Here we see Yao questioning this teams professionalism, attitude (heart?) and preparation. The Sun's game was his example, but Yao is talking about this team in general. The Rockets took a few steps forward, got full of themselves, broke away from what was working and promptly took a few steps back. That is what is wrong with this team, with Mobley, with Francis, etc. They are too cocky.
YAO is right, even if his talks are very pithy. That is why ROX could not play great games consecutively. When a team leader puts his hobby over his professional, we should know what ROX look like.
Everyone wants a pass first point guard, but in reality who would he pass to? Yao Ming can't carry this team yet.
So next are you going to say just get rid of the whole team since no one can get him the ball. At some point, you have to admit that Yao maybe the one who needs to work on getting himself open. He was only playing with the second leading assist man in league history starting last night.
How will we ever know unless we try? It's like a mother bird not allowing her chick out of the nest until he shows he can fly...
The ball went through Yao a lot in the last couple of games, including last night. The problem is that teams are understanding how to make Yao a non-factor in the games. All they have to do is keep running. Yao's stamina is what bothers me. The double teams last night were killing us. The Suns were much faster and more aggressive. We were too passive.
The thing about Yao is that, from what I understand, he has yet to get the ball delivered efficiently. It isn't just about Yao. It is also about how the Rockets get the ball to Yao. While questioning the team's heart Van Gundy criticized the team for late passes and poor ball reversals, etc. These typr of things break down the offense and allow the defense to recover. The team isn't helping Yao as it the should. Even the Lakers don't just post Shaq up and throw him the ball every play. That is too easy to defend. Shaq gets the ball in a variety of ways which make him tougher to defend. As for Yao, you can just front him and he disappears. Challenge the team to find a way to beat the front and he won't see the ball. That is what the opponents are doing. Teams are keeping Yao from the plain-Jane post-up and challenging the team to find new passing angles. And our point guard doesn't (yet) know how to do that.
How did this become a bash Yao post... am I the only one that sees Yao finally taking to task his team and teammates verbally? I think Bill Walton said it best (although Walton isn't someone I like to reference) when he mentioned that Yao was running around trying his hardest on defense and working hard on offense to get position (whether he got the ball or not) I am not saying Yao is perfect, but we know him to give effort. Maybe Yao is finally sick of being one of the only ones to consistently give effort (I also see MoTay, Padgett, and Cato doing the same) Stuart
It seems to me that last season, ROX let Posey and CAT run baseline and layup with YAO picking up ball at the paint. But this season, what I have seen (most of time), YAO picks up ball and throws ball to JJ and CAT on the perimeter. No body (occasionally by SF3 ) can penetrate and make easy layup shots.
Yeah, running makes Yao go to the bench a little faster. You know what else I'd do if I were a coach against the Rockets? I'd quickly double Yao, and then just as quickly call it off (on the same play). Yao's too much pass-first when the double comes. I dunno if he's scared to turn the ball over, or just wants to hit the open man, but Yao passes IMMEDIATELY out of the double. Teams seem to have success doubling him when he puts it on the floor, but he can spin and shoot before they really commit to the double and it's too late. I'd just flash a double. But don't tell any opposing coaches I said that
. . .wait. . i thought everyone could pass it to him but steve . . ???? Where was our WONDERFUL superpassing PG? Rocket River
hhhmmmm . . . it is possible I don't like JVG's attitude that is like ANTI Rudy while you can say Rudy was too slow to critisize JVG is too quick . . . he seems to be waiting for a reason to tear a player down Rudy - maybe praised too much and critisized too little JVG - maybe critisizes too much and praises too little Rocket River . . .what is dunleavy doing again????
Correct me if I'm wrong, but JVG has spent a lot of time pior to this recent downspell defending the Rockets in general, and the guards in particular.
If that's how this team chooses to respond to JVG's accusation, I think we have a bigger problem than this 4-game losing streak. Why is it so difficult for them to "get it"? This is so frustrating for us fans. I had such high hopes for this team going into the season.......
