I'm sure he'll put up big numbers down the stretch. Hell, I'll go on record as predicting that he'll drop 35 and 15 on the Mavs tonite in a blowout win. But it doesn't mean a damn thing. He's shown stretches of dominance before and then followed up with stretches where he was painfully mediocre. At the end of the day, he hasn't given me faith that he can lead a team deep into the playoffs.
Again, what's the point of speculation? We're going to see what a Yao centric Rockets team looks like in the coming weeks and months. At the end of that period everyone's going to be in a much better position to gauge impact and effectiveness.
I was buying... today.... somtimes when things look the worst... its the best time to believe go ROX!!!! obtw I joined because there is a new era.... no more Tmac... I was a fan of his before most of you even heard of Tmac in Toronto... a followed him to Orlando... even though gave the once over to the Raptors yet I still believed... while he was here in Houston too
As I posted elsewhere it doesn't matter who's on the team, LeBron or Wally, anybody's going to benefit from a guy who commands a double team in the low post and who can pass out of it. It that a big enough weapon to win everything? Maybe, maybe not, but it's still a huge weapon and the Rockets would be fools not to exploit it. There's a reason that the TNT crew last year said that if it was a choice between Yao and T-Mac that Yao would be the guy you would keep and T-Mac would be the guy you traded away. Centers like Yao are a rarity in today's NBA. Maybe the Rockets would still need a LeBron to win everything, but there should be zero doubt in everybody's mind that Yao will make life much, much easier for that LeBron level player.
It was the SUPERSTAR that CARRIED them thru Games 5 and 6 to have a chance to be in Game 7.... The fact is... Without Hakeem, there never would have been a game 6.... The turning point was when KJ, got an easy break away and Hakeem came out of NO WHERE to block his shop.... So as I stated before it DOES take a TEAM to win, but you need a SUPERSTAR to get you there.
See these are the points that get to me... YAO IS NOT EVEN IN THE SAME ZIP CODE WITH DREAM...... Yao is a good player.... Hakeem was a SuperStar...
Pair any of these so-called superstar with our duo-sixfeet-2ndyr-PG at this time of the season, then b**** him to carry it all the way!
That's fine then if you're willing to concede that the issue should atleast be assessed this offseason. I'm addressing those who subscribe to the rigid outlook that trading Yao is out of the question.
First game officially of the Yao Ming Era. How did he do? 22 points, 13 rebounds, 2 blocks, 0 assists, and 6 turnovers. The Rockets still need to do a better job of utilizing Yao in the fourth quarter when the opposing team goes small and fronts him. And Yao has to be more assertive in getting himself open at the basket. He also did a poor job all night in recognizing double teams and making the correct counter play. A lot is riding on Yao right now, and he simply has to improve and be that consistent rock for us.
I think Artest gives good passes to Yao. And The league now is not the league then. Pick any center of any team right now, and watch how Yao outplay each and every one of them down the course of the season (Still praying to the injury gods though).
Yeah, I don't really get the point of this entire thread. Cabbage: Are you trying to bash Yao for no reason? Why the hell would you bring up Hakeem? The Dream is the Dream, and Yao is Yao. Sure, Dream would dominate Yao today, if they played (assuming Dream is at his best.) But I seriously don't understand why you would just bring up this video for no reason. Do you not like Yao? I can understand you not liking him, but did you really make a thread based on this, as an indirect knock on Yao? Why don't you take your pessimism, and get the heck off the board? His pros outweighs his cons. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
His pros do outweigh his cons. But when people complain about him not getting enough touches, suggesting we should be running everything through him, they need to recognize that he's not that kind of player. We need to make better use of him in the fourth quarter, but watch the way Hakeem dominated in that video. He was a versatile offensive player, and there were a number ways to get him the ball. Yao is totally different, and people need to recognize that when they question why he's not getting the ball more.
Ok, this thread references Olajuwon in terms of Yao so I understand why I find this to be... surprising. Dream nor any other great center could operate as they did under the current rules. In today's Chronicle, Morey said Yao's playing the best basketball of his career and I thought that a strange statement. In fact, I think there's a belief that Yao would be greater if he comfortably takes more turn-arounds. fades and shoots a less percentage. This board resists that notion, but no one can convince me that Morey isn't an advocate of it. And Yao, as all great centers, have to become something different when they hit 30. Most - even merely good ones - improve.
Awesome video, but I don't understand the reason for the thread, he's no Hakeem... neither is Shaq or Robinson or Dwight Howard. Just two years ago he was putting up 25/10 and an MVP candidate, there's no reason he can't match that production and sustain it, all we need is a recovered t-mac(obviously next year) or adequate three point shooters. No one can stop Yao w/ single coverage, we just need players to shoot the ball and score just enough. With the efficeny that he scores from the field and free throw line, all we need to do is get him more shots.
We will go as far as Yao can take us. It has been Tmac's burden for the past 3-4 years but now that Tmac is gone, Yao has to fill that void. Yes, our role players is significant for playoff success, but there is no way we will go deep in the playoffs if Yao does not go to the next level. And I mean MVP-caliber level. Playoffs bring a different form of intensity that will break down, and I guarantee break down a lot of our young players. Superstar don't and Yao must be that superstar. We are like the current Portland Trail blazers. A very good team, but will only go further if by how far Roy can take them. Aldridge and Oden are key factors but it is all dependent on Roy to make things happen. IMO, we are somewhat like the New Jersey Nets 2004-2007. Lots of talent, have the superstars but yet somehow failed. Carter, Kidd and Jefferson were already playing great but it was NOT enough. Someone has to break the mold. It was Wade and Lebron that did it over the Pistons back in 2006 and 07, Pierce did it over the Cavs last year. I believe Joe Johnson was close last year. Yao knows this and must do so, especially now that Tmac is gone. As fans, we will only see if he can deliver.
Please, someone PLEASE, tell me, if Yao is no Hakeem to lead the Rockets (which he isn't), WHO can the Rockets get to replace Yao? To become the new Hakeem? And the answer is NO ONE AT ALL. All this talk about Yao isn't Hakeem, well that's obvious. For this "problem", what is the solution then? Who could you get to replace Yao in the middle, since he's not the answer? Dwight? Orlando won't give him up without a fight. Duncan? No chance. Bynum? Try again. Oden? Um, don't think so. Jefferson? People here complain about Yao's defense, man wait till those people see this guy's D, we're gonna have to get some people of the ledge. So who else is there to get once we kick Yao out the door? If you're gonna complain about something, you better offer the solution as well.
