I'm sorry, but when did Yao b**** about his fouls, let alone when he was wrong? For his first 2 years he didn't b**** at all, even when he was clearly getting shafted. This year he does a bit more only because JVG told him to. If there's anybody out there that doesn't b**** enough, it's Yao.
I noticed something positive in yesterday's game against the Blazers. Unlike before, Yao was not called for offensive fouls in the baseline spin moves he made (3 of them) in which his off arm wraps around his defender. This is good news if this is how the refs will call it from here on out. I believe JVG complained about this earlier and it seems like someone listened (at least the 3 officials in that game listened). It is all going to get better for Yao in terms of officiating.
At least refs are not calling 3 secs on Yao anymore. Sometime Yao will stay in the paint all night, and refs just act like they didn't see it.
My problem isn't that Yao gets called for fouls. My problem is that others do not. Think about it. How many times do we see Yao gets called for a foul and on the NEXT play, at the other end, Yao gets the same thing done to him and gets no call (or worse, gets an offensive). OK, you say Yao fouled, fine. Then when that play happens again, that's still a foul. Obviously there can't be TWO correct interpretation of the exact same play. Oh btw, try seeing an all-star get another foul after his 5th. Now see how often it happens to Yao.
Maybe the refs don't like all of Yao's money going over to China. Face it, the US and China have their third eye on each other...... It's sort of strange in a way. We import a ton of products from China, and commerce between the two countries is high. We benefit each other. But on the other side of the coin, you have a sense of untrust on the military and govt level. Remember the US survellience plane that was shot down (if I remember correctly) and had to land in China? Yao is a citizen, and benefactor of China, and their govt. Some like it, some don't, and some don't care. But I believe it makes a difference in the minds of some.
I agree 100%. But ultimately, Yao needs to call the refs on it when that happens. The refs react to the stars. Yao needs to learn how to lobby for himself. I get the feeling that if Yao went over to the ref before the game and said, "Dick, I'm going to block at least 5 shots tonight," and then he went out and agressively tried to block shots, the ref would let him get away with more incidental contact. Right now, Yao is too hesitant about when to go for the block or not. Do you think if Yao said that to a ref before the game, would the ref call him for a foul when Dan Dickau jumps into him? Hell no. But if he steps forward, arms not quite straight up, doesn't jump, and bumps Dickau with his chest, then they will call it. He has to want to play good agressive D, and he needs the refs to expect that.
I've seen other players, after being called for a foul, go up to a ref during the break in play and ask for a better explanation. I've never seen Yao do this. He just gives that "you got to be kidding me" look and then looks as if he is going to cry. Don't get me wrong, I'm one of the biggest Yao fans on the board. I also think this is something that will correct itself over time.
I suggest a strategy that I used on my wife before we got married. Take those borderline BS calls like a man and wait for an blatantly wrong one. When it comes ,grab the opputunity and corner the guy , get a T if necessary. It will make them feel guilty. Another thing is that Yao makes way too many moving screens , I think they get on the refs nerve. Subconsciously they want to compensate those by calling other fouls that they are not sure about.
I may get ripped for saying this, but I notice Yao sets moving screens quite a bit. He is also over the back on rebounds quite a bit. Yet he doesn't get called much for it, especially, the moving screens. I imagine the refs hear alot of complaining about that from other teams and maybe the refs compensate by calling tick tack stuff on him. I also think that his size works against him on fouls. He's always the bigger player so his apparant fouls are magnified, while smaller player's fouls are less obvious. Regardless of the real reason, it sure is aggravating to watch. You'd think the refs have seen Yao enough to come up with a consistent way to ref him. Then he could adjust to it. It's the inconsistency that kills me.
The moving screen thing is an example of the refs adjusting to Yao. He kept on doing it until they finally gave up and let him do it. About the over-the-backs: Players go over his back a hell of a lot more than he goes over other players backs. A lot of times he just goes straight up to get the ball, and a guy will try to box him out to get a call. If it's a real foul on him, they usually call it.
