I'm 50/50 on this move. I'd say it all depends on how Ming is handling the more playing time. He would know better than us and I'm sure Rudy asks Yao how he's doing all the time. I agree with the above poster if it'll help the rockets come playoff time ... then don't play him as much. Its still real early in the season, but I can see the Rockets making the playoffs as long as we stay healthy.
I dont know why I didnt think about that. You make a very good point. Yao is my age, 22. There are no excuses for being tired. Sure, you could be a little fatigued, but to the point where your body cant function? No. Yao should keep on playing.
I think Yao need to fit the 5 games/week step by step. Before the last month, he never played so many games in a week.
Even if he never played 5 games in one week, he still had practice on the other days. He's is young. Fatigue should not be a problem.
What do you mean by learning the rhythm? Im just saying that benching him because he is tired is inexcusable. The fact that playing an extra 10 minutes a night is too much is funny, IMO.
I am an extreme Rockets and Yao Ming Fan. I say Yao Ming should be playing off the bench and Cato starting. Yao Ming has a better chance of developing his confidence, his ability and stamina by playing a strong back up game. It is going to take at least a year for him to be able to play the Role of starting Center! Rudy T is bringing him along too fast! If you are going to build your stamina you must have sufficient recovery, playing 30-35 mins as a starter in 70 games is too much stress for him to adapt his stamina to the NBA game. He should come off the bench and play 20 -30 mins as he progresses. He has much to learn, he is only taking his baby steps!Fatigue is a very serious problem, especially when you are unable to play through it. For example when Yao Ming was unable to run up and down the Court then Rudy should have known that he needed REST!
Have you played any high intensity game in an organized league? If you did, then you won't make the comment like you did. At 22, your body should take much less time to recover than at 30+, but you still get tired after high intensity competition regardless your age. That's why you rarely see any superstar play the entire game. Yao's condition only can sustain a good 20 minutes per game at this moment. There is no good to put a tired/slow body on the court. It will harm the team, and increase the chance of injury to him. It's obvious he was over stretched in the Mavs game. I thought Rudy did a good job by bringing Yao off the bench in the early part of the season. He was rushed in to the starting line, now we have an issue. I don't think Rudy will move Yao back to the bench, that will be a set back to him, if not a diaster. I believe that will be a right decision. Don't tell me it makes no difference with the equal minutes. Anyone who played organized games know there is a big difference between starting and coming off the bench. If effect your game greatly. The right approach is to keep Yao in the starting lineup, reduce his minutes to where he can really produce, something like 20+ a game. The more important thing is to put more half court sets around Yao in the Low & High post on the offensive side, play more zone on the defensive side. This way, the pace of the game will be reduced to a level where Yao will feel much more comfortable, and provide more output. Many people argue that Yao will get used to the fast pace if you plays more, but that is not true. How can you expect a 7"6' guy can run as fast as a 6"4' guards? A team's style should always based on the personal on the team. The Lakers play more half court game because of Shaq. No one in their right mind would suggest that LA should play a fast paced Run n' Gun game like the Nets. We all see what happened with them when Shaq was out in the first 10+ games. More and more teams will double & zone up Yao when they play the Rockckets, but that's okay. Yao might no score that much, but with his court vision, pass ability, that will open up tons of open shots, and slash/cut to the hoop from the guard/forwards. All in all, I'd say keep Yao in the starting lineup. Slow down the game pace with more playing desinged around Yao.
Hmmmm... first, people were complaining about Rudy not using Ming more. Now people are complaining about Rudy using him too much. Funny.
EZ, That is what I have been saying. I think Rudy brought him along slowly the first couple of weeks to: 1. Learn the system, and 2. to let him rest a little bit. Now, he has adapted, he gets the same amount of rest as every other player on the team, and he is ready to start and contribute. Certainly not dominate, but contribute and learn. Bringing him off the bench only delays the invevitable. He is getting paid a lot of money to play in the NBA, so he should play. Bringing him off the bench slows down not only Yao's progression, but it slows the Rockets down as well. With Yao, we have a post-man who can help run an offense. Without Yao, we go back to the guard-oriented offense that is easier to defend. Having Yao in the game from the start changes everything about how the Rockets play.
He does need to be brought in slowly. You guys ever notice that he scores early in his minutes then slows down. A clear sign of fatigue which I hope he'll overcome soon.
Just because he isn't scoring doesn't mean he is tired. There are a number of factors that go into not scoring.
It's not true!! Everyone love Yaoming in China, but not everyone like Wang. And, for myself I like Yao more especially because he is very clever.
I don't want to comment on Wang Zhizhi but I'm sick of some of his fans coming over here and bashing Yao Ming ! It's ridiculous!Remember it's a Rocket's forum! I'm ashamed of you!!! Yao Ming has a very good attitude towards life and he can be a great role model for young people!
Shaq had four fouls in the first half of a playoff game last year against the Spurs... I guess they should cut him from the team, right?
