This is the latest interview by Yang Yi. Many interest things. At the last, YAO said "Rudy must stay. We need him." http://sports.tom.com/Archive/1019/1042/2003/4/25-36959.html
Yang Yi: Half way through the season, we were discussing if you actually were tired. In fact, even you yourself were not sure if you were worn out physically. Now you are heading home, do you feel tired? Yao Ming: You listen to my voice (fake huffing & puffing ) ... I do not know of my physical strength, but to me, the most important thing is mental state. Some times, you know some times, OK, a 2.26m guy becomes fragile suddenly . So I say this year is more about conquering myself, not others. Yang Yi: But in others' eyes, you are a super star. Yao: To others, all NBA players are super stars. But some times in the airport, while carrying the baggage and waiting for the flight, I think we are more like a better paid circus(?). The fans go home after watching the game, we gotta go to the next show not knowing what danger lies ahead Yang Yi: You feel the fear and the danger? Yao: Yes. Last December, one day during the training, I saw a strange face on the court. Our team spokeperson Nielsen said Rockets, 76ers and Nuggets just made a 3-way trade. Kenny Thomas went to Philadelphia, Denver's Posey came here. Before I hardly talked to Kenny, but suddenly I suddenly got a fright. I know I will not be traded, but it's like when somebody dies, you get the chill down your spine. Yang Yi: But this does not scare you truly. Perhaps it's those high expectations? Yao: I've already said too much. You know, towards end of the season, I do not expect myself to be more spectacular. I only hope I can get a decent average, and our team wins. I know every time I play a good game, the media & fans will raise their expectations. Their expectations are always higher than my actual ability. Yang Yi: What is the most impressive event during the season? Yao: The most impressive..... Something recent. During the 2nd last game we were playing Grizzlies. Both sides were playing without much enthusiasm, I did not have feeling of the game, no objectives & like wondering around. But while shooting free throws, Mobley suddenly looked me as if asking me with his eyes: " Do you still want to play? If not, go to the bench." It's like a hammer on my head. After the game I went to thank Mobley the old cat.. Yang Yi: Many people helped you while not realizing it, including Francis£¬right? Yao: He really is a very brave person, dares to speak for other team members, unlike some leaders of other teams who don't give cr@p about their teammates. But finally I repaid his favor. That day others delivers me one set of golf clubs, I were pondering now I can learn how to play golf, but then Steve came up to me with swagger: "How about giving them to me?" I bite my teen and stamp on the floor: " Takes them." He grabbed them running away very happy. (Yeah, we know you play CounterStrike & Warcraft) Yang Yi: There is an unavoidable question: Rudy T & Larry Smith . They have very different characters, right? Yao: Rudy T is very serious yet humorous guy. We were visiting Mavs, even I got 30 pts, but during the last quarter, Mavs played zone defense, I can not eve get the ball and our team lost. The next we play Wizards, before the game I was chatting with assistant coaches, I drew some strategies on how to break the zone defense. But Rudy T found it, so he made me draw the whole picture. I told him that was how we played back in Shanghai, he mockingly put his face on the whiteboard for a while. Yang Yi : But Smith will not do such things, right? Yao: He is very stern. He is the first person who swears(scolding?) at me, that was when Rudy was still the head coach. I can¡¯t remember which game, but I lost the ball (turn over?). Rudy called Time Out. As soon as I walked back to the bench, Smith angrily yelled at me: Hold the (fvcking) ball higher! Hold the (****ing) ball tight! After he became the head coach, he swears more and more. This does not mean he has issues with me, I always said he is a nice guy, but not everybody can accept his way of coaching, Chinese probably are more used to κÍ(?) a bit. Yang Yi: How is Rudy T now? Yao: He is really in high spirit. When he met us the other day he was beaming red light from his face. He kept cracking jokes. He told us not to worry, the critical part of his body has no problem now. No problem with sport, no problem with life, then he winked at us laughing loudly: no problem making love! Yang Yi: Rumors are major changes will happen during the summer, many players, even coaches will change, will Rudy stay? Yao: No doubt about. Rudy MUST stay, we need him. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I stand to be corrected.
Yeah, you know why? I know the reason, after playing under Larry Smith's coaching. Rudy really looks like an angel to Yao. You can clearly feel this from the article
Heh...true true. Larry Smith is supposed to be an exact copy of Rudy in coaching wise, but the end of the season proved otherwise. Rudy is a likeable guy how could Yao not like him?
well yao i guess you'll get bashed like steve for trying to stick up for rudy. he must just love him b/c rudy lets him be soft and larry doesn't take that crap. that must be it, players can't just like rudy or think he's good.
assuming rudy stays...his absence sets up a "good cop/bad cop" scenario next year... the players now realize how good they have it with rudy...and shouldnt take him for granted....
Hmmm. Maybe the Larry Smith experience will be essential to Yao's career. If he grinded a few essential things through Yao's head with his "screaming" then we really may benefit. I think I'm starting to lean towards not minding Rudy coaching for another season. He seems to be 100% healthy, and I think he can implement lots of new stuff into our system next season. Why? He knows what Yao can do, and he knows what Francis can do. Other than that? They apparently have the green light to make major changes, which means he can get the players that will fit whatever system he wants to put the Yao/Francis combo into.
I remember yelling the same things this year,,Yao must have led the league in getting his pocket picked. Hes much better now, its amazing what one year in the NBA can do. Next year Yao can concentrate on punishing opponents who picked on him (a little) this year.
This is the part I like the most. I guess the thing I like the most about Cat is his heart for the game. I really hope he can adjust his game and still be part of this team next year.
Man.... There's over a dozen posts in this thread, and no one even notices that when the season is over for us, yet we still have a few games to play.....Mobley is the one still out there, statistically almost a virtual clone of Francis, and in my opinion, the smarter player.........still playing hard, still has his head in the game, and still being a leader. At what will amount to about half the salary cap hit as Francis. Man....I must be a vindictive SOB. Because if we DO trade Mobley, I can't wait to take EVERY opportunity to show you how wrong you all are. He will be THE Rocket killer. <font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">better make sure you send him East.</font>
Mobley plays with heart true, but Francis and McGrady are the only players who average more than 20 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assist. Statistical clone he is not.
I don't care what people think of him, Danny Ainge would be excellent. 1. He's a former player like Rudy. 2. Incredibly intense. 3. Pays attention to detail. 4. Isn't afraid to get in someone's face if he had to. Watching the Wolves/Lakers game last night as he's screaming at Troy Hudson because he didnt take the right angle on the pick n roll made me think of Francis and his inability to execute that play. As a former guard, known for his dirty tactics and court saavy, he could really instill some toughness and discipline to this young team. I can't imagine Eddie Griffin getting away with his BS if someone like Ainge was here.
