As stated in other threads, Yao isnt happy this year and the reason is lack of chemistry with Grumpy. And I am sure he doesnt think it is just his problem. So Yao is doing what everyone asks him to do and show leadership about the overall direction of the team. He is doing this by making cryptic comments in English and apparently less cryptic comments in Chinese about the motivational problems. And note that he isnt complaining about the results, or his teammates. So it isnt just a generalised whinge but a very deliberate warning. It is early in the season, but unless JVG connects positively with the team, he should be eased out at year end. This is the message that Yao is delivering.
I'd prefer it if he showed leadership by avoiding foul trouble. He's not helping us if he's not on the floor.
All the talk that Yao is unhappy with Van Gundy is pure speculation. The criticism of Yao, and all that comes with the territory of being a #1 NBA draft pick in their 3rd season is a matter of record both on this board and in the media. JVG's criticism of Yao is on record. Yao's facial expressions and body language... who knows what that means- for me nothing. But the fact that we need Yao Ming to resign with the Rockets is huge for every Rocket fans (unless you think Yao is overrated and their are better center options for our franchise) Yao is a solid center, a solid citizen and a financial and media bonanza for the Rockets. I am amazed that we can dismiss the subjection that Yao may not want to resign here. I was pretty upset those times we almost lost Dream. So as a Rocket fan I am interested in RUMORS that Yao is becoming unhappy as a Rocket. I am interested very much in Yao Ming because he is a Rocket. So if Yao is posting cryptic messages that indicate frustrations, hey let's say it is all baloney, it has me wondering. I don't like the idea one bit of losing Yao Ming. A lot of players demand trades, get tired of their situation etc. This is not new and I would suggest that Yao has thought about it at some point. Anyway he will have to think about staying with this franchise one day, and what he is experiencing right now may have an impact.
I should stress that this is just my reading of the tea leaves (i.e. the various clues like Yao's bad road form, etc, discussed extensively in the other threads). Really what I want to say is that I think chemistry with Grundy is the likely major problem as opposed to chemistry with T-mac, the trade, foul trouble, etc, etc, I dont think he is thinking about a trade for himself at all at the moment. And it can easily improve. Gundy can adjust his strategy for dealing with Yao. END.
Yao should worry more about being able to play 40 mins of aggresive and physical basketball more than team chemistry. If Yao does that, then I have no problems with what he would complain about.
I think it is time to ressurect this particular line of intellectual inquiry from a couple of weeks ago... According to our thesis, Yao's leadership skills are indeed now quite impressive. He goes into a sulk, and not only are both Yao and Tmac in the "Not" category of Yahoo fantasy's "hot/not", but noone in the team, and especially not the bench have stept up to take their place. In previous years Yao would have tried to adapt to the coach, but now he has the confidence and experience to realise it is not his problem. Clearly JVG has not shown the neccessary adjustment and it is already over. It may well have been Yao olympic experience, and the jolt when arriving back in Houston, which has precipitated this, in which case, expect the new coach to be a younger version of Del Harris. One can be quite optimistic about the rocket's future. It has two thoughtful players who are capable of showing leadership. Expect them to be equal partners with the new coach.
I personally have high expectations for Yao Ming because we gave up players we invested many years in to keep him and add a talent like McGrady to his team. The problem, however, is that Yao seems to be the point of many of the problems this year. Leadership is something you must earn and by that you must perform. Yao has not done that consistantly enough this year to take the leadership role. Yes, you can have a bad offensive night but a true leader can lead the team to a win even when playing bad. But when you have a 7'6 Center averaging less blocks per game than Kobe and Dwayne Wade, I have a serious problem with that. His turnovers are the biggest problem. How many times have you seen him just simply let go of the ball like he is dead tired and has no will to maintain it. Yao could simply be the softest player I have ever seen in the NBA and I had such high hopes for a more aggressive Yao this year. To gain the respect and admiration of your team, you'd better not be the cause of most of the loses (yes, I think in the end it is on his shoulders to win). And from my perspective, Yao has turned it over more times during the crunchtime of the games than he has taken a shot to win one. That my friends, is not leadership. Leadership is wanting the shot and taking the shot whether you miss or not... not simply turning it over without giving your team a chance. (But will all that being said, there are truely many other problems but Yao is where we started this team, so he SHOULD take most of the blame... Sorry to the Yao fans that only see through rose colored glasses)
If yao was "hard" in a conventional sense he would have stood up and said "I respect JVG but he is not the right coach for me or for this team. Both parties should move on". The subtler and softer - perhaps even whimpish - approach that he appears to be taking, is much less direct, slower burn, and entails more suffering for Yao but is no less effective and is certainly not easier on JVG.
I would just like to point out that Tmac's statement is in content, allowing for diplomacy, is what Yao would have said a couple of weeks ago had he been more american his mode of communication, that JVG is an honorable man (like brutus) but not right for the team. I do think that it is basically over for JVG.
It is difficult for them to be more direct than they are because this is probably it for JVG and NBA coaching... Yao and Tmac both find it hard to be selfish b*stads, happily..
Funny time to bring this up of course, but either: (1) people here (like myself) have been wrong about player dissatisfaction with the coach. (2) it has some basis but has been overplayed and/or JVG has made significant and successful adjustments. OR, a more interesting idea (which just about merits a post), (3) JVG`s fate has already been decided and in fact he is enjoying an indian summer, now the players know they dont have him around for so much longer. Even under the most negative view of the player`s viewpoint on him, I dont think the players bear JVG any ill will.
Holy crap, danielf. Did you get half of your posts from this thread alone? That's simply amazing. I agree with you partly about Yao showing more of his insight now. But for him to really show the leadship, he has to seriouly send all those little widgets down hard when they dare to challenge him. I really hate it when he stand there helpless with both hands raised above his head. Com'on, don't hand your fortune to the refs, you can take over this game by sticking some fear into whoever come into the lane.
