First off, I am from the Philippines where our national team regularly meets the Chinese NT. During the last Asian Games, the Philippines lost to China by 40 or so points in a no bearing game. The game was actually close during the first half, until the Chinese blew the game wide open when the Philippine coach pulled sat out our starting center for the duration of the game. As a review, Yao was matched up against our 6'9 center. Though Yao was taller by 9 inches, he had a hard time backing up against the Filipino Center. When matched up against the Koreans in the title match, Yao was matched up against two centers standing 6'9 and 6'10 in height. Again he had trouble against their defenses. Based on what I've seen, Yao lacks the strength to match up against strong players. And although he has the athleticism to get by his guard, he can be stopped by a simple double team. IMO, Yao will improve both physically and in the mental aspects of the game. Be extra patient because he not only has to grow physically and mentally, he also has to learn a new culture and a new language. While some players like Kwame took a year to improve, Yao may take a longer time to improve, but I believe he will improve in the long run.
Stevie Franchise said in the pre-season if they don't make the playoffs this year, they will break this team up. He admitted this team will have had enough chances, and they will probably need to try new personnel and chemistry if they don't make the playoffs. He's likely to stay, but Cat and others may be on their way out. So you betcha there's pressure to win now. Hell, even Rudy may be on his way out if they don't make the playoffs. Les Alexander has said this is one of the most talented teams ever assembled, so if they don't at least make the playoffs this year, Rudy could be gone--especially since this offense looks no different from last year's. One of the main reasons they have won two games this year is because Stevie has been hitting over 50% of his shots--last year he was alot less accurate. [I had him on my fantasy team last year and he shot poorly for the year, and he had way too many turnovers. So I decided not to draft him this year because of it]. There's no guarantee that type of accurate shooting percentage, from a guard especially, will hold up. If it does drop, then the Rocks will need to find someone other than Cat to pick up the slack. That's why players like Yao need to be prepared when that time does come--hence, more playing time now.
Hey Dr. Naismith, every GM in the league would have selected Yao Ming #1 this year *and* last. Yao Ming is neither slow, nor weak. He certainly has the height and skills to develop into a dominant player. To even make a final assessment about his basketball ability (much less his basketball IQ) after four, count 'em, four games and two weeks with the team is simply ludicrous. I wasn't ready to annoint him the next Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after good games against Philadelphia and Toronto, but let's get real. 15 minutes versus Seattle do not make, or break a career. Hakeem usually played badly in all-star games....did that mean he sucked, or was less of a player? Of course not. Yao Ming is used to being the go-to guy on his team in a different league with less talented players. How could there not be a period of adjustment? So, with all of your great knowledge of basketball and Yao Ming (which eveidentally escaped most talent evaluators in the NBA and FIBA) your prescription is to let him have the "occasional practice" and play him *less* in games?! Are you r****ded? Frankly, the only thing that is clear is that the reason you joined this discussion (and this BBS, for that matter) is to feed your ego and b****. b**** about the Houston, b**** about Houston fans, b**** about the treatment of Hakeem, b**** about Yao, b**** about people not accepting your wisdom about Yao, just b****, b****, b****. Enough! Take it to a Knicks board. You have more ammunition (and competitors) there.
http://www.nba.com/features/survey2002_weight.html Yao Ming - 296 pounds. Very Recent Survey. 3rd heaviest guy in the league.
So far Cato has simply been better than Ming--on both offense and defense--that along with a foul every 5 minutes is why Ming hasn't played much. I would like to see the time get closer to 24/24 towards the end of this month--but if the game is close Ming has to be at least contributing on one end around Cato's level. If this were pre-season it might be different, but it is not. I havn't been dissappointed with Ming's offense, he has only been with the team what 2 weeks. I have been dissappointed his defense--with BPM well behind both Cato and EG, and his RPM well behind Cato. I am still very hopefull about Ming--but it is clear to me he isn't going to be the defensive presence right away that Ewing or Duncan was their first years, let alone be able to immediately wreek havic on other teams offenses like a rookie Hakeem, Shaq, Zo, Robinson or Mutumbo could do. Also, sad to say it, but probably with the exception of Robinson the other guys were not too much older than Ming is now if any. On the positive side Ming was a much better presence even against other good international teams this summer and has habits from playing well below division I comp that should be able to be broken and he didn't even have preseason with the Rockets. I guess everyone needs to chill out for now.
