FULL STORY - http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6350748.html The Rockets clinched a playoff spot on Sunday night when the Suns lost to the Kings, but center Yao Ming isn't overly excited. "I didn't do anything (to celebrate)," Yao said Monday. "I found out this morning. You think to make the playoffs is a big celebration for us. No. We'll save that." Houston hasn't reached the second round of the postseason since 1997, a streak they'd like to erase. "Everybody knows," Yao said of the team's goal. "Second round. At least."
Heres the full story Late Sunday night, when the Suns lost to the Kings, the Rockets clinched a playoff spot. Yao Ming slept through the “big event.” “I didn’t do anything (to celebrate),” Yao said Monday. “I found out this morning. You think to make the playoffs is a big celebration for us. No. We’ll save that.” Asked what the Rockets would celebrate, he said: “Everybody knows. Second round. At least.” The Rockets have not reached the second round since 1997 and have lost six consecutive first-round series, making merely reaching the playoffs not worth celebrating. “You never say it’s no big deal because you never take making the playoffs for granted,” Shane Battier said. “Despite all of our issues and all of our problems this year, a lot of people would switch places. Any time you make the playoffs, you appreciate it. That said, I don’t think we’re satisfied.” Always coaching Rockets coach Rick Adelman had refused to assume the Rockets would make the playoffs until their place was assured. With the playoff spot clinched, he said he would not change the approach heading into the final eight games of the regular season. “I think it’s a pretty good accomplishment with eight games to go to clinch a spot,” he said. “Now you get ready and move on to the last eight.” O’Neal of old In his two games against the Rockets this season, Suns center Shaquille O’Neal has averaged 17.5 points and 8.5 rebounds, enough for Rockets center Yao Ming to say O’Neal reminded him of O’Neal of several years ago. “This year it looks like he turned his clock back and played with a lot of energy,” Yao said with the Rockets heading to a game against the Suns on Wednesday. “Of course by the age he’s at (37), he has a lot of experience. He knows how to play basketball and knows how to help a team. “The situation Phoenix has, they really need him to play a big game and also have the team win the games it can.”
I understand where Yao's coming from, but I don't want to see a celebration after getting out of the 1st round unless it's a dramatic late-game win.
Good to hear that's the attitude in the locker room. Obviously, you play to win a championship and that's your ultimate goal, but in our situation our worst case scenario needs to be at least reaching the second round. Another first round exit would be disastrous.
I'm excited to hear this kind of no-nonsense attitude out of our team's best player. I don't know that we have the firepower to win the West this year, but I know they're sure as hell going to try. Getting out of the first round would be huge for this team, especially guys like Yao and Shane who have had to deal with coming short.
It's good to have someone like Ron on our team, he gives us that swagger. But it's also important to have steady, levelheaded guys like Yao and Battier. I think our team has the perfect mix.
This is the mentality we need to have...instead we worry about our weekly power rankings and what Woody Paige is saying on 1st and 10
I don't really like the comment honestly. It seems we put to much pressure on just getting to the second round, so now if we're tied game 7, our players will treat it like game 7 of the finals when it's just game 7 of the first round. Sounds like uneeded pressure, I'd much rather here Yao say "Save the celebration for the Finals" Just like Artest has been saying just reaching the 2nd round shouldn't be a accomplishment for any team really...unless your seeded 8th or 7th or a young team on the come up. I know given our recent history 2nd round would be success...well to the fans it should be for the players I don't think it should.
The mere fact that we haven't gotten into the second round in 12 years, I think I am okay with what Yao said.
While I know about the 12 year thing, I think the 2nd round being a accomplishment is for younger teams like the Blazers, Bulls, 6ers. I think the Rockets team should EXPECT to make it pass the 2nd round and saying "Save the celebration for the 2nd round." if you expect to make it past the first round you say something like "Finals, that's our goal." I just like Artest's approach on this, our team should expect to make it to the 2nd round regardless of who we face. That's how Elite teams look at it, even Tmac when he learned of Artest joining the team was like "Championship." I think it's just added pressure if we focus so much on making the 2nd round.
http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/courtside/2009/03/spurs-thisclose.html Spurs thisclose to playoff berth By Jeff McDonald There won't be champagne on ice at the AT&T Center on Tuesday night. No streamers. No confetti. No big party plans. The Spurs can clinch their 12th consecutive playoff berth with a victory over Oklahoma City, but it won't be cause for much of a celebration. Around these parts, playoff berths are expected. The Spurs would no more celebrate a playoff berth than they would their next breath. It's a mere formality this time around, too. The Spurs are nine games ahead of ninth-place Phoenix in the loss column. They have nine games to play. The Suns have eight. The best record Phoenix can muster is 48-34. The worst record the Spurs can post is 48-34. The Spurs own the head-to-head tiebreaker. The only reason the Spurs haven't already clinched: If they go 0-9, and the Suns go 8-0, there are still scenarios in which the teams wind up in a multi-team tie. The Spurs, technically, could still lose such a tiebreaker. One more Spurs victory -- or one more Suns loss -- renders such a scenario impossible. One more Spurs victory -- or one more Suns loss -- and the Spurs are in the playoffs again. Let the party begin. Or not
Yeah every game should be played like it but i'm talking about nerves and pressure. Players don't respond to game 7 of the first round like they do game 7 of the Finals...that's a certain pressure that can't be duplicated. If guys on our team are saying "We will celebrate when we make the 2nd round" it sounds like they're putting too much emphasis on something that elite teams don't even think about. You hear the Spurs or Magic talking about the 2nd round? They know that is something that should be done.
Dont put too much pressure on the team. 2cn round is a proper goal for the team. We dont have a 20m player,Fakers even cant win the champion without Bynum.
Yao spoke about his expectations,Ron feels differently. Yao has said we don't play well in the playoffs many times, that's why I'm not surprised about his comments. The pressure on getting even past the 1st round is considerable.
