The Regression of Yao

"We need to do a better job covering for him when he's outquicked," Van Gundy said. "He also can do better in how he plays. I just think sometimes his alertness and his awareness ... I thought he grew a lot in that area last year. Maybe he has regressed a bit."

At the start of the season, most Rocket fans were understandably excited. Yao showed flashes of dominance in the Olympics, and he apparently entered camp in the best shape of his life. A lot of us expected Yao to become a legitimate star in the game, instead of a hyped-up player who's accolades derive more from potential than actual performance.

So far this year, Yao has had some nice scoring games, but he's been subpar or down-right terrible in other facets of the game like passing out of double teams, rebounding, blocking shots, avoiding foul trouble, etc. The troubling thing is that while we shouldn't expect to Yao to have been dominant in the aspects, there was good reason to expect improvement. A great player can't be one-dimensional, but this is exactly what Yao has been nearly one-fifth into the season.

Unlike last year, he doesn't seem to be playing poorly due to fatigue. He just seems to be playing in a daze, unaware of the situation around him. While upon coming into the league, experts praised his "court awareness" and passing ability, he still looks to be woefully underdeveloped in this area.

 

I seriously think that Yao needs to get mean and gain more muscle mass. Give him a physique like Big Ben and an attitude like, hmm...Amare Stoudemire, and he'd be sick.

 

Yao's problem in my mind is that of Kieth Van Horns a player who when he came in the league was playing out of his mind, but over te years as his nba career progressed his none super star attitude of not comanding the ball made him a player who you would like to have on your roster, but no one a team could really build around. I am not saying the same will happen to Yao, but he needs to demand the ball more in the post one thing about Shaq he may have let Kobe lead the team in scoring, and take the shots when it got down to clutch time, but when Shaq felt he was being forgotten, and wasnt getting the ball he would let you here it. Playing center in the NBA it is a position that unless you demand the ball, and rebound well you will not be successful in, because unlike guards and small forwards power forwards and centers dont create offense off the dribble a lot of times they have to wait for the guards to pass them the ball, and when the guards dont do that or if they dont you will get lost in the flow of the game that is what happened to Yao during the Steve Francis Mobely era, and now in the start of the Tmac era.

 

It's not enough for Yao to simply demand the ball. If he's not doing other things well, and if he isn't particularly effective unless he's getting single coverage, why force the ball into him? I think sometimes this year the Rockets are concentrating too much on getting the ball to Yao and we've lost a lot of continuity in our offense because of it. So far this season, the Rockets are +4 points per 48 minutes with Yao off the court, and -4 points per 48 minutes with Yao on the court. That's not something you want to see from your star players. Basically, the Rockets have been a better team overall this season when Yao hasn't been playing.

To be fair, I think part of that has to do with Charlie Ward not playing much the last few games. Those who've been following the Rockets this season know that when Tyronne Lue has been on the court, Yao has played terribly. But Yao should be good enough to overcome that. Hopefully, Yao will play better with Sura on the court. I think he will, since Sura is much better at drawing defenders and dishing the ball than Lue.

 

Yao needs a confident attitude. He needs to come in every game thinking its time to go to work i dont care who they put on me know one will stop me.

The way he plays now is like, well ill see what i can do today, i hope i dont get into foul trouble.

I think he needs one of his teamates to just get in yaos face and encourage him to be a monster.

 

Sura sounds like the almost perfect man for Yao. He can drive, currently is working on his jumpshot since coming back, and can dish it to anyone, anytime. The only problem may be JVG who may bench Sura instead of start him like in the Nuggets game. However, he did put up some nice stats by the end. As for the regression of Yao, he's probably just struggling to find a comfort position with his new teammates and just needs to get to know them more. I mean, he got along fairly well with Francis and Mobley, so I'm guessing he just needs to do that for McGrady and the rest of the team. He's a quiet player, and that's what makes him unique. Yao will never be Shaq, its just not in his personality. But that also brings him another asset to his game-he listens. Its a more subtle quality that actually brings a different type of play, instead of barking out orders and demanding the ball 24/7, Yao gives opportunity for his teammates to make the plays. Thats why for PG, we need a smart play maker that can get the ball to McGrady and Yao, as well as changing the pace and mentality of their strategy.

 

Yao is way too passive to be a successful player in the league. He needs to attack the basket and try to block every shot coming his way. For someone at such height, he should average more than 8 boards.

The good thing is, he's still very young and has time to improve.

 

I think Sura will be the vocal leader they need, but that won't come until he himself is comfortable out on the court. I really think he has a passion to win in this league, and will not sit idly by as Tracy takes bad shots and Yao plays passively.

