How many points and rebounds will Yao Ming average next season and when will he win his first NBA title? I'd like to see the Rox obtain a relentless defender and rebounder to complement Yao Ming.
Next year he'll average 20/10, but he'll me WAY more involved on the offensive end. With that said, Steve will have the best season of his career, with Yao Ming opening up lanes for Steve. Once Yao, Steve, Mobley, and Taylor get completely in sync...watch out. Championship within the next 4 years.
I think the possibility and duration of the coming Rockets dyansty really hinges on the development of Eddie Griffin or whomever the team can trade him for. In the W conference today, no team can go far without a badass PF. As for Yao, just pray that nothing happens to him (the mere thought of Drazen Petrovic petrifies me). His personal stat in the end of his career would not be below that of David Robinson.
But Yao is not likely to be as dominant as Shaq, and I can not conscienciously say that steve is better than Kobe.
I agree Sino. Especially at this juncture of Yao's career. Its bad enought that Yao currently needs help against the physical guys in the league but he currently has to help out Eddie G too.. I am sure management will have things figured out by next season..
Yao will surely improve, but one thing that will help his game is when the refs stop screwing him over. One day, they'll call fouls when his man shoves him with 2 hands. Maybe, in a perfect world, they'll call goaltending when a small forward blatantly goaltends his hookshot. defensively, maybe the refs will stop whistling him for standing still while a trapped oppenent jumps right into him.
Yeah but all the great ones go through it. Shaq get mugged daily but it just doesn't stop him at all. Hakeem used to get fouled a lot too. He talked about it in his book, but Hakeem had a mean streak to pay back. He once slammed his elbow into the chin of opposing player who was playing dirty to him, nearly knock the dude. Yao need to know how to give some "pay back" or maybe Rox get a guy like Artest (Indiana's growing weary of him but I say he's what we need, who cares he suspended every fourth game) to do it for him.
I think that Yao will average around 18 and 9 next season while playing 35 mpg. If all goes well, he should be a 22 and 10 player before he turns 25 years old. I am not sold on this current team. I still think that some changes needs to be made if we are going to contend for a championship. We need help on the forward positions and depth in the backcourt. I'm beginning to believe that this team will eventually go as far as Yao will take them to, just like what we had with Dream. If all goes well, we'll win our third NBA title before Cat retires (may or may not as a Rocket).
I'm not about the current lineup either. They are not playoff tested. It's like you can't really tell about a F-1 race car without going through actual competition.
Miguel:- If Steve moves over to the two Guard he is going to get less touches of the ball, he will be at the mercy of the new Point Guard. His shooting percentage should improve, his minutes could decline a little. I expect an overall improvement in his game, with less stress on him.
Yao will be awesome next year... He'll start getting some calls and if EG steps up and bulks up, this combo will be hard to beat... Now, having said that, if EG isn't hear next year, then MoT will be fine...
I see the chemistry between Griffin and Yao improved over the past few games. Eddie has been cutting more to the basket and not settle for the outside jumper whenever his man leaves him to double Yao. Once Eddie perfected the art of cutting he will get alot of effortless points from the passing artist (Yao). In 2-3 years I'm sure everyone would hate to play against them.
I seriously doubt that Steve would move to the 2 guard spot. He's way undersized for other 2's out there. The way he's been playing recently shows that he's willing to improve and get Yao involved more. Involving Yao will eventually come full circle, and have people double and triple teaming him, allowing Steve, Taylor, Mobley, and others to have free shots. Yao also has the option of just turning around and hitting his fadeaway (7'6 with a fadeaway )
Yao's success will depend on the rest of the team. Eddie has to get stronger and has to get used to Yao and they have to play well together on the court and know each other's strengths and weaknesses. Cato has to continue playing well as a backup. Mo Taylor has to continue doing good with Yao and continue scoring. Glen Rice has to continue to make his 3's and make nice passes to Yao. Posey has to learn how to shoot...and has to utilize his strengths and know his role......if he returns next year. Cuttino Mobley has to know that Yao and Francis are our main options...not him...and he has to think team first and improve his shooting even more. Francis has to learn to be a team player and of course to use Yao the right way. AND RUDY HAS TO COACH WELL. If all goes well....then Yao should be averaging 20 points and 8 rebounds per game....maybe along with 2 assists and 1 steal. We just need another shooter...
16 pts and 9 rebs! Yao will stick the heads of other centers in the toilet and flush it! Get Etan Thomas!
