Let's use another boxing example. Roy Jones really wants that heavyweight paycheck. However, he knows he would be killed by someone like Mike Tyson. If Roy Jones really builds his muscle mass up to heavyweight status, he might stand a chance. Yao is playing in the post against the big boys now. He's not playing in China against guys who would get broken over an average NBA player's knees. Yao is smart. He knows this, so he needs to tell his government that he can't do that basketball stuff in China for a couple of years. He needs to get with Anthony Falsone and get that mass building program going pronto.
Just curious, but what if he thinks "that basketball stuff in China" is more important than playing for the Rockets? It's not unreasonable. In fact, if it were a US player (like Landon Donovan in soccer, say), we'd probably even call it noble. Nothing wrong with loving your country more than the club signing your paycheck. If that's the case, I suppose you could argue that it would be helping China more to get him more developed, then benefit later... but that's a bit more rationalization than I'm willing to do right now.
I think China's government is watching Yao getting killed in the paint. If they want him to be a symbol of pride for the country, they should let him work out like a monster this offseason rather than go play for their basketball team. Yao is the one getting national television pub. I think they may do it after watching the Christmas day game in which Shaq will most likely bust Yao up in the paint unless the refs just go whistle-happy. That game will most likely be televised in China. I watched Shawn Bradley and Eduardo Najera tried to defend Shaq tonight. It's a fruitless activity unless you just foul constantly.
The one reeeall mportant factor you are overlooking (or just dont know about) is that the reason he played in China over this last offseason was to earn a spot into the 04 Olympics for his country. And if you will look into the future....you will note that next offseason is the Olympics that they were working to get into. The idea that Yao is going to blow off China's NT at the Olympics is ludicrous. go ahead and accept it...cause it is true...and it is undeniable. He will be playing next summer for the Chinese NT at the Olympics nothing will change that. btw, I dont like it either...but facts are facts.
And yet the Mavs beat the Lakeshow 110-93. And Yao should be rotated out to High Post AS SOON AS the inside, low post is closed down... maybe nmaking him the third pass as well as the first pass. I guess that would make the Yao crowd happy... let Yao get the ball a minimum 2 touches each time down. Look, he's either gonna develop at the low post, or he's not. At the time that we all know "yes he did" or "no he never did" we'll know. In the meantime, it is coaching's fault that he dosen't abandon the low and switch high in games where the low is not working / no fouls / too many ticky tack fouls, whatever. The only clutch on this team right now is JVG's grip. JVG has made everyone so defensively minded that they're no offensively good. To me, anywhere that Yao could score the most is what's best. At least to build team morale, get past opponents in close ones, etc. We need the "wrinkle" of Yao switching out to high post added by mid-season, or sooner, not after 1, or as suggested 2, more years with no playoffs. At the rate we waffle currently, we won't make the 8th spot because we'll be long since figured out by every other playoff contender. Every player can only move into the other roles as the COACH sees the feasability. JVG's eyes are closed on offense.
I'm surprised Van Gundy did not see the obvious jostling in the paint that was allowed to go unchecked. Yao is one of the most important players on this team, and the other team knows it and will always go hard at Yao making sure he is bruised and battered if the refs allow it. A tired Yao down the stretch is an ineffective Yao. Van Gundy should have taken him out of the paint. Popavich outcoached Van Gundy. He told Nestorovic and Willis to defend Yao as physical as the refs allowed. Refs allowed it, so the defenders beat Yao up.
Gee, how selfless of you, giving up Yao on China's behalf . I'm sure they see it exactly the same way. I take part in some soccer forums, and I can't even imagine the furor that would result if some people suggested that our better players overseas should be excused from national team duties so they could concentrate exclusively on corrected their flaws. The Rockets want Yao to play as few games as possible to maximize his success for them. China would like Yao to improve in the NBA, but also doesn't want to give up their best player. Yao, of course, is Chinese. If I actually had any athletic skill, I'd be proud as hell to represent my country. He's just doing the same. I want Yao to play fewer national games, too. But I think you're not looking at it from any perspective other than your own.
Just one question, if we want a person to shoot a 20 fter in the high post, why did we draft a 7'5" center?
Mostly kidding, but he would have one hell of an unstoppable jump shot . Nobody wants him taking his shots from 20. But the high post isn't that far out. And Yao, especially if he gets a bit more arch on his shot, definitely could do a lot of damage from 14. And that lets him utilize more passing skills.
Respectfully and totally disagree. Yao is arguably a current Top 4 Center (beyond Shaq who is much older, Vlade, Brad Miller, Jerome O'Neall, Duncan and possibly Ben Wallace are all at least worthy of consideration). If we use Jeff's logic from this thread (which appears to be Van Gundy and Ewing's logic) that the lpost will be established first, and then superimpose your logic... the Rox will have waited until Yao's 4th NBA season to run some hpost sets. IMHO, if that is how reality plays out, the Rockets will never make it out of the first round of the playoffs. I've never felt that Yao had to become the next Wilt for the Rockets to succeed, but if he hasn't established a solid low post game by the end of his third season...expect major personnel and/or coaching changes.
A few comments... Getting 20 foot jumpers off screens at the free throw line is not the same as running the high post offense. Regarding the other comments, I think you guys are projecting what Yao WILL be, not what he is. This is a kid in his second year of development. It takes many years to learn to dominate in any position on the floor. Second, JVG has incorporated perimeter plays for Yao. They run the play that puts Yao at the free throw line and has the guards weave past him for a hand off. They also have recently been using back screens to get Yao shots at the free throw line extended. He's not hitting them with consistency, but he's taking them. Don't confuse this team for a championship contender. We aren't close to that yet. This team and Yao have to crawl before they can walk. I know everyone wants them to go 82-0 right now, but it just isn't going to happen. Better to do things the RIGHT way and have the improvement be slower than to make quick fixes and not see any long-term success. Yao has to get beat up in the low post to learn that game. Those are his growing pains and they are necessary for him to be a great player.
