1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

USA Today:Yao growing better but still has way to go to catch Lakers' O'Neal

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by mirror_image, Dec 23, 2003.

Tags:
  1. mirror_image

    mirror_image Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2002
    Messages:
    1,294
    Likes Received:
    2
    Link:
    http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/rockets/2003-12-23-yao_x.htm

    Yao growing better but still has way to go to catch Lakers' O'Neal
    By Greg Boeck, USA TODAY

    The second-year model of Yao Ming is better conditioned and more aggressive, but there's still a giant chasm between the two towering giants of the NBA.

    Rockets center Yao Ming is better than last season but has plenty to learn, says his coach and teammates.

    Yao-Shaq III plays on ABC's Christmas Day telecast (8:30 p.m. ET) with the Houston Rockets 7-6 center once again looking up to 7-1 Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers.

    In their celebrated first head-to-head last season, Yao blocked O'Neal's first two shots, but Shaq dominated both games. Both big men came back this season in better shape, but put away the measuring stick.

    "It's not about Yao," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy says of Thursday's matchup. "Yao is doing fine. That guy (O'Neal) is in a totally different physical world. O'Neal is the one guy who distorts every game he plays in. He distorts your defense. He gets guys in foul trouble. There is a lot of separation between him and the next guy."

    That would be Yao. The Chinese star came into the league amid much international fanfare as the NBA's No. 1 draft choice last season and started at center for the West in the All-Star Game. But he finished the season playing second fiddle to rookie of the year winner Amare Stoudamire of the Phoenix Suns.

    In the off-season, he helped China win the Asian Basketball Championships and qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics, claiming MVP honors. He returned to the Rockets in better shape ¡X "I'm a lot stronger physically than last year," he says ¡X and brings improved numbers across the board into the Lakers game.

    The biggest are his minutes, up from 29 to 34. On a rising 15-11 team that features one of the league's top guard tandems in Cuttino Mobley and Steve Francis, Van Gundy is running more offense through his big man, but still hasn't determined what his optimal minutes are.

    Yao produced his first career "20-20" game Dec. 6 against the Detroit Pistons with a 22-point, 20-rebound performance and has 12 double-doubles this season. He's become more aggressive, but remains inconsistent.

    That shows up most on defense, where he is often exploited in transition and by pick-and-rolls. The smaller Suns chased him out of the game early when his slow reaction in pick-and-roll situations resulted in two quick fouls. He was whistled for five in the game and played just 20 minutes in a loss Saturday.

    "His alertness defensively can get better," says Van Gundy.

    On offense, he at times struggles with hard double teams. But he's become more of an offensive force this season and shows a greater court presence.

    "Yao works hard," says Rockets assistant coach Patrick Ewing, one of the NBA's all-time great centers. "The sky is the limit for him. He has a lot of potential, but he also has a long way to go. He'll get as good as he wants to get. As long as he continues to work hard, he should be the next dominant center in the league."

    For now, like everybody else, he's playing in Shaq's intimidating shadow. At 23, Yao is eight years younger, but Shaq treats his newest rival with respect. They appear to get along off the court, but O'Neal rules on it.

    "Right now Yao isn't near to Shaq," says Rockets forward Kelvin Cato. "But around the league, nobody else compares to Yao. Yao is going to learn. It's going to be hard to guard Shaq, but it's hard for everybody. Shaq is incredible. He has to make Shaq shoot jump hooks instead of getting dunked on. That's everybody's goal against Shaq ¡X try not to get dunked on."

    O'Neal has slammed the reloaded Lakers to a league-best 20-5 record. Back in tip-top shape and refocused on winning a fourth ring with Karl Malone and Gary Payton aboard, he's among league leaders in every key big man stat.

    "Going up against Shaq is always hard," says Yao. "I will definitely put a lot of importance on the game."
     
    #1 mirror_image, Dec 23, 2003
  2. DavidS

    DavidS Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2000
    Messages:
    8,605
    Likes Received:
    0
    I just hope that Yao fights back. I'm sick if him getting dunked on!
     
    #2 DavidS, Dec 23, 2003
  3. dragon167

    dragon167 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 15, 2002
    Messages:
    747
    Likes Received:
    1
    From the games I watched, I dont think Yao can play 30 effective minutes even in regular games, not to mention against shaq.

    I think Yao can hold his own in first 20-25 mins. Then ...........
     
    #3 dragon167, Dec 23, 2003
  4. Raven

    Raven Member

    Joined:
    Jul 24, 2002
    Messages:
    14,984
    Likes Received:
    1,025
    YM would be the best player in the NBA if games only lasted 10 minutes.

    Raven
     
    #4 Raven, Dec 23, 2003
  5. vcchlw

    vcchlw Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2002
    Messages:
    6,824
    Likes Received:
    1,050
    If he is dunked on by Shaq, it's so NORMAL. Nobody on the earth can stop Shaq's dunk. I just hope he can make significant contributions in the offensive end and makes Shaq defend him. I bet Yao will SURELY be dunked on, so what?
     
