This guy is picking on Yao. I hope Yao can prove he is wrong. Yao a force even sans mean streak RESOURCES THE first shot Yao Ming missed Saturday afternoon was an uncontested layup. There he was, just his 7-6 self and the defenseless bucket, with nary a Timberwolf even in fouling range. Yao, 6-for-6 with less than six minutes left in a remarkable Rockets first half, should have let loose a banshee whoop, contorted his face into a terrifying snarl and slammed the ball down through the rim so hard it splintered the Toyota Center's new floor. That's how Darryl Dawkins, an early master of the monster jam, would have orchestrated the kind of moment every NBA big man lives for. That's also what Kevin Garnett, who was puzzling over how his Timberwolves could already be trailing 37-16, would have done if presented with the same opportunity at the other end. Unfortunately, Yao doesn't behave thusly. It's not who he is yet. On his good days, which this one definitely was, he can be wow! Ming. But the desired Yao mean personality remains an elusive goal despite the insistent nagging of coach Jeff Van Gundy and his teammates. Especially Steve Francis. Nobody pesters Yao more about his dearth of dunks than Francis, who plays above the rim every chance he gets despite spotting Yao some 15 inches. Lest we get too nitpicky here, though, Yao did contribute 22 non-dunk points in the surprising 95-76 rout of the Timberwolves, the NBA's current "it" team and winners of 17 of their last 21 games. Yao also accumulated 15 rebounds, more than twice as many as any Minnesota player could manage on an afternoon when the league's sharpest shooters uncharacteristically bricked half a hundred field-goal attempts. Yao has now surpassed 20 points and 10 rebounds in three successive starts, re-establishing a more assertive nature after what Van Gundy termed "a lull." But expectations are such for China's great hope that he'll be cut minimal slack, efforts such as Saturday's notwithstanding. The Rockets want him to throw his height around more, in addition to his weight. It's that simple. Francis, in particular, considers it his sworn duty to keep a fire lit under the gently inclined giant. "I'm always on Yao's (back)," Francis said. "Coach doesn't really bother him that much during the game, but I'm in his head 100 percent of the time. I want him to dunk the basketball a lot more than he does and just think more aggressively in general. "If he takes 14, 15 shots a game, we have a much better chance of winning because he's our best scorer percentage-wise -- and that's without him dunking. If we could just get him to jam every time ... " Francis shook his head and feigned disgust. "He's such a nice guy," Francis continued. "Too nice. I'd like to make the (U.S.) Olympic team (next summer) so I could elbow the mess out of him, make him really mad. Look, I don't expect him to pop somebody in the mouth every time down. I just want him to keep them honest when they're leaning all over him." Although the Timberwolves went small in the fourth quarter in an ill-fated effort to shoot themselves back into contention after trailing by as many as 30 points, they still swarmed Yao on the low post, forcing him to take refuge elsewhere. The strategy proved a mistake as he drained an array of fadeaways, turnarounds and, finally, a nifty jump hook. However, the Rockets hardly want Yao to be a perimeter player. They didn't decide to build the franchise around his towering frame because he's blessed with soft hands. "When we can get the ball to him inside," Francis said, "things definitely work out for us ... most of the time. They double-teamed him the whole game, but at the end they had someone on his back and someone sitting in his lap." The friendship Francis forged with Yao last season allows him to be more candid in his assessments. Jim Jackson, who's new to the Rockets, speaks with more reserve, but he reaches the same conclusions about where Yao is -- and where he needs to be. "He's definitely playing more aggressively," Jackson observes. "When he comes out and plays like he did today, we're a different kind of team. It just gives us a lot more options. "You've got to remind him (to stay aggressive) because he's the type who will score maybe four or five baskets and then start passing off instead of keeping a go, go, go attitude. He's on the path to being a dominant player, but again he's young and still adjusting." Yao, for his part, stayed in character by humbly shrugging off a suggestion that he had found his groove. He knows three games does not a trend make. "I don't know if I'm at the level of consistency I want," he admitted through his interpreter, Colin Pine. "If I keep playing like this then, yes, that shows I'm consistent. If I fall off, then I'll have to figure things out again. I do feel I am playing a lot more smoothly right now." Van Gundy's two-cents worth? "I thought Yao was very active to start and our passing was better, which helps him," the coach said. "Whenever he gets offensive rebounds, that will help. Open shots -- those will help, too." And a spot of luck. On one of the layups he did make, Yao lost control of the ball, but it swished through the net anyway, the bucket that surely told the Timberwolves they had picked the wrong day to mess with the Rockets. "We proved," Francis said, "that we can play with the quote-unquote big boys." Of course, they should be able to with the biggest boy of all on their side.
Francis is the cooler than the duke of wellington. After reading that, I dont give a damn if he turns the ball over 10 times a game. Francis is da man.
I hope Kobe doesnt play, I would love to see steve on that team. He has wanted to be on there ever since the year Rudy coached. It's wrong how that Vancuver guy singles him out.
Whoever wrote this article is not "picking" on Yao. He's right. And so is Francis for getting in Yao's face about this. Yao must keep playing aggressive. Or he will be taken advantage of. If we make it to the play-offs, Yao will know the meaning of being "picked on." TD, KG and Shaq will not be "nice."
