I see a lot of SF/Mobley lovers wondering why Yao Ming does not get blamed for bad plays and having bad games. Keep in mind, I used to be a HUGE SF fan until last year. Well the the reason why is that he has proven ON THE COURT to be the most unselfish player on the team. He is a willing learner who does not have an ego, thus making him much more likeable by the fans. When you play unselfish and are willing to improve, people won't hate you. That's why we cut him so much slack, plus this is his only 2nd year in the NBA. The way he plays frustrates me also because he needs to be more aggressive but it does not make me angry like it does with SF and Mobley. Those two players have been playing for what 5 years now. SF obviously has a big ego, when he get's lit up TIME AFTER TIME by scrubs and makes stupid/selfish plays constantly, you are naturally inclined to not cut him much slack. He is talented no doubt, but he is not a winner....at least not yet and I have my doubts about him becoming one with this team. I love Yao Ming because of the way he puts the team first. He has gotten better this year and contiunes to improve. Yao, JJ, Pike and maybe even Cato (this year) are winners. I think they are JVG type of player, not the most talented but will do the things to win games. Going back to when SF and Brand shared ROY. I would trade both SF and Mobley for Brand in a heart beat, he is that much better then both of them combined.
One moe thing to consider is that Yao is not getting the passes at the right time. If our guards will pass the ball as soon as they get it (no dribbling) Yao will have a lot easier time with whoever is guarding him. I have noticed that everytime he gets the ball is after our guards have dribbled a couple of times and he has the double team already.
Yao Isn't w/o Blame Either for Rox' Losses To Date If anyone should be MORE selfish, it's Yao. The day, Yao calls for the ball in crunch time b/c he KNOWS that he can carry this team is the day the Rox graduate to the next level as a legitimate playoff contender. Until then, this team is still in "gel" mode. Take tonite for instance. We had a lot of Jazz players in some SERIOUS foul trouble in Q3 and Q4. JVG knew it but did any of the Rox players including Yao? I'm not so sure. Yao should have been able to foul out Ostertag and Harpring early. And then where do the Jazz go? Time and time again, when the refs are whistle happy, I see such a huge advantage with Yao in getting opposing players into foul trouble b/c they simply cannot guard his height. Moreover, a little stretch here and a little reach there adn you have an easy over-the-top and reach in foul on the 7'6" giant. But does Yao think of this kind of stuff during the game? I don't know. But whatever's on his mind, I hope he starts realizing that he has far better statistical prospects of winning close games in this league than either SF OR Cat. theSAGE
Exactly, Mobley and Francis have been together now for five season's and yet still make make rookie mistakes, they're not growing and maturing as basketball players and it's hurting the Rockets.
You were not watching the game tonight. No doubt. Tonight when Yao moved inside the paint, guards immediately gave him the ball. What pissed me off was instead took the ball to the hoop and dunk, he always settled for fadeway and layup. He got blocked like he were a WNBA player. I don't care SF and cat's play, but when guards put ball in your hand, you need either score or pass to teammate for open shot. Tonight he failed both I am so pissed he was blocked like crazy by AK47 and OSTAG. Can you believe it? OSTAG, he has only one kidney!!!!
Ivan.. Exactly. Yao is not immune to heat....however, I see enough intelligent decisions from him to have hope... Steve and Cuttino...well, I have seen enough LACK of intelligence to lose hope. DD
He didn't use his brain and think tonight! I know that because he got his first foul only 2 mins in the first QT. If he did his thinking job, he should avoid the second foul from that took him out of the game. Instead, when Jazz guards penetrated, he sill reached in and got second in just one min, pretty stupid IMO.
Yao made up for his poor shooting by hitting 14/16 Fts. A night when Yao goes for 20/10 which are all-star numbers is not the night to rag on him. Steve on the otherhand did nothing to make up for his poor shooting, turnovers or his defence which made some rooks look like all-stars.
Yao is not immune to heat....however, I see enough intelligent decisions from him to have hope... Steve and Cuttino...well, I have seen enough LACK of intelligence to lose hope. DD On the money man....no doubt Yao makes mistakes that frustrate me also but he has shown enough to have hope....plus if Yao goes 5-15, I will take my chance because I know that he is not gonna be taking stupid a$$ selfish shots like SF and Mobley. A shot 3 feet away from a talent big man is better ANY DAY over a one on one prayer from 40 feet away with 11 and 7 seconds left in regulation and over time (Toranto game). Rudy got fired cuz he could not get through, well JVG won't and shouldn't...it's time to make some changes... "With their shiny record taking on the increasing appearance of fraud, the Rockets fell to 9-5 with losses to every team they have played that currently holds a winning record." I have been saying this all season also, they have gotten much better.
All good points. Yao can still put up 20/10 and have a 'bad game'. But the fact that he shut down Osterfat and his smaller clone while not turning the ball over every other time seems to escape his blamers. Yao shot badly, but was the steady force at the end of the game...much more steady than our 'franchise' player. Yao has improved since his rookie season and will improve more. Steve hasn't and probably won't.
Exactly, Yao clearly had a poor shooting game and if it weren't for all the Fts he made then, he'd deserve to get ripped. Yao going 10/10 fg and 0/0 fts in a game is still 20 points for the rockets no matter how you look at it.
Yao has his shortcomings but the past few games he's been the reason we've actually thought about being winners.
Exactly. Everyone wants to say Yao shot badly but he scored. Having 20 points on 15 shots is pretty decent. Hell, Shaq averages 21 points on 15 shots the whole year and he's 'dominant'. Yao does it and he's had a bad game. There's a lot of people with Steve's mentality on these boards...they want Yao to throw down all these thunderous dunks and posterized everyone, but instead he gets the job done on the line and he gets the blame because no one helps him in the end. I can't figure it out.
Oh one more thing i want to add. Isn't it odd that when Yao is not shooting well, he gets more shots and when he's shooting well, he gets fewer shots. Wow, I didn't know this team has such a high IQ team basket.
SF 3 assists , 8 turnovers. Not acceptable!! Please play smart basketball. I am beggin' right here. If SF can dish out more than 10 assists, I swear I will kiss donky's ass!! Mark my word.
Francis dished out 9 against the Clips. what makes you think that he cant do 10? If one other player had hit right after recieving a pass fromSF, he woiuld have had 10. btw...this thread is supposed to be about Yao....why rant about SF?
