I don't think injuries are as simple as "bad luck". It also has to do with b-ball IQ, explosiveness, quickness, and hard work in training yourself to every single muscle. One example would be Lebron. People talk about his dunking, blocking, scoring, but people forget to mention how much hit he can take and why. Simply because he works out ridiculously hard. Just ask yourself, had Yao worked out as hard as Lebron, would he still be so injury prone?
It's simple. If the Rockets can get another super star, Yao can be the second star on the team and there is hope for championship. If the Rockets can't do so, Yao will lead the Rockets to be a very good team (as last year). It's not that Les/Morey want to rely on Yao. It's simply the best direction they have right now. You can question anything in life, but you have to provide a solution to your question. Otherwise nothing positive comes out of the question.
You make the system fit your franchise player, not the other way around. It would be foolish not to play some kind of Olajuwon style offense once Yao comes back. Gotta play to your strength IMHO.
It's foolish to think that Yao works out less than Lebron just because he has been injured more. It's just a fact that most 7fters tend to have foot/leg problems. The amount of stress put on the bones at that size makes it difficult for those players...it speaks more to a bone density phenomenon and the fact that those players have bigger feet and longer bones making them even more likely to be hit in those areas because - well they have more surface area to land on. Besides, Lebron is an absolute freak. He was already built like a linebacker as a rookie. He owes just as much of his health to his jeans and age (remember he is five years younger than Yao). ...the fact is with Yao, the franchise has become way more profitable(healthy or not) and considering there are relatively few quality centers in the league, Yao is an even more valuable piece. When he is healthy he is one of the very best bigs in the game - even unstoppable at times(he destroyed Portland last year in the playoffs...when our guards got him the ball). When Yao is out it leaves a hole in our lineup but then again relatively few teams are able to exploit that hole. Of true centers in the league, Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, and Andrew Bynum are about the only three who can regularly take advantage of such a mismatch. Really the whole discussion revolves around how much you want to give him - ultimately though, you give him as much as it takes. Also, let's not forget that getting Yao into a Rockets uniform took a fair amount of negotiating between Houston and China. Another team thinking they can just offer more money might not be able to get the permission of the Chinese government. Remember it was Houston specifically and not the NBA who begged them to let Yao play in the NBA. That has to stack the cards in Houston's favor to get Yao at a decent price.
And i'm not saying Yao is anything remotely to Olajuwon, nobody is. The dude's a legend. I am talking about the similar style. Most of our starters are set shooter, only one that can shoot on the run is AB, post up Yao as much as possible and make he kick out to open shooters.
Yao's strength really is the post. Its probably better to utilize him there more instead of from the high-post or maybe cut back of using him in the high-post and more in the low-post, but i think that is the Rockets real intentions to get that 'fit' PF who can see the floor and consistantly play the high-post beyond like Bosh/Webber. Be able to do so enables Yao in the low-post more often where he is much more impacted for the offense to force entire defensive game plans to change. I think utilizing him to his strength with less minutes is more beneficial for both the team and Yao. If he dominating he will be doing it from the low-post you'd think.
What Yao said is very frank and mature. I think the rockets don't have any advantage to resign Yao anymore. If another team that plays half-court style and give Yao a decent offer, He will probably sign with them.
IMO the Yao era is long gone. I remember people used to say, if Yao can be more aggressive and show more emotions, he will absolutely dominate the game. That was 5 years ago. I remeber that there was a month where T-Mac was out due to injury, Yao averaged something along the lines of 30ppg and 12rpg and he won player of the month. People said that the rate he was improving is incredible. I remember so many promises made by the org. and Yao, and almost every year, he goes down with an injury. I don't care how much money he brings, or how big a market China is, I just hope the org can move on and understand that it is time to invest in some other player.
For all the deifying and glorification of Morey this team, as currently constituted by him, is so far from a championship as Antarctica is to Houston. For all the hype draped on LeBron he has not won a championship after so many years in the league. In other words, there are so many elements involved in winning a championship and luck is one constant. Of course, a good team with one or two "superstars" - think of the Spurs- and a great coach- think of the Spurs and Lakers_ add to the good fortune for the championship to occur. The Rockets right now have a good team which could be elevated to championship caliber with one or two "superstars' and a better PG. Since the so called superstars are all likely to remain with their respective teams then the Rockets have rely on the "unreliable" Yao Ming to help them get to that championship until it is proven that his health will really prevent him from playing any meaningful games any longer. The Rockets, in a sense are lucky that they still have that one player that no else in the NBA has, so with some good fortune and additional tweaking I would bet all the Rockets' fortunes with Yao and play out the gamble. After all, for all the hype surrounding Morey's genius and "moneyball" he still signed Ariza, meaning drafting and signing in the NBA is all a big gamble. We should never forget that Portland drafted Sam Bowie over Hakeem and Jordan, and Milicic over DWade, and so on. So for the trigger happy Yao traders let us chill out for now and roll with the dice, we might yet be surprised.