No kidding. The playoffs will show Yao what REAL intensity,aggressiveness, and physical play are. The mean streak that JVG and Francis are trying to instill in Yao may well be what gets us into the second round of the playoffs.
even if Francis makes the dream team, he probably won't get to play against Yao. USA and China aren't in the same pool and the chance of China coming out of the other pool is slim.
Well, he does tend to lapse into periods where he plays like a timid schoolgirl. He also appears to be lost out there a lot. He could definitely be more assertive on the court or failing that, let his bball skills do the talking ala Tim Duncan. He'll be fine once his supporting cast improves (read changes). About 70% of his problems are due to the inability of his teammates to make other teams pay for collapsing their defenses around him. Other teams know that the Rockets shooters are inconsistent and streaky so they will keep employing these tactics until the Rockets force them to change. Yao'll will start getting respect once he starts to consistently put up 20/10 numbers every night.
I hope thats right. The fact is that whenever Yao plays aggressive we in and he's been doing that for the past 3 days which is incredible and we've been winning. I hope he does the same on Monday against Memphis
I like this writer a lot of the time, but couldn't disagree more on this. A lot of writers, and sometimes JVG, seem to want Yao to be Ewing. He's not. And he could be better. If Yao can develop into a player that's equally adept inside and out... we'd have a truly magnificent player. I want him to maintain his abilities from 18-20 feet... not concentrate solely on becoming a human dunk machine. I have no problem with those who want him to play better inside... but some people actually seem contemptuous of his outside game... which, IMO, is truly foolish.
Yao's got that Sabonis game. If he develops into the Young healthy version of Sabonis that would be best. He isn't going to be a Shaq, and they need to quit forcing him to be like one.
i fkkn love it man. got the paper this morning and i had to read that out loud to the Ms.'s. that cracked me up. You gotta love that Stevie Francis
The funny thing is, is that the most of th team do not know what the play-offs are like (JJ, Mobley, Mark Jackson do...). It's Yao that will have the hardest time (shock). So, you are right. JVG and team are trying to prevent the "shell shock" feeling that Yao will experience. I mean, they will have to deal with their own overwhelming feelings themselves. They can't be worrying about Yao "softness." He needs to learn how to take care of himself in the play-offs.
His outside shot is a nice luxury, but it should not be his bread and butter. There are so many mediocre centers in the NBA that can hit an open 18 footer. Doleac, Nesterovic, Mihm, Foster, and even Shawn Bradley can all stand at the top of the key all game and knock down that shot consistently. What will truly distinguish Yao from all of those mediocre centers is his post up game. His ability to be a dependable go-to-guy in the post. That’s why it’s imperative for Yao to make huge strides on improving his inside game. Or else he’s just one step above being a mediocre center.
Be real. I dont think I'll be way off by saying Yao almost always had a great game when he was allowed to use all his repertoires, both inside and outside. Whenever he had a great game, we always won. The only times he had a bad game was when he tried to force the issues by backing down his defender down low. Thats when our offense became stagnant, he got tired easily, making stupid turnovers, and missing all those off balanced fadeaways. Probably except Shaq, almost all decent centers in the league nowadays, including all those pseduo center/forwards, like Duncan, KG, and Miller, play both in and out games. Unless the defensive rules in NBA is changed again, this WILL BE the trend how NBA centers play in the future. If Miller was told to play exclusively down low, I could assure you he'd be just an average player at best. If Foster, Bradley and the likes were not even able to knock down those open jumpers, that would only make them even worse than they already are.
I think what you are talking about what some people refer to as a true "basketball player." That means they can do it ALL very good. But still have their strong areas. Larry Bird comes to mind. Bird was small foward, but could also pass like a PG. Bird was small foward, but could also rebound like a Center. Bird was small foward, but could hit the 3 pointer like a specialist. Bird was small foward, but could run the court like a SG. Bird was small foward, but could hit FTs like a PG (88%). That being said, Bird still had ares were he liked to roam and did best. And that area was out around the 18 to 24 ft area, using the pick and rolls and some highpost. So, while true that Bird did it all very well. He did have his favorite areas. So Yao, although not limited to the inside, will have his strong areas on the court were he likes to roam. And that main area will not be on the outside. It will be on the inside. As his strength and speed increases, he should become more dominant inside. And that would be too much a weapon to not exploit. So, some of you might not like the idea that Yao will become a "dunking machine." Just you watch...it will happen. Although, Yao's 18 foot high-post plays will be complimentary to his inside game. But not exclusive. A true "basketball player." Old school! Like Ducan and Bird. As far as this idea that JVG is trying to turn Yao into Ewing...that's not happening... "Dunking machine" doesn't mean that Yao will lose his other skills. He'll still be able to use outside shots as a weapon. Yao will become more versatile than Hakeem, Ewing and Shaq, although not as powerful. That's saying something. Lest we forget that Yao's weak points last year was not his "outside shot." It was his inside post. Why work on his outside shot and spin it to mean, "Let's not turn Yao into something he's not?" That's a weak excuse. It's being a Yao apologist. Did we forget that Yao is a center? That he is 7'5" and start feeling sorry for him?