Think about it for a second. Sura was averaging 15/8/5 in Atlanta last season and could have just stayed there if he was solely interested in putting up numbers. Also the fact that he put in the effort to come back earlier than expected from his back surgery shows that he's hungry.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">I seriously think that Yao needs to get mean and gain more muscle mass. Give him a physique like Big Ben and an attitude like, hmm...Amare Stoudemire, and he'd be sick.</div>
HAHAHHA wishful thinking or r u just a kidder...yao is asian..and he's 7'6 ..and you expect him to get a physique of BIg Ben..hahaha ..just be thankful he's not a chopstick like shawn bradley..yao is currently 300 pounds+ and that's quite heavy..what's the point of bulking up even more..u want yao to still be able to jog don't u? y don't u just enjoy my new avatar and stop feeding yao more burgers; that's just not the way to go..oh and from where yao is coming from ..he has respectful family values...so you can't bring an 'attitude' out of him..so your whole statement is jst a mess lol

 

Just because has good family values doesnt mean he cant be a mean guy on the court. I mean its like Shaq. Everyone knows hes a good guy off the court always making jokes and stuff but when hes on the court everyone knows how tough he gets.

So thats what I think Yao should do. Be a warrior for 48 mins and then go back to being the good Yao he is.

 

I don't think Yao's problem is so much lack of aggressiveness or meanness. He's just not playing smart. He's not using his size effectively, and he doesn't react appropriately on defense or offense. Watch Tim Duncan play, and then watch Yao. Duncan doesn't play with a growl on his face, and he's not particularly vocal either. But he plays decisively and intelligently. That's what Yao needs to be able to do if he's going to become a legitimate star in this league.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">HAHAHHA wishful thinking or r u just a kidder...yao is asian..and he's 7'6 ..and you expect him to get a physique of BIg Ben..hahaha ..</div>

What does being Asian have to do with his physique? Are you trying to imply that asians can't be built like Big Ben?

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting drm2dnk:</div><div class="quote_post">HAHAHHA wishful thinking or r u just a kidder...yao is asian..and he's 7'6 ..and you expect him to get a physique of BIg Ben..hahaha ..just be thankful he's not a chopstick like shawn bradley..yao is currently 300 pounds+ and that's quite heavy..what's the point of bulking up even more..u want yao to still be able to jog don't u? y don't u just enjoy my new avatar and stop feeding yao more burgers; that's just not the way to go..oh and from where yao is coming from ..he has respectful family values...so you can't bring an 'attitude' out of him..so your whole statement is jst a mess lol</div>
Enjoy your new avatar? Feed Yao burgers? I'm lost.

And there's an Asian guy at my college that's 6'6" and is built like Karl Malone...so it's not possible, and I don't see why it would be.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">What does being Asian have to do with his physique? Are you trying to imply that asians can't be built like Big Ben?</div>

I think the Asian part had to do with Yao getting mean. Like, because of his culture or whatever, he doesn't have the temperament to be mean on the court.

 

Being Asian has nothing to do with the ability to gain muscle mass. Ever seen Bloodsport with Jean Claude Van Damme? Remember the main villain from that movie? The absolutely HUGE Asian fighter? Again, it has nothing to do with ethnicity, although I agree that Yao doesn't need more muscle as it would probably just slow him down even more.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sniper:</div><div class="quote_post">Being Asian has nothing to do with the ability to gain muscle mass. Ever seen Bloodsport with Jean Claude Van Damme? Remember the main villain from that movie? The absolutely HUGE Asian fighter? Again, it has nothing to do with ethnicity, although I agree that Yao doesn't need more muscle as it would probably just slow him down even more.</div>

He needs to go on a strict protein diet but eat a lot and work out all the time, that will burn down his body fat and build muscle which will improve his game because he won't gain weight but build muscle and burn fat. Which will make him faster/stronger/dominent.

 

Well, being Asian does factor a bit into Yao's physique IMO. From what I know of China and Chinese people, you hardly see fat people in China as you do in North America, but rarely do you see guys built like linebackers too. Because of communism or something, there is not a lot of excess food in China, which is probably why no one is able to gain a lot of weight. After living in China for 22 years, I doubt Yao can eat 10 burgers in a day just because he wants to. It's probably just his genes that's stunting his growth weight and muscle mass wise.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Because of communism or something, there is not a lot of excess food in China, which is probably why no one is able to gain a lot of weight. </div>
Definitely not communism. It really isn't that bad there today unless you're really poor or have little money. Since Yap's parents were both star basketball players for the Chinese team, I doubt they were in that bad of shape. However, he grew up when communism was still developing after the revolution so there probably were food shortages. I really don't think it has anything to do with your bulk though since if they had the money, they could probably buy the food. Or, the government probably endorsed them with food, shelter, stuff like that. However, it's probably the chinese lifestyle. They have a healthy diet and often walk alot as transportation compared to maybe the suburbs here and in some places. Second of all, I think anyone can bulk up if they really wanted to and genes probably have little to do with it.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">However, it's probably the chinese lifestyle. They have a healthy diet and often walk alot as transportation compared to maybe the suburbs here and in some places. Second of all, I think anyone can bulk up if they really wanted to and genes probably have little to do with it.</div>Yes, I think it is the Chinese lifestyle. From what I remember having read, Yao even rode a bike to practices. Guess that prevents your body from being too idle an gaining weight. However, I doubt that you can gain weight whenever you want. For example, I have yet to come across someone whose parents were both thin and he is fat. Genes have to factor in. When your parents are overweight, you probably would be too. One thing that puzzles me is how Yao's parents were both professional players. Therefore, they must have been athletic. However, Yao isn't. Is that his fault or is it that his parents aren't athletic?