I agree with both points, especially 2nd one. #2 - When you look at the NBA landscape in reality, there are only about 2-3 elite superstars in the league who could probably in the Lebron and Kobe class, and two of them are Lebron and Kobe. Next, you have either the stars or elite players in decline (but still one of the best players at their position) or stars who aren't quite as good as Kobe/LeBron overall, but can carry a team to playoffs and win a series or two. The stars in decline group would be Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, or Shaq from about 05 to last year. The 2nd group of stars who aren't quite as good includes CP3, Dirk, Brandon Roy, Chris Bosh, Carmelo Anthony, Dwight Howard, Amar'e Stoudemire, Paul Pierce, Kevin Durant, and maybe Deron Williams. I think Nash and Wade are tweeners. Slightly better than the 2nd group of stars, but aren't quite as good as the elite 2-3 or what the stars in decline used to be. Though, I think Wade is a little closer to Kobe and LeBron, when he's healthy. Next, comes the odd stars, like Joe Johnson, Kevin Martin, Monta Ellis, Pau Gasol, Tony Parker, Mo Williams, Stephen Jackson, Carlos Boozer, and few others. I'd say these players are pretty good, not elite, not the best at their position, and probably not capable of being the only star on the team for an entire 82 games, while being able to win in the playoffs. I would even say that they are all almost better at being role players, or on a team with a deep roster. With that being said, that's only about 19 players. More than half of them are unattainable, because they are the face of franchise, or are past their prime and much too expensive. If we were to go after any of the players, the Kobes-Lebrons along with the Dirks-Melos would be out of the question. That might leave us with someone like Chris Bosh, Amar'e Stoudemire, or even the lesser Mo Williams or Carlos Boozer. Here comes the next problem, do you want to offer those players the maximum, an $18 to $20+ million contract a year. Probably not. Especially, if you want to build (or keep) a roster with deep talent. With that being stated, is having an odd star paired with the current roster with or without Yao Ming going to be enough to win the NBA Title. Possibly and possibly not. Depends on our competition and health situation. With the way competition is right now, the only teams that is really in our way in the West are the Lakers and possibly Nuggets/Mavs (without Yao). The health situation is so important, look at the Rockets chances of knocking off the Lakers were last year vs. what the team would've look like with a healthy Yao, Mutombo, and T-Mac. If everyone is shocked by how competitive the team was without its stars, isn't safe to say with just only adding Yao and Mutombo, the Rockets could've pulled that series out. Yes, but we would be harping on the what-if factor again. Which doesn't apply in real life, which is why it is so troubling, yet hopeful to keep the Great Wall.
rockets can build around yao if they can add an all star or two, or three, and sign more role players that fit this system.
Houston doesn't need much to get into the top 3 or 4 teams of the league. Only an athletic wing player who can score 18 to 22 ppg and shot from the outside (or play in the post), a defensive oriented backup center (like Mutombo), maybe another guard who can score off the bench, and that's about it, especially if Yao is healthy. The Rockets don't necessarily need another superstar to win, simply acquire players to fulfill the voids. I know getting Chris Bosh or Amar'e Stoudemire is enticing, but power forward isn't really a need of ours unless that player can provide more defense and rebounding (which is what the team is lacking without a center). Again, I don't think is necessarily about getting a name-star, but a player who can contribute or fill voids, while not being a liability on defense. This team has shown for the last three years that they can compete with broken wheels in the regular season or playoffs. With Scola, Battier, Landry, Brooks, Lowry, and Hayes. I'm almost inclined to leave those six alone and build on it. It's strange, because I think again if Yao is moderately health (even missing half of the games). The Rockets shoot up to #2 or #3 in the West. The team becomes 3 dimensional with him, as he can eat other teams alive in the post, if they front him, the Rockets now have players who can score or run 'n' gun when he is on the bench or having trouble getting open. While, Yao helps them vice versa with less double teams coming their way. To top things off, Yao might be one of the most underrated defensive post players in the league. Our defense has been top 10, every year, he has stepped on the court for a portion of the Rockets' games. #1 - I'd like to ask and compare Dwight Howard and Yao Ming, again. Dwight Howard is considered the premier big man in the NBA and without doubt the best center in league at a mere 18 ppg, 12.5 rebs, and 2.5 blks a game. Though, his numbers are declining in a few areas, especially scoring, while he isn't exactly a nightmare matchup for a defense. Also, take in the fact, that his numbers declined after 4 years and he isn't the go-to guy on offense. Now, compared that against Yao whose numbers only decline after 5 years and didn't drop as fast. Also, consider that Yao at one time was averaging 23.1 ppg in his prime seasons and right at 10 rebounds. There are centers in the HOF who have not averaged those kind of numbers in their prime. Back to Yao-Dwight, head to head. Per 36 minutes, Yao's numbers look like a top 15 center, not in the today's NBA, but all time. While, Howard's numbers are good, but I wouldn't put him the same class with Olajuwon or Shaq. Like certain MSM outlets are often guilty of doing. Dwight also is a better rebounder, shot blocker, and quicker defender than Yao, yet beyond that is he really that much better than Yao. He can't score, like Yao, or has the offensive arsenals or footwork. Certainly, can't hit free throws, like Yao. On offense, he struggles worse against players who are either equally as strong or as big as he is than Yao does against fronting. Also, add in the fact that against larger and stronger players, Yao is usually at his best against those type of players, using his size, using their size against them, outworking them, or simply beating them with skills. Most of all, Yao is arguably a better one-on-one defender against the same type of players and does (on occassion) defend the post better, especially, if it is against a larger opponent. It's funny the powers that be in MSM consider Howard a better player, even though, he may have more weakness in his game than Yao does. Though, to his credit, he is more healthier and younger than Yao. Still, has room to improve with his young age and inexperience.
lets see next year yao/2010 first round pick/hayes/da scola/landry player from tmac trade/battier/cbud ariza/taylor brooks/lowry the only weak spots are backup center and starting sg(sorry battier) draft a sg or center in first round, then get the other weakspot through trade or free agency...should be easy right?
They need to go after Gerald Wallace and Rondo defensive players who do more than just play defense and vise versa. Wallace can score/rebound/run/defend. Rondo can run/rebound/playmaker/defend even these two players next to Amare could thrive off each other and Yao. You don't need to be just an offensive player or just a defensive player to thrive on the court with the right players. That is one problem with the current roster is we have a roster full of one demential players. You have to make trades and convert the dementions and skills into single players.
