Yao needs to be a bit more aggressive on defence and more aggressive on the boards. If he can grab a few more offensive boards, he could create about 4 extra points a game. His shot blocking needs to improve. For a player who is 7-5, 2 blocks a game is underachieving. In an interview, he said he watches his games and he gets annoyed with the way he play's sometimes. He's under immense pressure. If he became slightly more aggressive on defence and on the boards, the Rockets could go deep into the playoffs. Right now, Lamar Odom, who played out of position as a PF managed to get into double digits for rebounds. This is a player who was out of position and 7 inches smaller then Yao.
I like the point about the biggest guy you play pickup against but the story is kinda different for Yao. At 7'6, and weighing in around 300 lbs., he still seems kinda skinny. Trying to bulk up at his height isn't an easy task - just look at Manute, Shawn, Gheorghe....and so instead of banging his way into the paint he rely's on his jumpers and turnarounds. I don't think that makes him soft though....
Let's not forget that Odom is also able to play 6 more mpg than Yao and that's alot of time difference. I'd say rebounding isn't Yao's biggest issue, his stamina is. Unfortunately that has nothing to do with aggressiveness, all Yao can do is improve his conditioning. Forget 7'6 alright, how many 300+lbs guys (not named Shaq) do you know can run up and down the NBA court for 30+mpg every night while scoring 18+ppg at a 55% clip? I'd say the man's doing a pretty decent job. By the way, Odom can play both Forward positions just as adapt so I wouldn't really say he's playing out of position at PF.
Yao doesn't have very good lateral movement because of his size.. That's just a fact of life. He'll almost always going to be an "area" rebounder rather than someone who will be able to dive for rebounds or out-quick someone to a spot on the floor. Yao soft? I would have to say for the most part, yes. I'm a big Yao fan but I admit he should be beating up on most C's in the league. However, he seems to step up his game against Shaq, perhaps because he wants to challenge himself against the best C in the league. But honestly, if he were to play like he does against Shaq every time he steps on the floor regardless of the opponent, he would be a better player. It seems a lot of the time he plays to the level of the competition so that's one reason he may seem timid or soft. The other point I'd like to make is that he seems to get into foul trouble a lot, which partly explains why he plays only 30 mpg. If he feels he gets picked on by the refs, that might be another reason he doesn't aggressively go after blocks, or rebounds etc.. The addition of Stromile Swift should help in that area since he's good weak side shot blocker.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SupraJames:</div><div class="quote_post">Let's not forget that Odom is also able to play 6 more mpg than Yao and that's alot of time difference. I'd say rebounding isn't Yao's biggest issue, his stamina is. Unfortunately that has nothing to do with aggressiveness, all Yao can do is improve his conditioning. Forget 7'6 alright, how many 300+lbs guys (not named Shaq) do you know can run up and down the NBA court for 30+mpg every night while scoring 18+ppg at a 55% clip? I'd say the man's doing a pretty decent job. By the way, Odom can play both Forward positions just as adapt so I wouldn't really say he's playing out of position at PF.</div> I'd say he is because his natural position is SF. He doesn't weigh too much either. He is pretty light for a 6-10 guy. 6 more MPG wouldn't make too much of a difference. Anyway, the main point I am trying to get at, is Yao has half a foot on alot of the players he gaurds yet they end up with more boards. The reason for that, is because he isn't as aggressive as he should be. I'll give him credit for playing 30+ MPG, but he needs to get aggressive in order to get a couple of extra boards so his PPG could look something like 22ppg. He needs to do a little more of everything. One or two extra of something could go a long way into making him a little more dominent.
I Dont think stamina is a big issue since he plays all year. I also dont like the example of Odom considering Rodman is 6-7 and averaged double digits in rebounding. But he needs to play every game like its his last , I feel he really steps it up when hes playing Shaq because he knows its an important game. I think if he treats all his games this way then he will put a stop to all these type of yao threads .
