I'm all for Yao, but I very much dislike holding my breath every time he falls over or looks like he's about to fall. I, too, am hopeful he can dominate the paint for us this season. That's something we really lacked last season. One thing's for sure, I hope they make better/funnier commercials with him. None of that "yo. Yao. yo. Yao" nonsense.
No one knows what Yao will be, don't get down on the naysayers, they are just taking the negative approach. If the doctors got it right, Yao will be fine and he is still in his prime as big guys have longer....wasn't Hakeem 31 when he won his first championship? Let's hope Yao's foot is good......the doctors seem to think it is..... And, Yao played the entire season 2 years ago......he got hurt in the playoffs. DD
Total horsesh!t. When he was healthy, Yao was a "maybe top 20" big man? Care to name 20 big men who were better than Yao just two years ago? How about 5? How about TWO? As recently as the 2008-2009 season, the only big man even in the conversation with Yao was Dwight Howard, and for all his athleticism around the basket, he was nowhere NEAR the offensive force Yao was. I see no reason Yao can't get back to that status again (except maybe reduced MPG). The only question is whether or not he can sustain it over a full season without getting injured again.
I wonder what Adelman's offensive strategy will be with Yao on the court. We have turned into a run-and-gun offense in Yao's absence (by necessity). That kind of offense doesnt suit Yao at all, and it definitely doesnt suit a guy with foot problems. Will he keep what we have done recently and just run the break with 4 guys? Or will he try to adapt to a half court game when Yao is out there? Thoughts?
That is one of my concerns too. With the possible addition of Melo, it makes more sense for us to be at least semi-run&gun. It will be impossible to run the court with the presence of Yao. I am not doubting the possibility of running two+ different styles of offense with two+ units.
lots of fast breaks start with a defensive rebound. lots of fast breaks involve less than five players. lots of fast break opportunities fail and can be reset to a half court approach.
If he can come back and give the Rockets 8+ rebounds and 2 blocks a game I will be happy. I don't care about points. This team has no problem scoring the ball.
Exactly. That's the real issue. Yao is too diligent a worker and his game based on things other than athleticism for it to vanish just because he had to sit out for a few months. IF he can stay on the court, he'll be as good as before.
Here is what i think about Yao despite posters think I'm a yao hater. When he was healthy, he was an all star caliber player. When he can get the ball in certain spots, he can be unstoppable. When motivated or irritated, he can be a force. The problem is, he cant perform enough at a consistent level. Do i think he can contribute? His defense alone says that. Offensively, he's more play finisher vs play creator. What does that mean? This team is better with yao in the high post for pick and pops and ball reversal for 70% of the time than it is with yao on the blocks 70% of the time. That way, the baseline is open,the offense is fluid and the weapons are being used.Right now, yao is a 3/4 option who on some nights can be 1 or 2. If he's your 1st or 2nd more than 25%, the team will struggle if they get in the playoffs. There, i said it.
Very few pundits have given us much of a shot at a deep run in the playoffs. Recent champions have had good defensive squads with a strong interior presence and balanced scoring. If Yao is in good health, we have a real chance at making some noise this year since we got those three components. If we do make that deep run, it'll be that much sweeter with since it'll mean the Rockets beat expectations and it'll mean redemption for the big guy after being written off as one of the NBA's elite.
For whatever weird reason, some people think that all the five players have to run in a fast break. Have they ever seen a fast break with all the five players running together anyway?
Well, I wouldn't let it get to you, there are a few posters that are.....simply Yao haters. Every thread about Yao that pops up, they post negative things about him. With that said, to be fair, most people try not to overrate or underrate the big guy. And some, they just get frustrated with hope, injuries and trust. Ultimately, I would think any Rockets fan is pulling for him and hopes for the best. Perhaps I'm an idiot.....but I still think this will be a special season.
Well IMHO this is the problem with the rabid Yao fans, and why Rockets fans in general get scoffed at. Yao has been injured so many times already, and still you are insisting that nobody can guard him in single coverage and that he dominates every single game. If asked who is the better player, my bet is you would say that Yao is still better than DH or Pau Gasol, even if Yao has been constantly ravaged by injuries while DH is only 25 been to the finals and Pau Gasol has two rings already. The problem is most of your arguments are based on hope and assumptions, while others fans like me look at reality. Even if his foot was fixed (and that's a big IF), what's the probability that Yao will come off the gate flying and dunking on people on his first season out of injury? Isn't it logical to assume that even though his foot is healed, it will take some time for him to get his form back? Its not like Yao is getting his training during this offseason, all he's doing is some shooting drills. You can bet he'll be out of shape once the season starts, and he'll tire easily. Yet, even though he's out of shape and coming of surgery, he supposed to be unstoppable in single coverage and will score on people at will. Again, there is no basis for this, yet you just assume it to be fact and to be true. Did Ilgauskus become all-star after his injury? No, if anything he became worse and stayed as a role player. I have no recollection of a former star becoming dominant after 3 major surgeries, yet you act like its something that's common and happens every time. Its not being called a hater, its looking at reality and setting realistic expectations. I don't think Yao will put up more than 15-8 this season, but the good news is that's all we need from him, as we have Scola and co. to take up the slack.
Rockets fans in general get scoffed at? By whom? Rocket fans (minus Tmac nut huggers) are well regarded and our team is respected around the league. Adelman is well regarded, Morey is considered a wonderkind and our most noted players Yao, Scola and Battier are all respected. Houston fans are widely regarded as realistic and decently knowledgeable. I think you have the Houston Rockets confused with the Toronto Raptors or the New York Knicks. That you think a role player like Pau Gasol is a better player than Yao or Dwight Howard because he's on a LA team with Kobe and won 2 rings is ? Again what are you talking about dude? Yao's foot being "fixed" isn't a "big IF" or even an IF. You realize this isn't theoretical faster-than-light travel or a smoking gun on evolution right? They can do xrays and an MRI and see whether Yao's foot is healed or not. It's either healed or not healed. They will know for certain before Yao steps on the court and right now he's ahead of schedule. The QUESTION is whether it'll be damaged in a separate instance this year, based on Yao's history of past (independent but recurring) injuries if he's not properly used. When was Yao's game about "flying and dunking on people"? You keep telling people what the problems with their arguments are but your own rationale makes some weird assumptions. Yao has liabilities and it's not Rocket science. 1) he has bad hands so he has problems catching the ball and getting stripped 2) he has problems when he's fronted due to his limited mobility and also how the game is officiated to give defensive players against him an advantage It doesn't really have to do with any of the stuff you wrote. Yao has no problems performing at a consistent level. Yao is a walking 20/10 even when refs screw him with early foul trouble and he's been a consistent >50% FG shooter every year. It's rare to find a star who's AS consistent as Yao is on the offensive end. The fact that he's not a "creator" is because he's a big man, not a guard. And Houston did fine the only time they got past the first round in a decade with Yao as the first option in 08-09. The idea that Yao is a liability as a first or SECOND option is lol. I'm not even sure how you plan on backing up your specific metrics of "If he's your 1st or 2nd more than 25%, the team will struggle" that's straight nonsense.
