules for Yao. He should and does get treated like every other player in the NBA who is paid to go out and do a job - play basketball.
Yao has a job, but the Rockets also have a huge investment in his future. Why risk this investment unnecessarily, in a totally meaningless game? The benefit (a few more butts in the seats) is just not worth the risk. The serious fans -- the season ticket holders -- will totally understand, and will probably be entertained anyway in the remaining games because these people are basketball lovers. The other fans will be back next season when the team starts winning consistently. So the team has little to gain and far too much to lose by playing Yao unnecessarily.
Yes, he is. The extension is signed. It doesn't kick in until next season, but does that really make a difference?
Teams don't market to the "core" fans - those people will be fans regardless. Its the casual fans they focus on. If they don't provide an entertaining product, the next time those people are thinking of going to a game, they won't because they didn't have a fun time the previous game they went to. Again - every team in the league plays their players in meaningless games. And every team has long-term investments in their top players. Why should Yao be treated differently than every other player in the history of the NBA that played these games?
What, are you trying to be logical? Doesn't belong on this tread, even though Yao said so before the game last night, it was obviously JVG that forced Yao out there and made sure he broke his foot...
I have already answered a similar question. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showpost.php?p=2277673&postcount=229
KG probably wanted to keep playing too (in order to keep his ironman streak alive, if nothing else), but he's out.
But I can seriouly attribute standing in the way of developing young players and jeopardizing Rox future to Van Dumy daily
I dunno...maybe because he is young and is still learning to play the game at a really high level. Maybe because there is no better practice at improving than playing in games. Mabye because he is a very competitive person and wants to be in the game. Maybe, just maybe, Yao playing at the level he has achieved since the All-Star Break just gives him more confidence, which will help in the future. Maybe JVG is paid by the Rockets to win games, and unless CD or Les tells him to tank it, he will coach to win games. Maybe because the team would rather win than lose, as no one likes losing. Maybe because the back up center is 56 years old. Maybe because every game that T-Mac sits, Yao has to be more of a team leader on the court...something he was lacking in the past. Maybe because fans that pay lots of money to watch games would like to see him play. Maybe because he is paid millions of dollars to be on the court if possible. Wait, scratch all that. It really is JVG's fault. I hate having a coach that wants to win games. That's really not what coaching is about
Yeah, Yao will always want to play. I haven't voiced my opinion in entirety on the issue, so here's my 2cents: I guess I can't really blame JVG. After all, his job is try to win every game possible. Long-term planning is not in his job description. He has every right to play any player that is available to him, and Yao made himself available. However, I do wish JVG would have the wisdom of not playing him, of seeing the big picture. Maybe that's too much to ask of him. Talking about unwise, it's unwise for Yao to make himself available also. I don't know if JVG knows, Yao has his history with his left foot, his al-important pivot foot. He lost some vertical to previous foot surgeries. He just fixed his big toe on his left foot. He just twisted and mildly sprained his ankle the night before. Yes, Yao said he could play. But knowing Yao's personality, knowing the situation Rockets now are in (being out of the playoff race), it would be much wiser to hold him out in a back-to-back night. Yao was not 100% last night. Don't tell me he was. He was not. Looking for evidence? From the Chron article the night before: Yao said he had no doubt he would play tonight at Utah, just as he did not give a thought to coming out of Sunday's game. But when asked if he were concerned about playing, he said: "I worry about that. I just feel I still can play. Right there, it should tell you yao is not 100%, if you know Yao's personality. And don't tell me, fatigue won't increase the risk of injury when you are not 100%. Sometimes, when you have your worry back in your mind, it's more likely to get injured. No foot problem to a big guy like Yao should be taken lightly - think about how many good plays has their game altered because of foot problems. JVG was given a cue to sit Yao, he chose not to. The season was effectively ended. There was not much to gain to play Yao and play to win on a back-to-back night on the raod. There was a lot to gain to play younger players, the Chuck Hayes(s) of the team. Don't tell me he's owe it to the fan. Play him at home, not on a back-to-back game on the road when he twisted his ankle the night before. Don't tell me playing is good for Yao either, whether or not Yao play in the remaining 5-6 meaningless games has little to no effect on Yao's development. We are not Magics. Yao has showed us what he can do, what he can't do. Holding him out for one game doesn't change a bit of that. Now the damage is done. The best senario is that Yao won't have any lingering effect from this surgery - like further loss of vertical or foot speed - only his summer work out plan will be scratched. It's yet to be seen if Yao will skip the WC play. I wish the best for the big guy. I wish Yao can make the most wise decision for himself this summer.
one last thing...how does getting kicked in the foot and having it break have ANYTHING to do with a twisted ankle? someone please explain it to me. from the way most people here talk, you would think that JVG kicked it himself in a timeout.
If we let players make all decisions about their health condition, what do we need a trainer for, what do we need a coach for? A general makes decisions, even if they are against soldiers' will. Yao's wanting the play in a meaningless game despite his concern of the injury is unwise, even borderline stupid. JVG let him play was nothing short of stupid.
yeah, players should just shut it down in losing seasons when they are hurting a bit. T-Mac didn't really get criticized for that when he was in Orlando. And Keith Jones said he could play
remember JVG left him out there for minute even after Okur kicked Yao and caused the injury? It was stupid to play Yao in last game after he twisted his ankle the previous night, even if nothing happened. The new injury just made it look more stupid.
