Nobody is commenting on this wonderfully novel use of language!?!? Personally, I love it! Nap! Have only ever heard it with reference to afros, in the past..."Nap!" Awesome... Regarding Yao's comments, there are so many ways to interpret them, I find it hard to fathoim that anyone os reading this as conclusive of anything, either way. Could it just be Yao being classy? Sure, he's shown that before... Could it be Yao saying it like it is? Sure, he's also done that before... Do the numbers seem to support Yao's take when related to Steve? No...but there are many explanations. For example, Steve has had a series of poor shooting games where he kept shooting, but unless your being doubled, top flight scorers SHOULD try and shoot there way out of funks. Also, Yao never addressed what you do if BOTH superstars are cold...or hot...Maybe when Steve's kept shooting, at least in part, it's been at times when neither Yao nor Steve have been hitting. But I will say this...as bashed as he is at times, Yetti's comment was spot on. We have all seen too many games where Yao starts to go off, and suddenly, for no apparent reason, he doesn't see the ball for another 10+ possessions. Obviously thay would be something not explained by Yao's defense of Steve et al...
like I said above if it were an interview where he was put on the spot and had to answer then maybe that would be the case. But why would he post in a thread he doesn't have to be post in? Why would he go out of his way to give a classy but not sincere post?
Yeah, that's why i meant classy as opposed to politically correct or non-confrontational. Classy guys make overt efforts to help others, and this could well be Yao's way of making an overt effort to deflect/blunt criticism of Francis. I don't at all see that as inconsistent with his character.
Because Yao knows that only his and the Rockets most hard core fans are reading those posts and it is an easy forum that he can use to try and alter public opinion in the best interest of the team.
I see the distinction you are making. I agree that I don't see him reaching out to make an overt gesture as being out of his character. I think at the end of last season when Francis was letting his temper go in a game(I believe the match up was against Andre Miller) and Yao grabbed him and told him not to lose it that the team needed him or something to that effect is a great example of this. That being said, the game was something that happened in the moment. Posting in a thread seems to be at least somewhat, pre-planned. I'm not saying that Yao wouldn't still do it, but I will say that unless it was a classy move also born out of sincerity and his true feelings he wouldn't do it. I'm not sure if we are now in total agreement or only 97% agreement, but I just thought I would post my thoughts any way.
Good assessment! For those who are not a "team" fan, please read what Yao said carefully and learn from it. Be a "team" fan!
