Not too long ago, it was a foregone conclusion that the once dominant low post scorer, burgeoning MVP candidate, Great Wall of Houston, was no more. Not after the magnitude of this latest injury. As diligent and passionate a worker as Yao, this straw would be too much to bear, even for him. Left broken, he would have a new role. Less minutes was a given, but also out with the grind that is the low post. His new role would be a decoy and facilitator from the free throw line and beyond. What better way to replicate a Brad Miller 2.0 than to channel his backup, Brad Miller 1.0? After all, Zydrunas Ilgauskas became a jump shooting big man after a similar injury. Right? Of course this was all assumed before any of us have seen the man play basketball for over a year. The assumptions are fair enough and I am guilty of making them just like most. And they may very well still play out. But after actually watching the guy play for the last few games and dozen or so minutes, I am beginning to have some creeping doubts. First of all, I am doubting if Zydrunas Ilgauskas ever wasn't a jump shooting big man to begin with. As for Yao, I am starting to doubt this gloom and doom un-reality that we have all convinced ourselves of so quickly. Every armchair-doctoring one of us. The real reality is that none of us knows how reality will play out. Can Yao re-break his foot brushing his teeth tomorrow? Sure. But until he does that, all I know is what I can see with my own two eyes. And that's Yao Ming walking, running, jumping, moving just like the player that was once carrying this team on his back. Yes, I see the rust and hesitation that comes with a year long hiatus. But I also see that he can't get much slower. If he jumped any lower than before, he would be on his tippy toes. I see that he hasn't lost any of the skills that make him unique. And surely he hasn't shrunk. What exactly would be stopping him from regaining his prior effectiveness? Maybe not 100%. But 80%? Why not? 80% of an MVP caliber player is still a damn good player. Look, I am not saying he will be a dominant player straight out of the gate. But by the playoffs? By next year? What kind of player will he be? So many have assumed that he won't be half the player he was before. But I just can't quite see it. I hate to state the obvious when the obvious runs so counter to all our expectations, but the guy looks the SAME as ever. "Hope is a dangerous thing." And I know I am walking a thin line here. It's much easier to write the guy off. Much easier to assume the worse. Why set yourself up for disappointment? But this is not about protecting your feelings or delusional optimism. Is it simply time to reevaluate our reality?
Agreed. So far, Yao's movement and athleticism looks about the same as before. Other than being a bit hesitant, he looks a lot like the same player as before the injury. Of course, he's still a lot slower than even a 47-year-old Hakeem Olajuwon (well, so am I, judging by the videotape), but Yao is what he is.
cool story bro! really even an %80 yao would be awesome, you can see in the few preseason games that opponents still respect his game, and he's at %50 maybe? just having him in seriously alters their gameplan. but i'm starting to have the same hope that you do. heres to the great wall making a full return! :grin:
The reality, simply, is what you've already said, CXbby. We don't know with Yao Ming. We may not know for some time. Personally, I've not been thrilled will the decision to cap Yao's minutes at 24 a game for the season. I understand all the reasons for it. And they all seem prudent enough. They also speak of a fondness for Yao personally that, while he is certainly deserving of it, may indirectly negatively impact the fortunes of the Rockets, for this season at least. I don't think that there's been as much of a clarion call for a title run out of these Rockets as there has been in the recent past, at least from the national media, CXbby. That sentiment, perhaps, lends itself to a bit more methodical and conservative approach to the upcoming season. As you said—no need, at least right now, to get anybody's hopes up. But if Yao is indeed the franchise's best chance at championship glory, I can't honestly understand the idea that less is more with him. It is to my understanding that, since the primary problem for the Rockets' misfortunes has been solved, that there shouldn't be a hindrance to the Rockets' march to the NBA promised land. I mean, two seasons ago, with just as much uncertainty and even less talent, the mantra was "championship or bust". Now, I suppose we're supposed to accept that it's just "don't bust Yao's foot". Yao will need time to reacclimate himself. I have no problem whatsoever with the organization giving him that time. I am hopeful that the team around Yao has improved to the point where, when the opportunities arise, it is able to capitalize on them. Winning will not be as centered on one or two players as it has been in the recent past. But a CHAMPIONSHIP hinges on Yao's contribution. Not a partial effort. Not a guarded attempt. A full-tilt commitment and a dynamic consistency from Yao. I haven't seen very