windandsea, It is just one game. No need to start talking about wishing that Yao was somewhere else. Let's wait until at least the All-Star Break or even after his rookie season is over before we start proclaiming that the Rockets and Yao are not a good fit. Patience is a virtue.
When Griff was on the court last night he gave me the same feeling that Yao did last night. And all that natural talent!!
Jrazz is a rocket fan since 1982 and forever. I enjoy the analysis that the trade questions generate. Many on Clutch BBS are excellent observers of the game and both skilled and generous writers.
No f*cking way We wouldn't allow it. Ming is okay, be he is NOT the real thing. He is tall and can play, but he will never be in the same class as Shaq or Hakeem. Hell, I don't think he's better then Greg Ostertag!!
u know wut?? shut the hell up!! no guards in the league will pass him the ball based on his performance yestarday! but i have faith in Ming, he will be good
Ming has only played 1 game and his first year already sucks? It is one game, he will have a good season.
You can trust your eyes. I don't like Yao Ming only takes "dirty work" at Rockets if that is what the coach asks him to do. He has the offence ability but lacks of the strength to do "dirty work" now. I am worried about how Rockets will use Yao Ming. Do you think he can have many shoots at Rockets? If he cannot put numbers the Ming haters will come out from everywhere and kill this boy. I do hope Yao Ming will be fine at Rockets.
If he ain't better than Greg Ostertag then why the hell did the rockets draft him?!?! He houstone, this wasn't the smartest reply you could give me!! Hell, it's way to easy to score this one..... Okay, to trade him and Steve for Greg Ostertag of course!!!
Yao said he'll concentrate on doing dirty works, not that he'll do it exclusively. Big difference. Doing the dirty works is more about aggressiveness and game time judgement. Yao's fine on his overall strength. His 11 rebounds and 6 blocks against the USA team, and that wall like pick he set for Francis showed he's capable of doing the dirty work. Only if he can cut down the fouls... Don't worry about the numbers, if Yao can average 10 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in his rookie year nobody can say he's a bust. If Yao is really good at offense, he'll beat out Francis and Mobley to become the No.1 offensive option for the Rockets. At the same time he still needs to do the dirty work well. It's not like a big man who can score is exempted from doing dirty works. If he's not good at offense in the NBA, he'll have to do dirty work to remain on the roster on any team. Either way he has to do dirty works well. As simple as that. Yao has to overcome adversity and pressure on his own to come into his own. He has to keep working on his game until one day he realizes that he can carry a team by himself, which he isn't capable of doing now. Until that day comes he'd better concentrate on doing the big man's work on the defensive end as an initial stepstone. Yao has many areas to improve on his offense. He needs better court awareness, better footwork, more moves and more upper body strength to be a dominant inside presence. He's not a consistent low post creator now. It takes time. It's how many minutes the coach gives him, not necessarily how many shots available for him that truly matters for his growth. Yao's biggest weakness, as all the Chinese players do, is defense. Yao won't become a complete player unless he grabs lots of boards, play sound defense and stay away from foul trouble. Don't underestimate the importance of dirty works. It's important for victories and Yao has to be good on the defensive end to become a superstar. Also, Yao has to earn enough respect of his teammates to get more touches. So far he hasn't done it. When he shows what kind of player he is, he'll get more shots as a result. Playing on a weaker team doesn't really help out Yao. He can get more shots but how's that going to make his defense better? The Rockets have very good training personel and a good history of developing players. Rudy is very patient with new players. If it was not for Rudy's patience, Mobely wouldn't do jack in the NBA 'cuz he wouldd've been cut before he found his first step. I'm prefectly at ease with Yao wanting to do the dirty works. It's every basketball player's duty to do dirty works that don't always show on stats, although reality often says otherwise. It's also his weaknesses that he needs to improve on. I think he's walking in the right direction. Yao already has the offensive skills largely down, now he has to do dirty works well to be the man on the Rockets. Sorry, this has been a long post, but I can't stop once I get started. Help!
How emotional....How impatient !!! ... Now you are starting to sound like us. You are now a fully qualified Rocket fan.......
W&S nobody, including Yao, thought this was going to be easy. I know how much garbage you've read on this forum, but Yao is in the perfect place and the right team. Houston has a proud history of developing centers. By the way you do know that many here posting use the word "hater" for "one who disrespects" and to "show some love" is to give credit to, don't you? A lot of people around the league are really pulling for Yao to succeed, and I can't remember that kind of support for an overall #1 pick. The debate you read here and elsewhere about our guards is just that: a debate. The team is going to change a lot this season and we're all going to have to be patient. Yao will be fine in every aspect. Even if he has a bad rookie year, he will be protected. Every rookie takes his lumps in the NBA, for Chinese fans who watch this year it maybe shocking, but it is a tradition that always benefits those who have greatness in them. If you really believe in Yao then focus on the positives and just realize it's going to be painful at times this year.
