Yao is playing just fine. He did a good job against the Lakers while having the double team. He is definitely not an issue.
Yao didn't quit in Toronto Yao works hard despite having flaws Yao puts the team first Yao plays through nagging injuries Yao is willing to sacrifice his game in order to win Yao doesn't complain about getting enough touches Yao gives 100% all of the time, even though he makes mistakes
1) Orlando not Toronto (after carrying them to the playoffs 3 years in a row without a viable second option/team in general; when a GM doesn't put anything around a top 5 player they tend to leave - too many examples in NBA history for me to point out). 2) McGrady, our best playmaker, doesn't put the team first? 3) McGrady has played through nagging injuries the past 2 years while Yao was on the bench for half the season each year. 4) McGrady isn't willing to sacrifice his game? He's been among the least selfish team oriented stars in the league since coming to the Rockets. 5) McGrady said he can't get into the flow of the offense when he doesn't get touches - that's pretty much the case with any volume scorer. How many times since '04-05 do you remember McGrady complaining about anything? He's sacrificed more than anyone else on this team this season as far as shots go. But hey - spread whatever anti-McGrady propaganda you want. Hope it makes ya feel better when he's healthy again.
with the rockets struggling this entire season yao's numbers should be closer to 25/12 but its 19/9. he needs to shoot the ball more, needs to score more when tmac, ron, both, are out. for some reason he cant do that which isnt good.
Yao has played better than tracy and have been more consistent this season, but the fact remains fans like yao and they don't like tracy. That's always been clear. One guy is herioc playing on a bad foot, the other is a bum for playing with and bad shoulder and knee, go figure. I'm kinda to the point of getting rid of both. Neither can be built around, neither are franchise players, both are injury prone. That's hard to accept, but its the truth.
i would say there are just as many yao's fans as mcgrady's, at least on this board. i had a "change in heart" with mcgrady a couple of years back. and i bet there are quite some fans who have walked down the same path this season. i wonder why... and pls shed some light here, leebigez. why mcgrady's shoulder surgery would hinder him from rehabing the knee in the summer? i truly want to know that.
Even with Ron and Tracy out, Yao is surrounded by an abundance of players (Luis, Von, Aaron, Carl, Rafer, Shane) who can fairly regularly put up 15-20 points if called upon. Constantly dumping the ball into Yao is a problem because A) it's easy for teams, especially those with length, to key in on him, B) Yao tires quickly when he's called upon too much, and C) Yao's minutes are being limited this season. I'd rather he put up 20/10 than 25/12 if it means he can stay fresh enough to play 81 games.
1) he's talking about the Rockets game this year, not McGrady's tenure as a Raptor. Though he did have to get balled out by Butch Carter over his effort level. 2) that is correct 3) Yao played through nagging injuries. Yao missed games with major injuries. McGrady also missed games with major injuries. Don't bait and switch. In their time together in Houston, Yao has played in 279 games and Tracy 290. Pretty even. 4) being a willing passer isn't necessarily the same as being willing to sacrifice your game. Steve couldn't be convinced to stop dribbling the air out of the ball. McGrady can't be convinced to move without the ball or drive into the lane more than 3 times a game. 5) Antoine Walker fully agrees with you.
There is not a GM in the league that would trade Yao for Tmac. Conversely. I promise you every single one would trade Tmac for Yao. DD
Yao is a hometown kid dude. Get with the program. A hometown kid being: 1. Someone raised in the Houston area 2. Someone who played college ball in the Houston area 3. Someone who was drafted and started their career in Houston That's why Francis is considered a hometown boy too. Tmac got lots of love being the hometown kid for Orlando. It's his fault he quit on them and bashed his teammates while doing it. He did it to Toronto too and they could also be considered his hometown team since he was drafted there and started his career there too. He bashed that franshise and his teammates, Vince Carter in particular. And before his apologists go out of control, when Mcgrady was in the East, a few seasons, teams with a losing records made the playoffs. If you are 1 or 2 games above .500 you definitely make it.
Ibm- ur arms propel ur legs. That's why u see track runners legs and arms pumping at the same time. If u don't believe me, tie one arms to ur side, and board 1 knee up and try do cardio. Pro atheletes train, they don't work out. You can ride the bike all u want, but if u don't train, its just like ur out of shape.
Leeb, You keep bringing this up, but he could have rehabbed in other ways.....without being on the track, and he had minor shoulder surgery too, he could have pumped his arms just fine from July onward. Please stop making excuses, you usually have great comments.....but apologizing for a crappy work ethic is silly, you know better than that. DD
For stationary bikes, stair climbers, and elliptical machines, arms are optional if not completely unnecessary. What about those?
I'm really wondering how many games you have watched this year when you pull the "as bad as" statement out. We all wish Yao can play better or as good as he did before the injury. He is playing at this level today not because he is lazy or lack of drive. The injury has a lot to do with the decline. Anyone watches the game can tell with unbiased eyes.
I pretty sure everyone knows my stance on Yao.. I think he is following: Soft, Non Athletic, has small hands, blah blah blah, I get it it's because of his height and that no other big big man over 7'5" can do the things Yao does. But that doesn't mean he is what we need in the middle. I never bring up the trade scenario with Yao because he will never be traded. PERIOD. Basketball is a business and Yao brings in his weight in Gold. Don't believe me look at how many of his teammates receive shoe endorsements. Look at the Toyota center and at times there are several Chinese marketing ads court side. Yao Ming could average 5 pts and 2 boards a game and he will never be traded. Yes Winning is everything but the only reason why you want to win is because it pays more. And that's from an owners perspective. When your net worth has tanked the past couple of years (Around 300+ Million dollars Yes 300+ Million dollars) money is everything. Would I trade Yao for D. Howard - No doubt because I thin D. Howards overall game/athleticism can bring more to the Rockets team than Yao. Yes Yao has more offensive skills but it's not like D.Howard is chump change on the offensive end. Plus he's a lot younger.
