i think everyone needs to temper their expectations for yao this year. sure he will show flashes of being great this year, but he isnt going to lead us anywhere this year. it is simply going to take awhile for him to unlearn the bad habits he has adapted going against much smaller players and less talented players. i don't care how hard of a worker and how high his basketball IQ is. additionally, he can't absorb everything about NBA basketball style and rules within a few months. its something that will take at least a year to develop. IMHO foul trouble will be his single biggest problem this year. also, i know everyone talks about how good his english, but its still going to take time for him to be able to communicate effectively and understand what everyone is saying. hopefully, he will show major improvement in this area after the all-star break so he doesnt have to rely on that dork. one last thing is that yao is going to need to learn how to jump. if he could increase his vertical by like 4 or 5 inches then he would truly be a monster on D and unblockable on O. wasn't there some report before he came that said he lost 4 inches off his vertical from the workout program he was on? i thought i remembered seeing something like that. i am giddy about yao ming being with us, but he isn't going to be able to do much this year. there is just waaaaaay too much for him to learn when he said he was a rookie that was an understatement. if he progresses like dirk did then that would be wonderful, but just give the man time and don't expect him to be winning games for us this year. Flame Away!
Foul trouble might be a problem, but what the Rockets primarily need from Yao is his post defence/presense (Eddie is will take half that load off Yao's shoulders if he continues what he's doing). If the Rockets get into the playoffs and win a round, the props will goto Cat and Steve for knowing how to play effective team defense.
Someone needs to flame you because for a Rocket "fan" you have no fire. Your expectations are so low that the season is already ended ("going nowwhere"). I hope you are watching the game tonight because Ming isn't showing flashes -- he is showing passion, i.e. fire.
my expectations arent low...they are just realistic. you shouldn't expect the guy to immediately come in and dominate like he has done in the past. there is just too much for him to learn. my expectations for this team are for a year from now. this year is when they start to really develop and move to the next level. i am hoping for the best for ming this year, but i am not gonna be disappointed if he doesn't dominate. i expect his domination to come in a few years.
The future is now! Did you see Ming play in the second quarter tonight? Are you aware of what Eddie is doing? Together they are as awesome a pair as Steve and Cat -- and yea! -- they are all teammates! The future is here and now! (Oh, man, did you see that Ming assist?) The future is HERE and NOW!
Why is it so bad to expect Yao's learning curve to take a year? That's all robbie is saying. By what I've see of Yao, he doesn't force the action, he takes what comes to him. Also, Yao doesn't jump at all; and when he does you remember it (cause it hardly happens). Yao will have to jump in order to get 10 to 15 rebounds a game. Sure, Yao can get 5 to 7 rebounds without jumping, but that makes Yao an underachiever. I understand that Yao is still learning. But, all I want to see is some improvement. And 1 year learning curve is fine with me.
Granted Yao Ming will learn a lot in a year, but I think he will be all we expect and more right away. He made hugh strides in tonight's game compared with his last one -- more than doubling his points for instance. This learning curve will flatten out a little, but its going to fun to watch.
Oranges to apples man! No way you can compare Dirk to Yao. They play two different games. Yao is going to make more impact in his rookie year than Dirk did with the Mavs.
actually, dirk started with the bucks. Barely got any PT there and exploded when he got traded to the MAVs.
lol...................sometimes you guys really crack me up!!!! Yes, Yao Ming will be a great player. Will it happen this year......or next year..........who knows. However, I feel compelled to remind some of you guys that before Monday Yao had never practiced or played American style basketball. It's been clearly documented that American basketball is very different from the rest of the world. Oh, did I mention that Yao has only played two games. Two games. I have never read so many strong opinions, much less accurate, after just two games. I know, I know, we all get excited because we have been waiting for another dream season for a couple of years, especially after the season before last. We are ready to win now!! But let's be patient and remember what is going on here. Yao needs our support as well as the rest of the Rockets no matter what their record is this year. So let's be good fans and help them to be better players with our support. Thanks guys, the shuttle
Analysts and writers were quick to point out that international ball is a lot different when Team USA got humiliated this summer, but it doesn't seem like they are considering that when discussing/dissing Yao's early play.
huh.....I don't think anyone expected Yao to "lead" us, but just be an effective player for however long he's going to be here. Pradaxpimp, love your sig.
It's not a question of getting flamed for your opinion. If your opinion is, "Our expectations may be too high for Yao this year," that is a perfectly valid opinion to have and, for some fans, it is very likely true. But, to start your thread with "Yao will not lead us anywhere this year" won't really endear yourself to anyone.
