I think he just rags on people that make stupid posts. or he just wants to save money. step back and look at yourself dude... your attacks are oftentimes unwarranted. Try being fair in your criticisms for once...as I said earlier....your reactionary posts hurt you when you actuially try to make valid posts because everyone thinks you must be raggin on Yao without ever reading your posts.
Actually, I don't rag on SF constantly at all, on the contrary. You must be confusing me with someone. I only rag on you and ricerocket because you both deserve it. Oh, and occasionally on MacBeth, but he takes it in stride .
that sounds downright optimistic of you....better go get yourself checked out...I think you must be sick.
I guess there is a difference between replacing SF with some true unselfish point guard and having your max player turning his back on your team and simply leaving his position open. We all agree that a bball team need a point guard, right? Do you seriously think that Hakeem or Shaq could win last night's game? If I were you, I would select a better chance to jump on Yao. When the Rockets have a decent point guard, playing some well-organized ball, without someone like Cat taking tons of ill-advised shots, then, only then, if he still fails, that would be the perfect timing for you to loading your gun. BTW, as for silentfan, it's kinda dangerous to say "Yao never can do this or never can do that". Because lots of people were embarrassed by their own remarks when they say never. You are risking your reputation for extreme "consistant" posts, and your fragile "Asian pride".
You take Yao off that team and put Hakeem or Shaq on it and I guarantee that they would have won the game. In fact, if you take Yao off this team and put Shaq or Hakeem on it, They would probably have the best record in the league.
Yeah, I'm a little disappointed Yao didn't take this team on his shoulders last night against a team who's pretty small inside, particularly when they're missing Amare. I have no idea why he passed out of the post so quickly so often.
Too bad Cat didnt miss the same flight. It's only one game. I wouldn't use it to conclude how this team would be without SF. It's not like he has been that efficient of late. Everybody played bad in this game. Yao couldn't even hit from the FT. I guess you could blame that on the absence of SF's leadership. And JVG looked just as confused as his players. Its frustating to see him keep benching Yao whenever he started making one or two mistakes. It didnt help much either when Mobley went for 5/18, and 2/7, the same goes for JJ, and Marion was on fire. There were two problems with MJ at pg. He is just too slow and and cant shoot from the outside. He has never been a good shooter in his entire career. Don't you think it's premature to conclude that we don't need a pass-first pg just based on one bad game, not to mention SF's absence is more a distraction than a lack of leadership for now.
I always try to be fair in my criticisms. In fact I think I am more rational about what I say than the people that rebut me. If I say that Yao is not living up to certain player's level, I always back it up with statistical evidence. The response is always along the lines of - "You're stupid." Maybe I come off a little harsh, but after being insulted by Yao fans to crazy degrees - one guy even dug up like every post I ever had that commented on Yao and reposted them - I do get annoyed sometimes when they refuse to make him accountable for his own play. I have aways said that Yao can be a valuable piece to a winning team, just not the MAIN piece. You can agree or disagree with that, but it's a valid opinion. What I don't want to happen is for thi myopia to have us dismantle the team, build it around Yao and five years down the road finally accept that Yao is not a dominant player and then have to rebuild again. I really believe this is happening. Though it is COMPLETELY not his fault I believe this team, organization and fan based started to split the moment Yao was drafted. It kind of put all of us in two camps. And it's causing discord all around. And the sad thing is, it won't be for another year or two to see who was right. I just think that after 129 games - over 120 of which he started - if Yao was going to be the kind of player to carry a team to a title, we would have seen it. We know he's an average rebounder at best. We know he's an average shot blocker and a slightly above average offensive player. We know he's tall, slow, and can't jump. We know he's a good passer - even though his assist numbers are pretty poor right now - and we know he has a good outside shot. IMHO - that is not the makeup of a player that can lead a team to a title. P.S. I'm almost certain that someone in the next ten posts will point out how Steve is not that kind of player either.
How do you guarantee? Did you watch the Lakers - Pacers game? They never had a chance, that was with Paton and Fisher, but not a well-organized game. Did you watch the Lakers - Raptors game? Shaq dominated with 36 points, but Raptors as crappy as they are, and even mediocre among the so-called leastern conference, they managed to come back from a 16 points deficit. They lost one point due to some very very questionable calls on the end. How can you guarantee me when you put Hakeem or Shaq to replace Yao Ming last night, we could win against the hot-shooting Suns last night? Bastetball is a team sport, maybe not as much as hockey games, but it's still a team sport. Just for your reference, I would assume you mean the only difference between Lakers and Rockets is Ming and Shaq, then why are they hurting so much when Malone or Kobe are not playing?
As dominant as Shaq is, he still needs the game flow to click and a point guard to support and also outsider shooter like Fisher and Fox to make open shots. Yao is NOT as dominant as Shaq, but what makes you think he's the main reason we played poorly last night or even lately?
