It seems that some people are determined to believe that Yao is unhappy with JVG. If that myth can be repeated enough, then more and more people will believe it, and more and more people will want JVG gone. It seems that those people want to use Yao as the "see, I told you so" example, and since Yao is our team's future, it's being played on. You people are going to bring down Yao's confidence in his coach, which may just give him an "excuse" to play passive, and disinterested. Yao doesn't need a crutch to lean against. Yao reads what goes on in these boards, so why would anyone want to blatantly spew all this garbage on the board? Be constructive in whatever criticism you feel is warranted. This isn't Detroit........
the only boards Yao needs to be worried about are the ones on the court... seriously...whatever makes you think that he would have the slightest interst in the ramblings of a bunch of deranged fanatics? I guarantee that he is encouraged to not spend any time looking for fan reactions or media reports....all players are. then....if he is so mentally weak that the delusional rantings of some fans are affecting his mental game...then maybe he needs to go play in a less high pressured environment.. this is the toughest league in the world to play in...I certainly hope he didnt come here expecting to be treated with kid gloves. and for the record...I would be much happier if I didnt have to read constant criticism from every post here.....a little positivity towards the team is in order... and another btw....Im sure there are some Yao fans that read my stuff and think I must hate Yao....nothng could be farther from the truth...Im just sick and tired of the fans making up excuses and imagining stuff to try to explain away his shortcomings... quit treating him like a child....let him grow to be a man....you arent helping him by constantly babying him.
Well, someone does need to get on Yao's butt. JVG IS making him a better player, and a student of the game. Yeah, Yao may be whining a bit now, but the time will come when he understands what JVG has done for him. Coddling him will eventually make him a washout at the NBA level. Tough love will eventually make him a superstar.
Why is it hard to believe that Yao responds negatively to open criticism, and better to positive reinforcement? JVG is a dire man, one who will never lead his team to a championship, he simply is too miserable to be happy. JVG will have to go for this team to reach it's peak. DD
Ummm, no. Whether or not Yao becomes a superstar is entirely up to him. As to "making him a better player," I really don't think so. Yao has picked up some skills from playing in the League for 2+ seasons, but the JVG-scheme has robbed Yao of some of his natural abilities that made him special. Far too often he looks like an inferior Patrick Ewing, a guy that never fully ascended the "superstar" ladder in his own right.
I think psychology 101 explains all this. Not everyone is built the same. Some folks react better to positive reinforcement. Some folks react better to negative reinforcement. What works for Kurt Thomas will not work for Yao and vice versa. JVG has been so ingrained into the Pat Riley approach to players, that it is almost impossible for him to separate himself from that philosophy.
I've frequented many fan boards of teams of various sports but I have never seen a more negative board. I see maybe 1 or 2 positive threads with apologetic titles like "optimistic view". For gods sakes we're at 500 and have been in every game with an essentially new team. Yao's game is changing and TMac is still adapting. Once we get it together we'll be very good. The big thing for me is we've proven we can play on the road. Its just a matter of time until we start winning at home.
It's not entirely up to Yao. There are reasons for coaches, assistants, trainers. Yao needs to have the will, and skills, but the direction and training will need to be taught. The mindset of Yao is influenced by those around him, believe it or not. Good coaching and training are a big part of it.
From the repeated silly mistakes Yao kept making in his third year (rebounding, blocking, getting silly fouls), the coaching stuff is doing an extremely poor job. Yao has high BB IQ, and he is not THAT slow, yet he failed to improve in these simple areas in two years. Obviously he and JVG is not working out well. There is no MYTH about that.
Yao used to have lots of moves under the basket when he was playing for Ruby. Since he played for JVG, those moves are basically gone. To make things worse, his outside shooting touch has mysteriously disappeared thanks to JVG for stubbornly trying to turn Yao into a Shaq, which is doomed to fail, and will ruin Yao's development.
Early in Yao's career, defenses weren't paying him nearly as much attention as they are now. The lane isn't as open as it once was, and Yao is rarely single covered. His shooting is suffering due to that elbow and brace-at least that's more logical than a JVG stab.
He improved in those areas throughout his second year. Maybe his foul troubles are due to his time away from the NBA, playing in the Olympics and China games? Different rules..... na, it's OBVIOUSLY JVG.
I don't know if JVG's approach to Yao has been working or not. But Yao is absolutely tailor-made for JVG's style. That is, a slow offense that relies heavily on high percentage shots in a half court game. Few players can score as efficiently as Yao in the half court game. If JVG can't coach this team, he doesn't deserve to be a coach.
Yao needs to adjust to defenses playing him differently than in year's past. He then needs to realize that the only way the Rockets win is if he plays aggressive. A 7 ft 5 guy with his talent should be going to the line 10 times a game, not 2-3 times a game. Yao will never be a star until he plays with more fire. Right now he is playing like a 3rd option.
Those high percentage shots become low when Yao refuses to take INSIDE shots, preferring fadeaways, or worst yet, passing the ball to Tyronn Lue or JJ for jumpers off the dribble when the clock is running down.