much from Yao either, CXbby, that would lead me to believe that at least what he has been in the past, is lost to him or the Rockets. I also don't like the presumption of a double-standard in regards to player relations. The Rockets will need Yao healthy, and will need Yao for more than 20-some-odd minutes every other few days if they're going to win. Now is not the time to hesitate. No such limits or hazards were suggested or employed in 2009. I hope that Yao's recovery is complete by the time the postseason rolls around, CXbby. I hope that Yao is not subjected to another devastating, season-ending injury. I hope that, if this is essentially the same team by the time the playoffs start, that it is ready to win. Nothing at all wrong with hope, CXbby. Hard to get along in this life without it…
Ohhhh… …I was hoping somebody would bring up Rik Smits, rockets934life. When Rik Smits began his career with the Indiana Pacers, a lot was made of Smits' "slight" frame (I believe, at 7'4", Smits weighed about 240 lbs.). Larry Brown was coaching the Pacers at the time, and made a point (as did the rest of the coaching staff) of having Smits gain extra weight in order to deal with the pounding he would take on a nightly basis in the NBA. Smits, good little Dutch boy that he was, obliged. All heck broke loose with him breaking his feet for a few seasons, and gutting the Pacers' chances to win. After Smits got his weight down to something more comfortable for him, he was able to play longer, and was much more like the Dunking Dutchman he was before he routinely got hurt getting out of bed in the morning. I remember this episode because of a press conference Brown held after a game Smits had against Patrick Ewing, where Smits had thoroughly outplayed Ewing…primarily from the high-post, facing the basket. Brown was nearly in tears, because he had felt a large responsibility in causing Smits' foot problems, by asking him to gain weight…to essentially be a player he wasn't to fill a need Brown suspected he had with the team. I honestly don't know if the Rockets have lost years with Yao, the way the Pacers did with Smits. I don't think that the face-up, high-post game is where Yao is most effective (Smits had remarkable skill facing the basket—alot like Chris Bosh, for example—for a man of his size). But I hope Yao isn't facing a similar fate, career-wise.
Nicely done, exactly what I was getting at. Story sounds way to familiar, huh? I agree with all your points but I think Smits will be Yao's upside at this point in his career. Yao has the touch to be a face-up player and it will lengthen his career. I think he will have to become more of this type of player and less of a down low banger due to his physical limitations. As his career goes on, Yao will be stepping out further and further to save his body and his feet from the damage that has already happened.
I will feel a lot more confident in Yao once he has one healthy season under his belt event with limited amount of minutes. Until then you just have to take wait and see approach and hope for the best.
I realize what you're saying, but i think your mistake was sipping the kool-aid of ignorance a lot of fans we're also drinking. A lot of fans didnt even understand what the surgery was all about. Many didnt know Z had gone through it and came back. Many didnt know that Yao didn't follow the same rehab Z did and actually has had a better and longer rehab already. Some didnt know the surgery changed his foot, in hopes of avoiding the same issue. There were too many fans talking, who didnt know what they were talking about, maybe event he majority of fans. That's why it seemed like a forgeone conclusion and many others just went with the majority.
The problem with this whole thread is that you overestimate how good a player Yao ever was. He's never been an MVP caliber player. I would be shocked if he ever finished in the top 15 of the MVP voting. He has been one of the top centers in basketball but he's never been one of the elite overall players in basketball. Get a grip on reality please.
the MVP race isnt always about talent compared to players on other teams. If your team is almost a clear favorite, then usually the best player gets MVP honors. It's why Nash one it during a year Kobe was clearly the MVP. I get what you mean, but Yao could have definitely won an MVP had the rockets won enough and of course if he stayed healthy....could still happen if he returns to form, since no one on the team can really compete with his star power.
Well Yao Ming is not getting that much Game Time Needed. Against the pacers he had 10 points in the game. 3 Blocks. Overall in 2008 was 19.4 but let's see if he can do better.
Considering you registered in 2000, I can't believe you would say this unless you stopped watching the Rockets until last year. Yao absolutely was one of the top 5-10 players, when healthy, since his 3rd year. This includes both advanced stats and regular measures. The fact that he couldn't stay healthy long enough to gain regular season awards is pointless. Unless you're telling me that 25ppg/9.4rpg/2.0bpg/52%/86% anchoring one of the best defenses is not MVP caliber.