Look, I knew Ming wouldn't do as well as people expected. Ming wasn't going to get 10/8/3 like some people said. Ming is simply going through too much. I don't know if Ming will be a star, but I do know it takes 2-3 yrs to judge a player. Even expecting him to break out at the all star break is not reasonable. It will take him awhile
I would expect him to get a freaking rebound every now and then. Also, I would expect him to be able to dunk when he's all by himself under the basket. Also, I would expect him to provide at least some defensive resistance against the scrubs and the journeymen of the League. What system does he need to know to be able to do these things?
OK, Truth, I hear you, but here's the thing: Steve Francis is a basketball player, and pretty damn good one, but he is no Oprah, nor Dr. Phil. If Ming has low self-esteem problems he should see a shrink, or do meditation, or go through a 10-step "daily affirmations" program, or a support group or whatever. Steve is paid to make baskets and win basketball games, period. He will not feed Yao just to solve his mental problems.
I think Rudy's with you on this one. He's said today that he wants to cut the rotation to 7-8 players and if Maurice is even at 50% he'll beat Yao for the spot. He'll be relegated to the end of the bench next to Dan Langhi Jr. Phew, what a waste of draft picks!
Id expect the same things out of you when half of the world is criticizing your every move. When your boss says that you're the biggest sports story in the world, and you're repping your country in a foreign land. Id also want you to not make any mistakes during your first few weeks on the job. I'm pretty sure that you're a genius and you've got this amazing learning curve, but some people might not pick up things as quickly as you do. I think you might try to empathize with this guy's position before calling him incompetent.
You misunderstood me dude. Im not talking about mental problems here. Thats another story. Ask anybody that knows about basketball and they will tell you that you need to get involved in the offense and take enough shots to raise your confidence in "making shots". I'm not complaining though because steve is shooting great, and will lead the league in scoring if he can keep this up all season. If he can lead us into the playoffs this year playing like this the whole season there is no doubt in my mind he wins the League MVP.
We instituted a new offensive system this year, and the defense is supposedly different. There were some reporters making remarks that Ming had to be directed towards his spot in the game. You can be Kobe talented, or McGrady talented, or even Eddie Griffin talented, but that don't mean squat if you don't know the game, live the game, observe the game and feel the game straight up. Being thrown into combat unprepared doesn't fit all the criteria. It might even break him. The fact that he isn't thrown to the wolves and being blasted in the spotlight to perform 20/10 figures, which every "self-respecting" ""fan"" (had to quadrouple quote there) in NY would demand, is a privelege. Geez, it's his first year and some of you want this Rockets season to be the sequel to Space Jam. Which I wouldn't mind if we do win... but something I wouldn't demand.
Yao is slow and weak, that's why he looks so bad. I never said his career is made or not, he's just a project, and projects don't deserve more PT, they deserve less. His Basketball IQ is less then other rookies from foreign countries. His ability to post up is near 0. He hardly blocks shots for someone his height. He gets few rebounds. He defends by fouling his opponents. Yet you claim he is stong and quick? Get a grip on reality. I love how your only fire is to attack that I dumped Houston and moved to another city. That obviously really hurts your feelings. At least Knicks fans have realistic views of their players and aren't homers. They know their team sucks, and they know which players have been overhyped and don't go on making an ass out of themselves by making ridiculous claims like "Yao Ming will make the All-Star team" or will average "13pt, 8 reb" this season. What knowledge is that based on? Homer Knowledge. As in Homer Simpson Knowledge. Deal with reality. Yao right now sucks. He's a long term project. There's a good chance he will fade away or get injured, that's a reality, and if that happens, it will probably end Carroll Dawson's Career as it should. Your whiny personal attacks only serve as a disservice to this BBS and the people on here who actually wish to discuss basketball. Stick to the argument buddy, or shut up.
Well, one difference is that when I came to this country I was paid $13K/yr, not $3.5M. But screw me. How come a 19-year old Amare Stodamire who grew up without parents looks so much better. Or that the pressure on Carron Butler to support his kids is any less than the pressure on Yao. Don't tell me that these guys have it any better than Yao.
Do you have anything to contribute that is actually related to the sport of basketball or the team you claim to be a fan of? Clearly not.
