The preseason games are more revealing than most think.

Shaq in his prime could not lead with that line up give me a break.

 

Exactly, I didn't even bother to post the benches

 

WTF, so now Francis is gone, ppl are ganging up on Yao

How about show some support for our players please

 

Seriously, I had said all along that Yao probably would not be the player we all hope for, a great player like Hakeem or Shaq, but come on, it was still couple preseason games.

And there is no way Yao can't get MAX contract due to the current pathetic center position. Even he finishes this season with 18pts 9rebs, the same as last season, it will be an automatic max contract for big men.

Besides, Yao don't have to be a leader; we have T-Mac also. I think Rox realized long time ago Yao was not enough, that was why they broke up the team and acquired T-Mac.


BTW, I watched that Hakeem mix a while ago, how great a player he was! It was just unbelievable, the athleticism and the skill.

 

That's exactly why we need Yao to lead. Tracy is a great player no doubt, but I think one of the reasons he wanted to be here is so he wouldn't be the focal point, especially when things are going bad. Who ends up being the leader of this team will be an interesting drama that plays out as the season goes on.

 

When I am picking my fantasy team... I would take Gasol and AK-47 over Yao. If I had my pick of any NBA player to build a team around in "real life"... Yao would not make the top 15 on my list.

I like his game... but as far as impacting a game... other than his size and good free throw shooting... he doesn't bring much.

I say trade him with change to Golden State before we have to max him out. Bring back Speedy Claxon, Murphy, Dunlevey, Foyle and Richardson.

C Foyle, Howard and Deke
PF Murphy, Taylor and Padgett
SF JJ and Dunlevey
SG TMac and Richardson
PG Claxon and Lue

The state of the West does not dictate that we need a big, bruising Center with Shaq out west and getting old.

 

It's estimated that Yao's piece of his endorsements will approach 1 BILLION dollars over his carreer. Can you imagine what that leaves for the Rockets and the NBA. HE is not going anywhere and he will be paid anything he wants. Let's just hope he gets more aggressive and leads a little bit. Actually most centers are not the floor leaders anyway.

And mind your manors talking about Yao's mother's underwear.

 

http://www.click-smilies.de/sammlung0304/lachen/laughing-smiley-

 

with roster like this, I'm not sure TMAC will stay.

 

It is the up to the managment to decide whether or not to give Yao the max contract. It is the market and demand. If you don't, someone else will. Simple as that.

 

artificial - he of the following choice comments:

Your personal info says you were born in 1981, so you are an adult and don't have the excuse of dumb youth to help you out. So, I can only assume that you drink heavily, abuse drugs or have a serious mental impediment because your posts have the coherence of a homeless street preacher.

 

Fantasy numbers are all well and good, but I'd definitely take Yao over those two in real life. If Yao has shown one thing, it's that he can beat single coverage, and when he gets double teamed his teammates WILL benefit. JJ and Cat didn't have career highs in 3 pts made, (while shooting a great percentage) last year for nothing.

 

with our current roster we can almost be sure that at least a playoff spot is locked. But I don't understand this team you proposed. how are they much better than last year's magic? is there really any GM would be dumb enough and get paid that much to do that trade(Weisbrod included)? and how old are you if you don't mind?

 

I don't care if Ashley Simpson leads as long as the Rocks win.

DD

 

and the freaking season has not even started yet.

 

As the year goes on...

Yao will fall into the role of the team's anchor. McGrady will be the offensive "leader." But this is ok, since McGrady is a good passer. As long as both players are on the same page (play as a team), everything will be fine.

Yao is not the type of player you give the ball to break down your opponent (like a guard). He doesn't have the mobility to do that (he's not Jordan). McGrady can do this. This doesn't mean, "ISOs/clearouts" for McGrady all the time, but rather, break down his opponent (off picks, or iso) and find the open man (Yao or others) if need be, WITHOUT turning the ball over. They will both play off each other (two man game). And they both must know each others location at all times.

Also, both McGrady and Yao will have to find the open teammates and utilize their passing skills (whether it be, 3pt shots, or cutters to the basket). Yao the leader? I'm not sure he *wants* to be the leader, per se. But McGrady doesn't want to take over the whole load EITHER. He just needs help, as in TEAM!

McGrady still needs Yao to be the inside presence. That's invaluable to any team. That's how many of our offensive-sets will start -> Establishing the post.

Also remember there are 3 other players on the court. They are also part of that thing we call: TEAM!

P.S. There will be many times in the last seconds of a game that our oppoents *front* Yao (or deny him the ball). McGrady must make them pay for that! Either by ball rotation, accurate lobbing or breaking down his opponents. McGrady is a good enough passer, tall enough, and quick enough to do theses things.

 

You know, people said the same things about Hakeem. He was NEVER a vocal leader on the floor or off. He just said, "Give me da ball" and mowed people down.

Yao is a different kind of player, but given this is his third season, I expect him to improve. The preseason is a completely different situation.

 

So what you're saying is, Yao is getting good shots, and they're not falling. And you think he should completely change his style and technique because of some subpar shooting in the preseason? If he's getting good shots, I don't see a problem. Not to mention that suddenly using the backboard would take a hell of a lot longer to adjust to compared to just finding a rythym close to the basket. Also, he's only missed 2 or 3 hook shots in the preseason. He hasn't been using it too often, but he's hitting a pretty decent clip from what i've seen.

 

So do I.

20+/10