So what you're saying is that if he were healthy he would have been one of the top 5 or 10 players? I've never heard that before. I'm not telling you he's not MVP caliber, I'm showing you he's not MVP caliber. 2006-07 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD VOTING RESULTS Player, Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th Pts Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 83 39 7 - - 1138 Steve Nash, Phoenix 44 74 11 - - 1013 Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 2 11 65 30 9 521 Tim Duncan, San Antonio - 3 25 39 23 286 LeBron James, Cleveland - - 11 31 35 183 Tracy McGrady, Houston - 2 6 16 18 110 Chris Bosh, Toronto - - 3 4 16 43 Gilbert Arenas, Washington - - 1 4 14 31 Kevin Garnett, Minnesota - - - 2 1 7 Carlos Boozer, Utah - - - 1 4 7 Chauncey Billups, Detroit - - - 1 1 4 Dwyane Wade, Miami - - - - 3 3 Shaquille O’Neal, Miami - - - 1 0 3 Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix - - - - 2 2 Carmelo Anthony, Denver - - - - 1 1 Baron Davis, Golden State - - - - 1 1 Tony Parker, San Antonio - - - - 1 1
there's a good chance that yao would have kept improving had he not had these injuries....every time he's injured he has to go through rehab and then try to get back to where he was, rather than trying to improve on his solid numbers. If we're assuming he'd stay healthy, then it's very likely he'd be putting up "MVP numbers" by now, especially if his health meant we needed less depth and he was still getting a lot of touches. Yao's scoring would especially be pretty high, at least 27ppg. That's one area he could definitely increase and it wouldnt even depend on him improving his skills. He would just need to get more touches/attempts.
Yao is absolutely a top 10 player when he is healthy. I can't believe someone would even try to debate that fact. Chris Bosh, Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol have nothing on a healthy Yao.
I wished cometswin would have been coaching the teams we faced, that way yao would have never encountered the triple teams thrown by the blazers. Yao was the best center sucks that he was also injury prone.
CometsWin, this is a statement that, unfortunately.... ...I have to agree with. A little. The biggest quandary surrounding Yao Ming's time in the NBA, has been exactly what you've hinted at. There have been times where Yao's presence and contributions have been monstrous. There've been just about as many times where, even at 7'6", you'd have a hard time finding Yao on the court if you looked through a telescope. Most of that inconsistency has been health-related. So, it's difficult to accurately gauge Yao's impact when he isn't present more than 50% of the time. But there have been too many times where Yao simply hasn't been the force all his skill and size suggests he can and should be. I believe a great deal of the reason for this is in Yao's makeup as a person. From all accounts, Yao is a very humble person. He is conscientious, thoughtful, and particularly deferential to his teammates and coaches. His native culture of China is not on quite the same self-aggrandizing bent as ours as Americans. He has had, to me, a very long and drawn-out process of assuming a role and place for the Rockets that he may not ever be totally comfortable with. Hakeem Olajuwon had similar characteristics as a college player for the Houston Cougars, CometsWin. But Hakeem had the advantage of spending a few years adjusting to a foreign culture in college, and having great mentors (Moses Malone, most notably) who showed the Dream how to play and compete as a professional. Yao has largely been expected to deduce and absorb these things on his own. Jeff Van Gundy got rid of Yao's translator after Yao's rookie season, I suspect in an effort to sped up this process. It has always been fairly easy, because of the kind of person Yao is, to forgive him for the team's recent lack of success (and because another scapegoat was already in place). Yao too often faded himself when the Rockets needed him. But, hopefully, with the modest success the team achieved in the 2009 playoffs, Yao may finally be ready to clear that hurdle, CometsWin. He doesn't have to be anything other than who and what he is, to me. But he does need to be on the court more than five minutes at a time in order to do it. Yao needs to be assertive on the court with his teammates. He's now the senior member. He's now the team's best player. He should now, after his Olympic experience and playoff success, be the driving force behind any push the Rockets make toward a championship. Yao is a good person, apparently. He deserves to win. But he has to go about it the way a mythic dragon from his culture would.... ...breathing fire and wrecking everything in his path. Yao isn't Shaquille O'Neal and he doesn't have to be. He's got everything he needs to dominate. ......except, maybe, a couple of pairs of orthodontics....