Yao Ming is soft at times but aggresive at others. For example, sometimes you will see make a dunk and then swat someone but other times he is getting dunked on and not getting to the glass. I think if Yao can work on being aggresive all the time, he will average a double double and be a much better player. Now this brings up another question. Is Yao Ming All-Star calibur? When I say this I mean is he worthy of being an All-Star. I don't think he would be an All-Star if it weren't for his massive amount of fans in China. In a Western Conference that is stacked with talent, it is hard to tell whether or not Yao would be an All-Star if he didn't have so much international support. So what do you guys think? Is Yao on the same level as the other All-Stars or is he just there because of his support overseas?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Now this brings up another question. Is Yao Ming All-Star calibur? When I say this I mean is he worthy of being an All-Star. I don't think he would be an All-Star if it weren't for his massive amount of fans in China. In a Western Conference that is stacked with talent, it is hard to tell whether or not Yao would be an All-Star if he didn't have so much international support. So what do you guys think? Is Yao on the same level as the other All-Stars or is he just there because of his support overseas?</div> I was wondering the same thing and in IMO he might have made the All star team this year as a reserve, but his rookie year in the nba he was STARTING in the all star game, and the Rookie of the Year, Amare wasnt even invited to the ASG. Also Shaq backed him up in the ASG you know how ridicilous that is!!!!? Thats proof that the ASG voting for the starters thing is wrong, and it proves that Yao was overated when he came in, and IMO still is overated a little bit though. All though i think hes a little overated i still give him credit because his stats are still good.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">I was wondering the same thing and in IMO he might have made the All star team this year as a reserve, but his rookie year in the nba he was STARTING in the all star game, and the Rookie of the Year, Amare wasnt even invited to the ASG. Also Shaq backed him up in the ASG you know how ridicilous that is!!!!? Thats proof that the ASG voting for the starters thing is wrong, and it proves that Yao was overated when he came in, and IMO still is overated a little bit though. All though i think hes a little overated i still give him credit because his stats are still good.</div> I agree that it wasn't right for him to be starting in the all-star game his rookie year. I think yao is overrated too, but I dont think he was starting in the all-star game because he is overrated. Simply because if your chinese your obviousily going to vote for someone form your own country. Im sure you would vote for a dominican center to start over shaq in the all-star game, not because you think he is better than shaq but because hes from your country and you want to support him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MiamiBalla12:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree that it wasn't right for him to be starting in the all-star game his rookie year. I think yao is overrated too, but I dont think he was starting in the all-star game because he is overrated. Simply because if your chinese your obviousily going to vote for someone form your own country. Im sure you would vote for a dominican center to start over shaq in the all-star game, not because you think he is better than shaq but because hes from your country and you want to support him.</div> lol no doubt i would . I understand that citizens from a certain country will vote for the player thats from the same country, thats logic we all understand that. But my purpose in that post was explaining why i believe he made the all star team. Yes it was talent but that wasnt all. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I dont think he was starting in the all-star game because he is overrated</div> So starting over shaq was because of talent? You brought up the thing on how citizens vote for players from their countries but thats still considered to be overating.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">lol no doubt i would . I understand that citizens from a certain country will vote for the player thats from the same country, thats logic we all understand that. But my purpose in that post was explaining why i believe he made the all star team. Yes it was talent but that wasnt all. So starting over shaq was because of talent? You brought up the thing on how citizens vote for players from their countries but thats still considered to be overating.</div> Well teh results do determine who starts, but I understand what your saying about not deserving it. About the Chinese voting thing, they vote for him because he's the biggest star they've ever had and they are happy to be noticed in the NBA. That's like a billion votes which is a record probably lol.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">So starting over shaq was because of talent? You brought up the thing on how citizens vote for players from their countries but thats still considered to be overating.</div> No, it wasn't, like I stated before it was because China has the highest population and hes form China. Im pretty sure most people dont think Yao was better than Shaq that year. I would vote for a jamaican center to start over Shaq in the all-star game not because I think hes better but because I like him more. I don't know about you guys but when I fill out my all-star ballot I don't pick the best players but the ones that are my favorites lol.
