Dude, Yao is the reason Houston is in this situation in the first place. He was out last year so we suffered. This year we counted on him again but he went down again so again, we're in the same situation. As much as you're dwelling on the past, Yao is done whether you like it or not. Yao will never return to his normal self or even half of what he used to be. Even if Yao was fully healthy, he can't carry this team anywhere. All the contenders have at least 2 stars on their team. Yao isn't even a top tier star when healthy. More like 2nd tier all star. The Rockets were so cautious with Yao this season. They limit his minutes greatly and he gets to rest on back to back games. Even after all of that, just 7 games into the regular season and he went down again. Even if the Rockets tank and rebuild, Yao cannot be in the picture. Its time to move on. We tried with Yao since drafting him and made it out the first round once. If the Rockets continues to try to ride on Yao's shoulder again, the rebuilding process will take even longer. Yao has set this team back long enough. IF they want to get through that rebuilding process, the first step is to go a direction from Yao.
That win streak was done without Yao. If lets say, Tmac went down instead of Yao, we wouldn't even be close to that.
The O.D.B once said something about liking it raw. Ooh baby I likes it raw, yeah baby I like it raw! I like what our raw big men have to offer and if used correctly I believe that they can and will contribute, J Hill included. But IF, big IF, Yao can return somewhat healthy, like what Big Z did, that would be a blessing to our team. The law of attraction says what you think about you bring about, let's test that theory by everyone on Clutchfans think Thabeet 20 - 10 & 3 blocks, & Yao healthy happy feet. What have we got to loose but our minds?
Yao can't lead us to a playoff contender. He just isnt good enough even when healthy. Remember, real contenders in this league actually have superstars. Not just one but at least 2 stars. When Yao was healthy, he was just an all star caliber player. He wasn't a superstar or franchise player. He's good for being the 2nd tier player. But as the main guy, he's simply not good enough. So how can Yao help lead this team to playoff contenders if he can't do it when he's fully healthy? Plus he won't be playing major minutes anyway. His minutes would be even greater reduce than last year. Honestly, I rather give his roster spot to a player that can actually produce by staying on the court and playing rather then wearing a nice suit cheering on the bench. Yao is done, I much rather pay him to be an assistant coach on the sideline. He would help the team much more that way.
If Yao wants to come back, perhaps his sense of honor will enable us to sign him for a one year, vet-min, experimental deal. I hope we get Kendrick Perkins in free agency. I hope we can move Scola and Miller, perhaps others (Lowry), and picks for a high pick (Irving). My hoped-for 2011-12 Rockets roster: Irving Dragic Lowry Lee Martin Battier(!)Chase TWill PPat JHill Carroll Perkins Thabeet Yao (?)
What are you talking about? We had a chance to preview that already. Yaos feet could not hold up for more than several games THIS season with limited minutes.
I don't know about you and the others here but I will find it refreshing to watch a guy (Thabeet) who averages 2.3 ppg & 2.8 rpg take the court for the Rockets. I just hope that Coach Sikma remembers to tell him to tie his sneakers BEFORE going on the court.
I think it would be a bad idea to let Yao play, ESPECIALLY if he's 75% or better. By now, we know Yao has a very good chance to go down with a season ending injury at anytime...it wouldn't be a good idea to let him play and maybe make our team (and record) better while giving us a worse chance of getting a high draft pick. Imagine being a 8th seed or better right before the playoffs start and he goes down...then what was the point? We would still be a bad team while having an even worse chance at improvement. Yao is definitely not in our(or any other team's) future...why risk the chance of him giving us a better record when it will only make our team worse in the long run?
I think CLee, PPat, and Bud might all step their games up. If we can get Dragic to play like he played in the playoffs... If JHill and Thabeet can concentrate and try hard... If, if, if...
I, as many, love Yao as a person, but I think we can no longer hope that he will be the reason that we become legitimate again. I would love to be proved wrong but those days of wishing Yao were a major factor are done. I like the move of getting Thabeet. A change of scenery may do him wonders and we have to remember that he got drafted in 2009. So calling him a complete bust is premature IMO. I also think that with time, his offensive game can be respectable, not every role/star player has been a role/star player from day 1. It may take a couple seasons but his defense seems to be on par plus a 7'3 Center is better than what we've had for the last season! This franchise has had storied big men, he may or may not become one here, but we have Jack Sickma, Carrol Dawson, Olajuwon, Yao, who could mentor him. I see nothing but "upside" in this acquisition.
A healthy Yao is still the best center in the NBA. In the 5-6 years Yao has faced Dwight Howard I have yet to see DH best Yao. Number 11 owns him every time. That said, a healthy Yao is very unlikely. I wish a miracle happens because Yao is a good guy who works very hard.
I don't think we're in complete rebuild mode. This team can compete with a HEALTHY yao. The chances of yao returning to his old self are slim but we should take a some sort of risk for him albeit a small one. what IF he can come back and be productive? I think most ppl here want yao to come back strong but we're also realistic about his chances. It doesn't look good. He does give us a chance at a title but a small one.
You are correct. Its very likely Yao's days are over and we shouldn't expect anything from him. However, I still think the statistical probability of Yao coming back and at least getting us in the playoffs is higher than us getting lucky in the draft or signing/trading for a superstar free agent that would do the same. Its just the predicament we are in.
