<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">FREE YAO MING!! FREE YAO MING!! Yao Must Be Unleashed. He is a pretty decent NBA player right now. He goes for 16.8 points and about nine boards a night. Not bad, but not great, either. And the thing is, we all think maybe he can be great. He's 7-foot-6 with skills, vision, and touch. He's a b-ball revolution waiting to happen. Not so long ago, on this very site, Bill Simmons called him "the most compelling NBA player since MJ in his prime." Ralph Wiley said he was destined to rule the league for years, Charley Rosen said he was a player with "extraordinary court sense" and "unlimited" upside. And I, myself, gushed that his was the beautiful game on "the other side of Shaq Mountain." So where is that Yao right now? Where is the Yao that is a force, a spirit, a phenomenon bigger than all of us? Is he gone? Was he never there? I don't know, but I don't think so. I think he's caged up. Boxed in. Trapped.</div> Full Story By Eric Neel
I knew Franchise was a ballhog, but I didn't know that much of one. Although Marbury and B Dizzle are as well, they know who needs it and when. They still manage to do a much better job than he does. Yao is the future, soon if Mobley is still there, Franchise and Mobley will be his backup. If the Rockets are ever going to become championship material again, they're gonna have to end up relying on him. Sometime soon preferably, most likely next season is the way I see it.
As much as I hate to admit this, I hate Yao. He is taking all the shots and glamour from my favorite player. Still, Yao would have to be the focal point on offense for us to win, and I understand that. So this means that Francis has to go sometime. After last night's game, I realize that, but that doesn't mean I'll be happy if he goes. This is an end to an once-bright-looking era. However, I still have dreams of this trio-Yao, Francis and Mobley, being the Dream/Glide/Mario trio of the 90's.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">As much as I hate to admit this, I hate Yao. He is taking all the shots and glamour from my favorite player. Still, Yao would have to be the focal point on offense for us to win, and I understand that. So this means that Francis has to go sometime. After last night's game, I realize that, but that doesn't mean I'll be happy if he goes. This is an end to an once-bright-looking era. However, I still have dreams of this trio-Yao, Francis and Mobley, being the Dream/Glide/Mario trio of the 90's.</div> That will only happen if they'll learn to give Yao the ball. I agree with the article. If you have a guy like Yao patrolling down low, there's no excuse for you not to average double digits in assists. Besides, If you give Yao the ball down low, he can also average somewhat close to 5 dimes a game coz he can pass.
Man, after watching the Lakers comeback on the Rockets last night, I have finally realize, GIVE YAO THE DAMN BALL! I mean seriously, I haven't really watched a whole lot of Rocket games this year, but after seeing LA battle back as they did and the Rockets continue to go with their outside game instead of working it in to Yao, had me thinking. They continued to ignore him in the post, and down the stretch of the game your supposed to get it to your dominant big man. Especially since he shoots FT's so well(7-7 in the game). There was no reason for Yao to not even touch the ball during the final minutes basically. It was clear he was the man in that game, but Francis/Mobley wanted to takeover.
You all are right the key is to get Yao the ball. Francis and Mobley don't realize that giving the ball to Yao actually gets them personally better shots. All it takes is a few easy baskets then the double team comes. Once that happens shooters are open. I don't think Francis and Mobley have a Basketball IQ high enough to understand that. Maybe I just have a high basketball, but I would think NBA players would be able to understand this simplistic concept. I mean it isn't that hard. 1. Pass the ball to Yao. 2. Defense swarms low block. 3. Yao kicks the ball out. 4. Defense goes into "scramble mode" 5. Rockets pass the ball around. 6. Holy smokes........someone is open. :gasp:
Yes Dexter, it's that simple. Everyone should know that. I wonder why they don't realize it. Just give Yao the ball then wait for your man to help out on Yao then ask for the ball. It's that easy.
Its not really that simple.... Yao still hasn't developed that killer instinct that most of the great players have. The confidence and the ability to take your man and do anything you want with him, demanding the ball when it counts etc... In some ways I think he doesn't realize that he is the man on that team and he has to act like it. Like Patrick Ewing said, "Yao is a gentle giant". In no way am I saying that he will never achieve dominant status but if he's gonna start it might as well be now. BTW Trip, if you hate Yao....then why do you have him on your avatar?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting CourtVision:</div><div class="quote_post">Its not really that simple.... Yao still hasn't developed that killer instinct that most of the great players have. The confidence and the ability to take your man and do anything you want with him, demanding the ball when it counts etc... In some ways I think he doesn't realize that he is the man on that team and he has to act like it. Like Patrick Ewing said, "Yao is a gentle giant". In no way am I saying that he will never achieve dominant status but if he's gonna start it might as well be now. BTW Trip, if you hate Yao....then why do you have him on your avatar?</div> I agree with you on the fact that Yao has not reached his full potential. In fact, I do not think he is anywhere close to reaching it right now. However the plan still works now. Lets be real, Yao isn't a dominate center yet. He hasn't mastered the low post art yet like all the dominate centers in the past have. That being said, teams are still doubling him every single time he touches the ball down in the paint. As long as they double him, the plan I pointed out above works. Add to that some back-cuts and screens away from the ball when Yao has the ball in the paint and you have a very simplistic offense that would work. Movement on the perimeter when Yao has the ball, is all the Rockets really need to do.
Yeah until Francis is traded and a true veteran point guard comes in, the Rockets will falter...its hard to break bad habits, and Francis is an extreme case in point...he too often reverts to his constant dribbling and forcing long shots...I never thought that Cuttino would become a team player before Francis, but Cuttino has become a stellar perimeter defender while also looking for Yao on offense...it may sound redundant, but Francis is holding this team back from becoming the powerhouse that it has the potential to be...
Courtvision, I have Yao on my avatar because I realize the fact that Yao is our path to a championship. I hate him for the attention he gets but admire him as a player. What the Rockets need is a veteran point, something rare in the league now, but a few college players fit the basic mold. As I've said before, I wouldn't mind TJ Ford traded for Steve Francis.
Well have to keep Yao people! He's getting better and better and yeah, he needs to get the ball more, and the solution might be a Francis trade although it hurts when i say that. Really, Yao made great progress and he still is, dont free him now, really.
Couple years ago. Francis has a migrane. Ironicly. he played better with his migrane then what he plays now. He plays like *&s#, not even all-star status. Next year for sure. Yao will dominate the league. The things he been doing to Shaq, hook shots over him, and giving him fade aways Shaq cant handle it. If rockets do some how make it to playoffs. They better aim for going against lakers. cause they are probably the only team they'll be able to beat. Since going against Mavs, wolves, or spurs will be impossible to beat. Francis has to go. The so called franchise might end the rockets franchise.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shoeaddict:</div><div class="quote_post">Couple years ago. Francis has a migrane. Ironicly. he played better with his migrane then what he plays now. He plays like *&s#, not even all-star status. Next year for sure. Yao will dominate the league. The things he been doing to Shaq, hook shots over him, and giving him fade aways Shaq cant handle it. If rockets do some how make it to playoffs. They better aim for going against lakers. cause they are probably the only team they'll be able to beat. Since going against Mavs, wolves, or spurs will be impossible to beat. Francis has to go. The so called franchise might end the rockets franchise.</div> Well said, but after Francis's performance last night, I have second thoughts...