I agree with MiamiBalla12, Playmaker and every other intellegent person in the world that yes of course any1 would vote for the player from their country. But we all know that, no one denied that..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree with MiamiBalla12, Playmaker and every other intellegent person in the world that yes of course any1 would vote for the player from their country. But we all know that, no one denied that..</div> And whats your point? I'm saying that voting for someone simply because I like them better isn't overrating them because I know they are not better than the people I didnt vote for.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MiamiBalla12:</div><div class="quote_post">And whats your point? I'm saying that voting for someone simply because I like them better isn't overrating them because I know they are not better than the people I didnt vote for.</div> ...We all know that. The reason why i brought it up was just to throw it out there explaining as to why he made it. Then i see this pointless debate thrown out here that isn't a good one since we all agree.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">...We all know that. The reason why i brought it up was just to throw it out there explaining as to why he made it. Then i see this pointless debate thrown out here that isn't a good one since we all agree.</div> You stated before that you think Yao being voted over Shaq shows hes overrated. I dont agree with that......... I said I dont think him starting over Shaq has to do with him being overrated because he's chinese and China was supporting him.
I understand that China was supporting him voting for Yao I dont blame em but thats still overating! Thats still overating its representing AND overating thats not difficult to understand. Overating is when you say a player is better then another when you know hes not. Now excuse me if im wrong but saying Asians voting for Yao isnt overating him to me doesnt make scence. In both situations your calling a player thats worst better then the superior player..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">I understand that China was supporting him voting for Yao I dont blame em but thats still overating! Thats still overating its representing AND overating thats not difficult to understand. Overating is when you say a player is better then another when you know hes not. Now excuse me if im wrong but saying Asians voting for Yao isnt overating him to me doesnt make scence. In both situations your calling a player thats worst better then the superior player..</div> But im sure any chinese person in their right mind would admit shaq is a better player. No media in any country believes Yao is better than Shaq him starting over Shaq doesn't make him overrated because none of the voters or the media actually think hes better than shaq. They just simply vote for him for the fact hes chinese not because they believe hes better. The all-star game is a popularity contest its not necessarily all about whos the best player, but who has the most fans and yao wins in that category.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting MiamiBalla12:</div><div class="quote_post">But im sure any chinese person in their right mind would admit shaq is a better player.</div> But they voted for him didnt they, and i wouldnt be to sure theres alot of Asians and other people that think Shaq is worst. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">No media in any country believes Yao is better than Shaq him starting over Shaq doesn't make him overrated</div> A worst player starting over a better player does make him overated, period. The All Star Game is a popularity contest and it is wrong that fans vote the starters. That nonscence is what leads to worst players starting over superior players. If i would be able to change that i would. So you think all Chinese people admit that Yao is worst then Shaq eh?? Not only Chinese Yao fans but regular Yao fans think hes better then Shaq. And to the ones who voted for Yao and think Shaq is better are STILL overating him. This thread has gotten a little too off-topic(it happens in most Yao threads) so to bring it back to normal i will post on the original topic at hand Is Yao Soft or Not? My answer to that is yes, Yao is a heck of a player and can still be great but calling him tough and agressive wouldnt be right. When I think of a center I think of a huge strong dominant type, Yao is more of a finesse and long type center. Thats why he would turn out soft in my eyes, also because he doesnt back you down like most centers do and use his strength to get by you.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheTruth5:</div><div class="quote_post">But they voted for him didnt they, and i wouldnt be to sure theres alot of Asians and other people that think Shaq is worst. A worst player starting over a better player does make him overated, period. The All Star Game is a popularity contest and it is wrong that fans vote the starters. That nonscence is what leads to worst players starting over superior players. If i would be able to change that i would. So you think all Chinese people admit that Yao is worst then Shaq eh?? Not only Chinese Yao fans but regular Yao fans think hes better then Shaq. And to the ones who voted for Yao and think Shaq is better are STILL overating him. This thread has gotten a little too off-topic(it happens in most Yao threads) so to bring it back to normal i will post on the original topic at hand Is Yao Soft or Not? My answer to that is yes, Yao is a heck of a player and can still be great but calling him tough and agressive wouldnt be right. When I think of a center I think of a huge strong dominant type, Yao is more of a finesse and long type center. Thats why he would turn out soft in my eyes, also because he doesnt back you down like most centers do and use his strength to get by you.</div> Yeah, but any non biased Yao fans know Shaq is better. The media does not overrate Yao either. Well anyways since you chose to end this debate........ I feel that Yao is a little softer than he should be. he need to work on his rebounding.
