Yao Ming Mania - Latest Comments in Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

jeff — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:53:44 -0000

Big Yao, good analysis and excellent adivice. But sorry, there is no time for Yao Ming to carry out the necessary training. Why? He has to spent the whole off season to attend the higher-than-NBA training camp of the China National Team. I think the Rockets had been looking for opportunities to provide the necessary training similiar to those suggested by you for Yao Ming . But I do not think that that kind of thinking has yet met with the APPROVAL of the Chinese National Team. I think Yao should better stay with the China National Team than joining the Rockets or any other NBA team.I am a big fan of Yao Ming. But when it touches a matter of principle, I have to tell the truth.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

BIG YAO — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 23:00:34 -0000

YAO is a Great player. In no history of basketball you have a guy 7 ‘6 that are 20+ 10+ 2+ blocks and 86% free throw. But …YAO can be better.

I propose a training regime for big YAO. Three types of training he should focus and do it repeatedly.

1 – rebound - (he’s good but he can be better) we need three guys power forward/forward inside the paint and have guys outside taking all sorts of shot and also drive in and have YAO box out opponents and get all the rebounds he can. He should only focus in getting rebounds and do this repeatedly for a 1000 times.

2- block shots - (he’s is good but he can be better) we again need three guys that mostly forward/power forward in the paint and we have guard outside drive it to the hoop or other center/forward taking hook shots. YAO would be in the middle paint altering shots, intimidating and leap to contest and block all shots in the lane. When he is there means the lane is closed. Again he should only focus on this and do this repeatedly for thousands of times and nothing else.

3- Dunking – we need three guys power forward / forward in the paint with YAO. We need guys guard/forward doing all kinds of pass to YAO in the paint and have YAO only way of scoring is dunking and nothing other wise. Do this only and repeatdly for like a thousand times.

If YAO does this repeatedly in training and only this, it can be a instinct he can do this with his eyes closed in the game. He will become the most dominating BIG MAN ever to play the game of basketball. He will be a legend and like I said in no basketball history you have any guy who is 7 6’ that is as dominate as BIG YAO with 20+, 10+ and 2+ blocks with 86% free throw shooter and NEVER EVER will you have someone like him.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

jeff — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 21:58:01 -0000

MJ, I agree to all the comments you made, except those for Tracy. There is no dout about his talent and skill. His problem is he has not been in a good team yet. This year, he has an additional problem which is a disastrous coach. You have covered nearly every problem of the Rockets ; but you omitted the most important one which is the head coach who is the ultimate person responsible for the success or failure of the team. He cannot get away from that. He should step down, if he has the courage.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

jeff — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 19:33:47 -0000

I do not understand why people are still talking about the rockets being in the playoffs. Unless there are dramatic changes, which are not likely under Disaster Idleman, the players, led by Disaster, will be enjoying their holidays during the playoffs period.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Michael Jodon — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 18:03:18 -0000

Alston, can't hit open jumpers, can't hit 3s, can't finish around the rim, got blocked for lay up. People leave him alone on the 3pt line for a reason, because they know it is much safer to let him shoot then let him pass to Yao or other team mates, he usually makes the opponent's coach very happy when he shoots 3s.

Hays, can't shoot besides dunks or lay up, doesn't know how to shoot free throws, this is a joke and an embarrassment for a pro, even Shaq doesn't do what he does. Often made bad or poor decisions at the crunch time.

Battier, up and down, can't be trusted for 3points, either 5 for 6, or 1 for 9, Rudy Gay was a better choice, but GM fracked it up. now you have a small forward can't hit most of the 3s.

Tracey, a true "MUST-LOSE" leader, doesn't know how to jell his team together, often forced ill-advised jumpers, look at the status, 20 points often take him to make 30 shots, look at Yao, 50% and up, free-throw is almost a guarantee. 4 years, can not and will not bring rox to second rounds.
If this dude knows how to get his team mates involved in the game first, make his team mates hot first, and takes over the game, ONLY when his team mates are not going anywhere, rox has a little hope, trying to be a 50% jump shooter, and getting worst and worst on his poor shots selection, he can ONLY and will bring rox to the ground and even to hell.

Arron, Mike, Steve, Luis and Bonzi must become starters, let those starters sit on the bench and learn a few lessons from these guys. If starters can not provide winning result, they have to let other guys try it.

As long as these 4 guys on the court, rox's end result will be a Dejavu from last year.

peace
MJ

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Michael Jodon — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 15:03:44 -0000

Alston, Hays, Battier and McGrady must go.

or Yao must go, this rox team is going nowhere with this set up.

If these 5 players are in playoff as starters together, the result would be the same or even worst than last season.

Break them.

Get Brooks, Scola in the starting lineup, that is the only hope for rox for a better record.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

AirChina23 — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:41:12 -0000

Going point, Jeff. Why won't he learn how to shoot free throws?

