These kind of backhanded compliments are really annoying. The implication is that Yao has been underachieving all this time. Never mind that he's steadily improved each season.
This just in ... Yao is the POW ! http://www.nba.com/news/pow_061113.html J. Johnson, Yao Named NBA Players of the Week Posted Nov 13 2006 3:10PM Print E-mail RSS Feeds E-News Sign Up Share on Facebook NEW YORK, Nov. 13, 2006 -- The Atlanta Hawks’ Joe Johnson and the Houston Rockets’ Yao Ming today were named the Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for games played Monday, Nov. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 12. Johnson finished the week as the NBA’s second leading scorer and became the first player in Hawks history to score at least 25 points in six consecutive games to start a season. Leading the Hawks to a 2-1 mark last week, Johnson tallied 29.0 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest, while handing out 4.3 assists. Johnson connected on nine-of-22 three-point field goals on the week, a .409 mark from behind the arc. Johnson’s Hawks are off to their best start since 1998-99, when they also opened 4-2. Yao led the Rockets to a 4-0 record, averaging 29.0 points on .557 shooting and 11.3 rebounds while shooting .903 from the free throw line. Yao recorded two double-doubles for the week and led the Rockets in scoring in three of Houston’s four games, including consecutive 30-point games against New York and Miami. Yao’s 27.3 ppg is 9.6 points above his career average and ties him with Portland’s Zach Randolph for eighth among the league's scoring leaders. Here is a closer look at the week for Johnson and Yao: Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks # Nov. 7 at Cleveland: Connected on 3-of-3 three-point field goal attempts and scored 25 points while collecting eight rebounds as the Hawks beat the Cavaliers 104-95. # Nov. 10 at Toronto: Led the Hawks in points (34), rebounds (eight) and tied for the lead in assists (five) as Atlanta topped Toronto 111-102. # Nov. 11 vs. Seattle: Scored 28 points and added 10 rebounds in a 113-112 loss. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets # Nov. 7 at Memphis: Scored 24 points and added seven rebounds and three blocks in Houston’s 86-80 win over the Grizzlies. # Nov. 8 at Milwaukee: Tallied 23 points and seven rebounds in the Rockets’ 97-93 win over the Bucks. # Nov. 10 vs. New York: Recorded a career-high-tying seven blocks to go along with 35 points and 17 rebounds as Houston beat New York 103-94. # Nov. 12 at Miami: Netted 34 points and pulled down 14 rebounds as Houston won its fourth-straight, 94-72 over Miami. Other nominees for Eastern and Western Conference Players of the Week were Denver’s Carmelo Anthony, Golden State’s Baron Davis, Indiana’s Al Harrington, the Los Angeles Clippers’ Sam Cassell, Miami’s Dwyane Wade, Milwaukee’s Michael Redd, Portland’s Zach Randolph, Sacramento’s Kevin Martin, San Antonio’s Tony Parker and Utah’s Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams.