    #5 vcchlw, Dec 23, 2003
  6. JayZ750

    JayZ750 Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 16, 2000
    Messages:
    25,275
    Likes Received:
    13,000
    This is stupid. Yao single handedly won the game against the Pistons in the last minutes after the Rockets blew their lead.
     
    #6 JayZ750, Dec 23, 2003
  7. Deuce Rings

    Deuce Rings Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 3, 2003
    Messages:
    4,037
    Likes Received:
    2,807
    God, I hope that's not true, but that is defintely one possible speculation one can make at this point in his career.
     
    #7 Deuce Rings, Dec 23, 2003
  8. reptilexcq

    reptilexcq Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2002
    Messages:
    716
    Likes Received:
    0
    It's funny, I don't know why people think Shaq can just dominate Yao. Especially in the 1st meeting. The guy writing the article says Shaq dominated Yao in the first game....is he??? Hell no, in fact, Shaq can't do a damm thing well after the 4th quarter. Not until when they head overtime did he started to get some easy buckets down low. Of course, by then Yao is tired. Personally, I don't really think Shaq can dominate Yao. If anything, the refs allow him to dominate more than anything by letting him bully into someone without being called charge or excessive use of force. Shaq ain't all that man..it's all media perception and hype.
     
    #8 reptilexcq, Dec 23, 2003
  9. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2002
    Messages:
    26,925
    Likes Received:
    2,265
    As a Rockets fan I hate to say this, but it's very debateable whether right now Yao is better than Brad Miller of Sacramento and he sure as heck isn't better than the quasi-centers of KG, Duncan or Nowitski.
     
    #9 bigtexxx, Dec 23, 2003
  10. ROCKET RICH NYC

    ROCKET RICH NYC Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 1999
    Messages:
    1,670
    Likes Received:
    13
    Did everyone see what Rasho of the Spurs did to Yao? Yao definitely has a long way to go. (note to yao fans...I'm not bashing Yao ;) )
     
    #10 ROCKET RICH NYC, Dec 23, 2003
  11. kanevil

    kanevil Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Jul 23, 2002
    Messages:
    111
    Likes Received:
    1
    YAO GETTING DUNKED MY SHAQ? WHO CARES, CANT WAIT FOR THE GAME!!!

    IM SURE HE'LL DO BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME.
     
    #11 kanevil, Dec 23, 2003
  12. DavidS

    DavidS Contributing Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2000
    Messages:
    8,605
    Likes Received:
    0
    No, I'm taking about anyone dunking on Yao. "Average players."
     
    #12 DavidS, Dec 23, 2003
  13. Visagial

    Visagial Contributing Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2002
    Messages:
    1,462
    Likes Received:
    29
    This game fills me with anticipation and dread. I can't wait to see it, but deep down, I know Yao will get killed. He'll also use so much energy in this game that he'll be horrible for the next 10 trying to get back to normal.

    Rox need to run some pick and rolls and run the same plays for Yao they've been running all season. He should get some good opportunities because I seriously doubt Shaq is going to deny Yao the ball by fronting. Let's see if Yao can convert.
     
    #13 Visagial, Dec 23, 2003
  14. montelwilliams

    montelwilliams Member

    Joined:
    Dec 16, 2002
    Messages:
    714
    Likes Received:
    0
    Frankly, I'm looking more forward to a Brad Miller vs. Shaq matchup. Brad Miller is shooting 52.5%, 16 PPG, 11 RPG, 5 APG. I can't wait to see how Miller does against Shaq.
     
    #14 montelwilliams, Dec 23, 2003
  15. spydermex

    spydermex Member

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2002
    Messages:
    345
    Likes Received:
    8
    Yep, but Miller plays with the Sacramento, an incredible passing team in which he always gets wide open shots that even yao ming can hit. For the most part of yao shots he has to create somtimes even amongst double teams, somthing that B.miller cant do.
     
    #15 spydermex, Dec 23, 2003
  16. reptilexcq

    reptilexcq Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2002
    Messages:
    716
    Likes Received:
    0
    Exactly. Sometimes i hate when people don't know how to analyze players. They think if a player has better stats than another, it automatically means he's a better player and forgot what situation the player is playing under, what system, with what type of teammates...ect.. They simply ignore the little things that don't show up in the stats like playing defense and drawing constant double teaming.
     
    #16 reptilexcq, Dec 24, 2003
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)

Share This Page

Toggle Width
Style
ClutchFans Original

  • About ClutchFans

    Since 1996, ClutchFans has been loud and proud covering the Houston Rockets, helping set an industry standard for team fan sites. The forums have been a home for Houston sports fans as well as basketball fanatics around the globe.

  • Rockets Content

  • Support ClutchFans!

    If you find that ClutchFans is a valuable resource for you, please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Supporting Members can upload photos and attachments directly to their posts, customize their user title and more. Gold Supporters see zero ads!


    Upgrade Now