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

jeff — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:49:35 -0000

If you want to see the most awkward and embarassing way of delivering a free throw of a basketball, you have to look at Chuck Hayes last evening. It was not coincidental, but two in a row. There is no wonder why his scoring is so low. But I still could not believe that he is starting for an NBA team. Poor Rockets.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

JT in MD — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:13:23 -0000

Great commentary John.. I enjoyed the game even though they lost! Felt like a playoff game and the rockets showed some fight. Keep up the good work.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Wilson — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 15:38:14 -0000

PLAY AARON BROOKS AND LUIS SCOLA MORE!!!

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Frank — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:47:22 -0000

Just like Sir Charles says.... Either Yao Ming or T-mac gotta go... I would trade Tracy McGrady and Steve Francis for a big time player. Obviously Boston would not give up Garnett and San Antonio won't give up Tim Duncan. How about Emeka Okafor to the Rockets?? Championships are not made through back spasm but inside out basketball.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Jim From Hollywood CA! — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:18:33 -0000

Hi everybody in rocketland. Ok, the game of basketball is a game of oppprtunites. When those opportunites are present you have to be prepared. Two comments: 1). On wed night, after taking a full time out the rockets come out with a, pardon me for saying this, GARBAGE play. I have to fault the coaches on that one. It had to be the most unorganized play out of a timeout I have ever seen. 2). Last nights game: Good way to stay in it with no t-mac, but again some of those plays out of time outs were horrible. We need a change, and we need it now. Lets let go of some of the guards: MIKE JAMES, and lets make that move for Bibby. I think Sac town would take a MIke James, and a draft for Bibby. we need some stability at the point guys. we cant be HOPEING and praying that everytime o-fer shots a three that it will go in. YAo is to much of a good player to be around players that are not going to put in the time to get better. Lets run scola, bonzi, Yao, tmac, and Francis to close out games. Those are the best ROLE players. How hard is this: FEED THE BALL INTO YAO IN THE POST AND THEN EVERYBODY CUT OF SCREENS TO GET OPEN SO YAO CAN PASS IT OFF, OR JUST CLEAR OUT AND LET YAO GO TO WORK.
THANKS.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Allen — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 11:41:05 -0000

Well, I am typically ill with the loss. It seems that no matter how well we play this year, the coins are against us and we are going to lose. However, I thought there were some positives.

Positives:

Alston and Head both had good games. I know they both had 5 or so turnovers, but I tell you, we are not going to lose many games that Alston scores 18 and drops 10 dimes. Hell he almost had a triple double. The other good thing is that Alston is starting to string together good games. Hopefully (but probably not) this will continue to be the trend. Also, Head had a great game scoring wise. I hope his shooting becomes contagious.

I love the way Yao is rebounding the last two games. That is almost as important a skill as scoring, because rebounding affects defense, transition plays, etc. Yao's weakness is that he often disappears if he is not affecting the game by scoring, so I love to see that kind of effort on the glass.

Shane also did better from an offensive standpoint than he normally does, but I get the feeling that his defense is just not what it was last year. I think that part of this is that he is a great TEAM defender, like Alston, and the team defense has regressed so much under Adelman that it has exposed both of them for their average man defense.

Finally, Bonzi did well. I am of the opinion that he is the best option for being our third scorer, since everyone else is just unreliable.

Negatives -

Scola needs to get his game together. We are deep enough into the season where he should be contributing more than this. I thought he was the answer at PF, but at this moment he is not. He can't get playing time because not only does he not seem to understand the offense at times, but he is having trouble on defense. And at least in my opinion, he plays better at center without Yao on the court.

No Mutumbo. Frankly, he is our best post defender and shot blocker. I know Adelman doesn't like him because he has no offensive skills, but hell, our offense is right terrible anyway, why not play the guy who is the best rebounder and defender at the five instead of Scola?

Overall though, this game is a step in the right direction. We have tgot to turn it on quick like though, if we hope to make the playoffs.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

Brian — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 10:48:36 -0000

What a heart breaker that was...Did you see Yao's face when carter hit the shot :(

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

AirChina23 — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:25:55 -0000

Fair enough, can't wait to read your recap on Friday, but really, take your time. Work is important!

Anyway, I bet you would agree on some of the stuff I found encouraging from watching the game tonight: good ball movement, good shooting (better than usual), other players stepping up, Yao with only two turnovers (one of them being a questionable offensive foul for pushing Najera), oh yeah, and Aaron Brooks. Hope they can play like this every night.

Re: Rockets lose to Denver in 2 OTs

CC — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 03:18:56 -0000

Yes. I love this game. They lost it. But there is nothing to regret. The last shoot by Carter is just a bad luck.

Yao did the best. And more importantly, his performance in the crucial time gave his teammates confidence. He is showing the quality of a real team leader, not only in scoring and rebounding, but also in the SPIRIT.

Now this team is showing some promise.