Forgive me if I am repeating a post that was already made but since I cant do any searches...CLUTCH!....I have to go on a skimming over topics and hope not to repeat. Anyways, can someone explain to me how the hell Yao will succeed in this coming season when he is traveling, playing, getting hurt, etc...the WHOLE FREAKIN SUMMER? Isn't it in the summer when you suppose to work on your game or bulk up or hell maybe even rest?? All I read is that Yao is playing here or that he is in China or on Mars or he got hurt or this or that. No weightlifting, no rest, nothing that you do to improve your game and dismiss the sophomore jinx. Isn't Yao going to be dead tired when March rolls around? Chugging up and down the court? I know that he is only 22 or 23 but come on! Can't a guy at least sleep 12 hours a day during the offseason to recoup the long grind that is the NBA schedule? I got a bad feeling about all this extra curricular activity. You don't spend your whole offseason overseas playing with midgets or making commercials and telethons and getting hurt while not spending time resting or working with coaches to improve your ability to be a better center. But thats just me.
The thing about Yao is that it is his great honor to represent his country, and he would play on one leg if it were all that he had. I don't think he has it in him to refuse to play for the NT. Both of his parents played their entire careers for the Chinese NT, and it is probably his honor to follow suit. What can you say, Yao is a stand-up guy and will do what his country requires of him. I wish he didn't have to play all summer too, but he genuinely loves to do that. I admire and respect that about him. Hopefully, he can get some rest before the season starts!
I agree 100%. People are so busy jumping on Steve and Cuttino for doing other things besides working on their game that no one else has noticed this. But to be fair I'll say the same thing about Yao that I said about them. It's his life and he can live it however he wants. If he wants to do the things he enjoys, more power to him.
It's not really extra curricular in Yao's mind or in the minds of the people of China. His country and the national team comes first above all else. Even if he didn't really feel that way, you'd better believe he would act like he does.
don't you think the regular nba player plays in the offseason, as well? check the summer leagues. check rucker park. check fonde. check westside tennis club. check concord (in san antone). there are nba players playing serious ball there all summer long. i think the difference is that he's doing it in china, which is very foreign to us - literally and figuratively. as if playing there is somehow more dangerous to a ballplayer than francis or mooch or cat playing in college park or NYC or DC. but really, it's just about the same thing. the only difference between yao @ home and yao @ houston is access to rocket facilities and trainers. but that problem is easily rectified by having yao work out at the top chinese training facilities (which i'm sure he is) and having a rocket trainer posted in china with him (which we don't know one way or another). overall, chill Almu. he'll be fine.
I have to back up verse here. Thusfar he has played five games. The rest of the time he has been training and (reportedly) following the Rockets weight/diet program. Francis and especially Mobley play a lot of ball in the summer, does anyone really worry about them? Plus, remember that Yao plays very few minutes in these games...he probably would have logged more minutes had he played for us in the summer league. Finally, it is probably more relaxing and more of a rest for him to be in his home country than here in the US. The sky is not falling.
People, forget about summer league or NBA training camp ! Yao had not seen his girlfriend for 6 months while playing in USA, why the hell does he want to spend another 3 months in Houston!! heck, I would have trouble not seeing my girlfriend for 3 days LOL
It seems to me like they're taking training easy on Yao, and this cut thing above his eye is the best thing that could ever happen to him. It doesn't afefct him at all and is the perfect excuse for some rest during practicve and a few games. Aside from this, I think he was resting quite a bit at the beginning. They only recently startedp laying games, right? He doesn't even play that much I think. As long as he doesn't get seriously hurt, and is here with a few games left in the preseason (THATS THE LATEST) then I'm fine. Judging by the dates on the AFC website, Yao can be here for the last week or so of TRAINING camp. Meaning a whole preseason. I dont' think he'll be tired. Unless you've lived abroad, you dont' understand how relaxing it is to go back to your country, to know where everything is, to see your family and friends, even if your'e playing. Seriously, the competition Yao is facing is NOTHING compared to what players see in the summer leagues and at pickup games. You can count it as working on his game a bit. Playing against quicker, smaller guys wa a problem for him, maybe he's improved in that area? Also, he is a bit bigger and said he's sticking to the Rockets weightlifting program too. So that's a plus.
