In all honesty, AK-47 is phenomenal right now. At the right he's going, he'll be voted an all-star very, very soon, and I wouldn't doubt this year out in the prediction. As much as I despise the Jazz, I can't help but really admire his speed, agility, hustle, his court IQ, and his determination to play on both ends of the court. The Jazz really have something in him. He is very loudly improving, while Yao is improving, but quietly. I wish Yao could improve with a tad more noise. Sometimes, I feel like the only game where Yao will rip off the backboard is in a playstation basketball game. I wish Yao could get more pissed off at bogus calls. I mean, the fact that he doesn't speak English well doesn't merit as an excuse. The man can speak English with a modicum of sufficiency. Why else would Van Gundy banish COline Pine from practices and games? How hard is it to show the refs that you're not pleased with the calls? Win or lose in any game from here on out, I would be very proud of Yao were he to take the ball and throw it into the stands. Better yet, I would be very proud of Yao were he to take Moochie and and throw him into the stands.
A lot of those blocks are from the weak side, not from the man that's actually guarding Yao. Kerilinko would charge and jump for Yao's shot after it was clear what Yao was going to do with the ball. As that picture shows, Ostertag wasn't going to block Yao. Granted, Yao does get blocked at times because of his technique, and sometimes on shots that he should not have even attempted. Kerilinko had a block on Yao in each of the 2 games, and both, maybe more, were the exact same situation as that pic. Kerilinko knew where to be and was ready for it. He's playing very well.
I'm glad at least somebody here doesn't need glasses. This thread is so lame to blame the refs for Yao's shortcomings...
No he's not. He expressed interest in the job but my alma mater decided not to take him up on it. Re: Yao getting blocked, read Clutch's recap on the front page. I've been saying the same thing: Yao needs to use the pump-fake more. If he pump-fakes, Kirilenko would've landed on him repeatedly and Yao would've been feasting at the line.
hi ttboy, You're a Columbia alum too?? ? What a small world. ------------------------ With or without calls, Yao Needs to get Better at Using his Size. Period. 1. Hook shot 2. Taking it strong to the hole 3. Dunks 4. Curls That's what Yao needs to do. And less of that soft turnaround garbage. theSAGE
