I know I know, now is not the best time to post a poll like this. We are on a winning streak, staring down the softies in Seattle for a possible playoff matchup and probably a win. The team is gelling and fun to watch. Oh, and Yao's been doing good recently, and he just won a game for us today in the last minute. However, I still want to post a question here, because much debate has been posted here on this very topic. If there is poll, it's more fun, and provides more data for the debate. After the "biggest bust in NBA history" and "Charles Barkley dunkey kissing" non-sense at the beginning of Yao's career faded, most Houston Rockets fans and general NBA fans were dazzled by the skills this young 7'6 center from China has. He became my (and I am sure alot other's) favorite player almost overnight. People compared Yao to Bill Walton and Sabonis, and expected him to be the next great center in the NBA. However, so far, he has reached neither's status. He still haven't reached the 20/10 standard for a good big man yet. On the surface, most of us are satisfied. We try to understand, analyze, rationalize, and hope for a better future from this young man. After all, he's a pretty good player in the NBA. (You know, 18/8 with a couple of blocks, and demands double-team all the time). And he's only 24, he might begin to dominate in a couple years with good development (although this was said when he was 22, and probably will be said again when he is 26). If he doesn't dominate, we still have T-Mac. We will probably contend for the next 5 years. However, deep down in our heart, we are somewhat disappointed and frustrated. We don't just want Yao to be a good player, we want him to be the next Walton-Sabonis-Shaq-Jabar combined. We want him to get 25/12/5/3 on a nightly basis. We want him to make us an instant contender, like Shaq would. We want him to get heavy MVP considerations. We want him to remind us of Hakeem. We want him to dunk over people and shake the basket every night. We want him to make the opposing centers cry in fear and shaken in disbelief. We want people to start hating on us because he's so good and there is nothing their teams can do about him(like Shaq with the Lakers)! However, he hasn't done those yet. We are still hoping that someday he will, but the hope is kind of dwindling. Hakeem/Shaq/Walton/Duncan/Jabar were all way better than him at his age. Now, I want to know why Yao isn't what we all want him to be. Cast your vote and explain.
As much I love the big fella, I am seeing more and more that he is just too nice. I think alot of his handicap comes from his will to be dominant and the will to improve his stamina. The question now is are we happy with him being a more team oriented player that wouldn't mind having Tracy Mcgrady take on the reigns or do we want his head to grow large and if we do want his head to grow large is he physically capable of taking over this team? Will his stamina stand through the test of times?
Do not blame Yao that we do not have a power forward to complement his game. We need a banger in the worst way to take some of the hits and aggressively roam the inside. We need an Otis Thorpe type to rebound, bang and provide some offense. This is on Van Gundy for alienating Taylor, expending all resources on old 2 guards, and not getting us a banger. Taylor may be a loser, but we are paying him 8 mil, spoon 5.5 mil, and Howard 6 mil +. Yao cannot take all the hits inside and needs some physical help to complement his game. Without that he cannot fully contribute getting banged all game long. Let the man play with an enforcer at his side. Let Taylor contribute 6 fouls a game hitting the Dampier's and Stoudemires of the league..Get Taylor off the IL... Get Yao some help!!!!!
I think our expectations are a bit too high too early. The guy is good and I think he will continue to get better as time goes. How much better, I have no idea but I'm glad we took him with the first pick. I do not agree that he needs certain type of players, a banging PF or a superstar PG to be great. If he is to become a great player it will be because of him. A banging PF or a superstar PG will make his game easier but it should not make his game for him. I didn't vote because I didn't agree with any of your options. I did agree with "The expectation is just too high." but not with the rest of that choice.
How much help do we need to give yao in order for him to be great? How much help did we need to provide Dream for him to be great? How much help did Shaq need for him to be great? These great players made their team mates around them look better. I think Yao will be good but it's going to take a giant step from Yao himself for him to be a great one.
Actually, it's on Taylor more than JVG. Taylor is who he is. JVG didn't turn him into a shoft jump shooting, no defending, no rebounding 4. In one sentence, you complain about not having a rebounding/banging 4 to compliment Yao, and in the next sentence, you claim Taylor should be getting more PT. You can't have it both ways, especially when Howard has done nothing to suggest a reduction in his P.T.
The options in this poll are pretty lame. I would suggest that Yao's learning curve is longer than alot of young dominant players that have come along in recent memory. No JVG's fault, no his teamates fault, not the ref's fault, and especially, not hiw own fault. While the aforementioned people may cause bumps in the road (just like for any other player), they certainly aren't the reason he is not consistenty dominant. Yao is adjusting to everything around him. He is coming along, slowly, but surely.
BTW, anyone knows Yao's condition? It is reported that he caught the flu again and vomitted after the game against LAL.
since i liked none of the answers i chose the refs cuz they really do give yao NO RESPECT AT ALL! when yao gets a good defensive minded PF next to him like a PJ Brown you will see yao start to shine even more and hopefully not get sucked into some of these dumb fouls he commits. and just because yao is not shaq does not mean he isn't dominating.
Yao has already exceeded all the expectations I had for him since we first drafted him. He's solid, and still improving steadily. The idea that 20/10 is the mark of a "good" big man is a little high in the modern NBA. The 6'8" guard is no longer an abnormality. Big men are no longer the focal points. Nowadays, there are big men who score, and big men who rebound. It's pretty rare to have one that does both exceedingly well. At the moment, not even Dirk Nowitzki and Jermaine O'Neal are averaging that. I think every year, there are only about 6 guys who break the 20/10 barrier. I believe that it's important to get a PF that is primarily a "rebounder." to compliment Yao so that he can focus on being a scoring big man. In a perfect world, guys like Troy Murphy, Elton Brand, or Emeka Okafor would be a perfect compliment. The ego-less, rebound well, defensive minded, stick the open jumper, type power forward. Naturally we won't be getting any of those guys.
like hubie brown said, if yao can increase his minutes, and keep out of foul trouble, his points and rebounds will go up. another thing that may help is if he starts getting more 'superstar calls' which put him on the free throw line. 4-5 more free throw attempts a game obviously will increase his scoring average.
this thread is lame. The timing is way off. If it started about 5 weeks ago, it would have been better
I think it's more your fault for expecting him to be "the next Walton-Sabonis-Shaq-Jabar combined." That's so stupid and unrealistic, it's like your disapointed that he's not as good as Wilt yet. He's getting better but let's stop being so ridiculous.
it is totally MY FAULT.. my bad...sorry...Ill let him dominate now... one combination Hakeem/Shaq clone coming up...just as you ordered
I choose option 5 "He's right on track, fans are just impatient. Its no one's fault because there is no problem" now where do I click for this I mean, he owned Mihm, Kandi and even outplayed Shaq... what's the problem
