I love Yao in 2004-2005 when he dunked at least once after 5 attempts, shot better than 50% on jumpers, 20% shot attempts are dunks in the 4th. How positive is that? the good o' days. yao had done it before, why not keep doing it? That was the real domination. last season and the season before last? He gave me 1 dunk after each 13-attempts. Spent more than 50% attempts on jumpers at 40% FGP, only 3% dunks in the 4th. What a drop! Man, the Alston trade is a killer to Yao and Rockets. sorry for going negative again. Well, which Yao do you like? Don't you want Yao back to the real dominance? He did it in year 3. I believe he can do it in year 6 if he can really think about the past two years where he was really going to the wrong direction. The best chance for Yao to wake up is here: the playoff elimination. If Yao regain his old self, then I say this playoff loss is good. (another positive.)
Um, right...and where exactly are you getting those numbers? pulledthemoutofmyass.com? From a regular season standpoint? Injuries aside, Yao in year 3 doesn't hold a candle to Yao in the second half of last season (after the toe surgery) and the first half of this season (before the broken tibia). Even if the numbers you're citing are correct (which I highly doubt), percentage of shot attempts in the 4th quarter that are dunks is quite possibly the most random and irrevelant "measure" of dominance I've ever seen. Admittedly his shooting percentage was terrible in this year's playoffs, but honestly...I think he actually played more aggressively this year than he did in 2004-05. Two years ago, if his shot wasn't falling, he would've disappeared and stopped shooting completely. This year, he was facing a much more physical team. Yet, every game he knew it was his job to score and kept on trying (even though his shot selection was terrible). I'm not trying to excuse him from this year's loss. A lot of the blame should land squarely on his shoulders, but you can't question his effort. He tries hard. He's just physically (and at times mentally) limited.
yao did never really seem to be the same as he was. he didnt seem as strong and confident...which was shown by his lack of going to the rim or even his constant use of the fade away shot
