Yi is also playing in the NBA, but he's not evenly remotely close to Yao in terms of importance to his team. Most of us don't really appreciate the full extent of Yao's contribution to the team. He's the ultimate professional that gives his all every night. Dwight Howard is the only big man that I would take over Yao today, yet every time he fumbles a pass or turnovers the ball, we lay it on him like he's no longer wanted in Houston. Yao's value to the team is not only because he's a cash cow... I really hate how people bring that up when evaluating Yao as a player. It's like calling Tim Duncan crap because Amare makes him look like a dud every time they match up.
1. Who doesn't know who Rudy Fernandez is? He's one of the top rookies. 2. Other than Ginobili I haven't seen anyone label those guys floppers or soft. If anything those are considered some of the toughest players in the league. 3. You said this doesn't apply to black international players. So, does this racism apply to all non-black players? How do you account for players like Larry Bird and John Stockton. They're not black and are considered some of the toughest players of all time.
He's not as famous and he's not an all-star or superstar like Dirk, Yao and Gasol. It mainly applies for big men, that's why nobody really knows who Luis Scola is either. Andres Nocioni is def. considered a flopper, If you haven't woken up yet.
Both Dirk and Gasol are known as soft players as well. Duncan is technically an American Player, so he doesn't count, but even then he doesn't feel like a tough guy in my eyes. Its just that some player's faults are more pronounced than others... I don't think that is even debatable. Double standards are the standards in today's public perception.
So, now we have narrowed the racism down to only non-black/international/superstar players. You didn't answer my question about Bird and Stockton. I need that to clarify if this applies to all non-blacks or just international players.
I never said WHITE players, I specifically said international players, who are not black. Obviously Gasol, Dirk and Yao are not black.
Yao is soft because he gets pushed around by guys half his size often and he does weak layups when he's right next to the basket often. He is soft because he's a 7'6 guy who likes to take charges and shoot fadeaways. There's nothing wrong with being soft. Dirk is soft but he's a great player. Yao isn't clutch either but there's nothing wrong with him being unclutch because centers usually aren't. Showing clips of Yao acting tough once in awhile doesn't shed his soft label since it's pretty rare. He gets dunked on and blocked more often does he do those physical moves. Argentina players are about the most physical when it comes to foreign players. Scola, Manu, Nociciciconi, Alberto, etc they don't get the soft label. Although they do get the flopping label but what do you expect from a country that practices flopping . The myth that refs make him play soft is incorrect because it hasn't stopped Shaq all these years. The race card doesn't work since there's a lot of foreign players that don't get that label. It says something about Yao being soft when these type of threads made by fans always pop up trying to prove he's not soft and unclutch.
SuperStar, The reason why Shaq is not used as an example, because he use to get away with a lot more going to the basket. Although fouls are not called for him when people hack him, the ones where he barrels into the defender are also not called against him.
I'm just confused, i've never seen or heard of this form of racism. "I don't like foreigners...unless you're black, then it's cool". Have you seen this in other life situations or is this just a basketball thing? Have you seen a Spaniard get denied service but all the american whites, blacks, and hispanics receive it?
Basketball is not life. Their are a lot of stereo types out there anyways. All I know is Yao is called soft but it's for the worst reasons ever, It's truly unfair. There's a reason why Gasol, Yao and Dirk are all underrated.
That's your opinion that they are underrated. Maybe it's because they have never won anything in their careers? Dirk did get MVP once and Gasol was on a bad Grizzles team. Yao is a first rounder who is injury prone. I think don't think any of them are underrated.
Yao isn't soft. he has a soft mental approach to the game. it is his mindset and much of that is because of his basketball background. no one works harder or pushes themselves more than yao ming. no denying that. and it isn't just yao. there have been many players in the nba who approach the game with a soft mental approach. peiople would be happy if he attacked all the time but he isn't that player. never would be. but he is a great center. and i will take him he has developed into something that no one thought he could be. ever. and if you say that you thought he would be what he is you would be lying. people just wanted to see the big guy from china. they never thought he would be a player
: Yeah, he is. And Youtube clips aren't exactly the best evidence to show he's not soft. I could use Youtube to show that Rafer Alston is an elite three point shooter. I could use Youtube to show that Chuck Hayes is an elite FT shooter, or an elite offensive player in general.
This video reminded me of the super-quick baseline spin move Yao used to have. It peaked around like 05-06 to 06-07. What the hell happened to that move? It used to be good for 2-3 layups or dunks per game, but it slowly just disappeared completely from Yao's repertoire for some reason. Is he just too slow for it after all the injuries? Or has he somehow forgotten how effective it was? Man I miss that move... I remember it giving me hope for a TRULY dominant Yao on the horizon.
Me, personally, I think Pau is a little soft, but i think his brother is far from it. I think Bosh, Zach Randolph, Rashard Lewis, David West, Charlie V, Lamar Odom and Lamarcus Aldridge are all soft black american bigs. I think Dirk is possibly the softest star player EVER. The Utah Jazz flop but that has more to do with Sloan and their style than any specific player. I think It's all about how a player plays. Generally, shying away from contact and taking jumpshots on players you have a clear size advantage on when you should be able to be more aggressive and get a higher percentage shot is considered soft. If Dirk isn't considered a soft player on the court then I don't know who is. His softness is the reason his team lost to an inferior Warriors team in the first round. He allowed himself to be guarded by wing players. Many international players have to learn their post play when they come to the states. Often times they come here with a polished shooting stroke among other skills that American players only focus on if they play on the perimeter. And, since many people consider players who don't take advantage of size advantage to be soft, I think that is where these odd racism accusations are coming from.
OK, first of all, let's not get carried away. That's a lie. You could not do anything to show that. Second of all... wtf? Are you saying you're a Jazz fan or something?
Great vid. I hope that's Yao 24/7 during the playoffs. I don't know why, but I expected a clip of Yao breaking the backboard even though I don't think he has ever done that. I guess that video really did show off Yao's dominance.