I'm sure Yao doesnt mind spending a few months in his home country. It could do him some good after all the pressure in the U.S. Besides, who knows if how long they actually practice. If its not too long, and doesnt involve too much traveling, its good for him. I'm sure he is having a good time catching up.
Yao Ming is back with the in crowd (In his eyes) Going back to China for him is in reality a recovery period, its his get away when he can be arround his girlfriend and his contemporaries. Its a chance to get away from the pressures of American life and go into easy mode. He is, I am sure, enjoying being the star player and showing off his American Game to the CNT. By the end of the offseason he will begin to get bored of it all and will be eager to return for an encor on the NBA Court .
(1) According to YM before he left, this coach is a hard-ass. Two-a-days were the norm. I believe he was allowed to substitute weight training for one of those workouts, but still... (2) The competition the CNT plays may be less, but it is still organized basketball. Sure guys in the states play ball year round, but it is on their own terms. They don't have some coach yelling at them to do laps, or to participate in drills that don't help their game. (3) For those who think YM is "quite a bit bigger," two words for you. David Carr. It looks like YM has put some muscle on his upper body, but nowhere near what *could* have been. (4) Will he break down? No guarantees, but it absolutely happened in year one. Given his schedule, and the minimal downtime, it is quite possible it could happen in year two, and happen sooner. Lest you get the wrong idea, I have no problem with YM playing with the CNT. I just wish the Rockets could get China to follow FIBA rules, which dictate a month or so of training time prior to events. IMHO with the tournament in late September/early October, YM's involvement should be starting *now* at the earliest.
god...we have been over this before...especially me and edc.. Almu.. according to reports we have seen so far...and contrary to what edc likes to say.. the practices are not that long..I dont recall who posted the info, but it was reported that the practices were no more than 4 hours or so. they didnt start playing games until the last 2-3 weeks..of which Yao satout for a couple.. Im sure he gets plenty of rest when not practicing..I'm not up to digging up the backup...but fromeverything I have read...it isnt as bad as some are making it out to be. The sky is not falling..
Four hours is "not that long?" NBA practices run three hours MAX. Add that to the propensity (according to Yao Ming, not me!) of the CNT head coach to run two-a-days, and I see an issue. "Games" are not the problem. It is the business of unnecessary regimen. Yao Ming is not getting time off to "recharge the batteries." Sure, being in China may help, but that alone is not the same as time off, and neither is "not taking part in practices." No. The tournament the CNT is playing in overlaps with the "training camp" portion of the season. Expect him back while preseason games are already underway.
but if he sleeps for 8 hours(unlikely) and practices for 4...thats 12 hours...still leaves 12 hours for whatever...weight training(hopefully)..surfing the internet, getting some, eating, playing games.. How many hours a day do you think our American-bound players are playing pickup games? probably the same number of hours..it wouldnt surprise me..and then they probably go out for half the night...which, according to all I have heard...Yao doesnt do.. I just think he will be rested up..the only thing that irritates me is them moving the tourney from August to the beginning of Oct.. that pisses me off cause it will eat into Yao's time with the team....but Im willing to bet that he is smart enough to catch on real quick... holy crap...Im getting a distinct feeling of deja-vu...arent you? btw...no offense meant in the earlier post...I actually enjoyed the previous discussions...
this is off topic and i dont want to open a new thread but is the posey deadline today? is he officially gone now?
I think he has put more than enough muscle on this summer. It would be very unhealthy to gain much more than he did this summer. Last time I checked, he weighed more than 300lbs, enough that coaches think that he should begin LOSING weight. It would be great to have Yao all summer, but at the same time, I would rather him have a chance to go home and get some rest w/ family and friends.