I'm not sure some of you watch the same games. The reason Yao doesn't put up big numbers is because of our lack of outside shooting. Teams, especially smaller front court teams, are constantly zoning down low and when/if Yao gets the ball, they send a speed rush double/triple team at him. What is Yao supposed to do? Shoot over three guys? Yao most often than not makes the right decision by passing out of the double team to the open man outside. It's up to the other players to hit the shots and make the other team punish for the D they are playing. Then you would see the change in D and Yao putting up better numbers. Its simple basketball. Guys like Cat and JJ have come on as of late but the team as a whole has been streaky at best shooting from the outside. Teams know this going in and see that when Yao puts up at least decent numbers the Rockets win. I know if I was coaching against the Rockets and these factors, I would do anything to keep the ball out of Yao's hands and make the outside shooters beat me.
Of course it's Yao's fault that Cat can't hit an open layup. Or it's Yao's fault that we were down by 5 when he went out and down by 20 when he came back in. Or maybe it's Yao's fault Marion was left wide open when he's been hitting 3's all night. Or that Joe Johnson torched our guards. You don't cut out 10 million worth of players mid season and expect the team to win right away. You have to make trades and adjust. Let's compare a similar team: New Orleans. They are another team that started off well and has been fading fast ever since. Now, take Baron Davis out and see how many of the next games they win. Yao wasn't the one getting torched for it, yet he's getting the blame for it. On the other hand we have people defending our only max player for screwing the team over. PATHETIC. The Chronicle summed it up the best, Francis let his team down. That's all that's need to be said about that.
I never said we didnt need someone who looked to pass first...did I? I said....this is what we get without SF in the lineup....it doesnt matter to me if he is the off guard or the point....when you have a Francis on the court...you have a scoring threat that other teams MUST honor. Whether or not it was a lack of what llittle leadership SF brings...or a distraction(no excuses remember?) to the team doesnt matter to the points I was bringing up. My point was all about the intangibles as far as oppponents defense and how the other Rockets get better looks with SF on the court. Juugie... I understand what you mean about certain fans being unfair in their rebuttals and their blindness to certain other players faults...I have had numerous headbuttings with them myself....so much so that I am actually labeled as being in the same camp as you by most of them.. ut the point is....you DO get too harsh...Is Yao not doing what we expect or need? for the most part...yes... but he(just like SF and CAt) are Rockets....and as such they deserve to not be roasted alive for every little mistake....everyone makes mistakes....everyone needs toie to get comfortable with the moves that have been made this season..players, coach, system, whatever... Things are different this year...I doubt ANYONE will argue that....what is unfair is how some are sooo stuck in looking inthe past,that they fail to see the improvement from all the players as they happen before our eyes......... have we hit a rough stretch right now???abso-freakin-lutely...but the talent is there.. .on those nights when everything is clicking......dont they make you proud? Dont they look like a team that is going places? SO what we hit a little losing streak.. SO what... these guys are our guys....and it is extrememly doubtful they are going anywhere (at least until the offseason), so why they hell cant we all be a little less reactionary to each other...and to the team? Im not looking for a lovey dovey kumbaya bbs......but how bout being a little less ....ESPN board-like?
Im not so sure you watched last nights game. I dont expect him to try to force thru double or triple teams...what I do expect, is for him to take the shot when he is on the elbow(or closer) with ONE man on him..which happened at least 5 times last night. Did the resst of the team fail to suck it up and play with heart without SF there... absolutley! They all deserve credit for that debacle......(including Francis).....but....do not even presume that Yao is in no way also included in that group criticism....he made just as many mistakes as Cat...or JJ....or Mo...
So, as long as Yao is double teamed, he's never going to be effective? Tell you what, he's going to be double teamed for as long as he's in the league so he's going to have to deal with it. If the Rockets are missing so many shots, then that's the perfect opportunity to get offensive rebounds and put backs. What's the excuse why given he was often the only player on the floor over 7' that he couldn't dominate the paint? Even if it's everyone else's fault except his why he only scored 16 points why the hell did he only get 8 boards? How did Cat and JJ and Steve and all the evil in the world keep him from at least getting double figure rebounds? Why couldn't he control the game inside? And with all of the passing out he was doing, why didn't he get a SINGLE assist? Listen, I don't wrong you for Yao being your favorite player. But at least be objective.
How many offensive boards does Shaq get per game? How about Duncan. Or KG and Dirk. If ANY of them can average 5 offensive boards and put back without getting hacked they'd improve their PPG by 10. Yet surprise surprise, you don't see it. And btw, you're telling me to be objective? What a joke.
What I am telling you is that in games where they are having a tough time scoring, the truly great ones pick it up in another area. If a team is denying you the ball, take it upon yourself to get 20 rebounds that game. Block 5 shots. To do something to be a force in the game. Yao's best play all night was a flop that put a foulf on Voskul and sent him to the line. (Even though he missed both free throws.)
