DISQUS

Wesley · 1 year ago

If Yao played tonight, Rockets would win.

Luckyme · 1 year ago

What a let-down - another one! The Rockets were so intimidated and played so timidly as if they did not want to get hurt or upset the Suns. I was so disgusted- like you, John, I changed the channel. Although I am a Yao fan first, but I switched to the Bucks-Cavaliers game in which Yi and his fellow Bucks beat the Cavaliers and won the game. At least it was not a total loss of a lousy night.

Wilson · 1 year ago

Do I still hear...the Rockets play better without Yao??? or the Rockets don't need Yao???

Allen · 1 year ago

I like Landry, but he is no Amare. Don't think he ever will be.

There are lots of players and GMs who are extremely impressed with Landry's potential, and will make a run at signing him in the off-season. He definitely has potential to be a stud. Why not be more encouraging, Rocket fan, rather than poo-pooing dreams?

Saying he won't turn out to be anything is probably similar to what other pundits said about other 2nd round draft picks like Carlos Boozer and Sam Cassell who blossomed into something special, or Michael Jordan when he didn't make his varsity high school team as a sophomore, or Houston when they started their 22-game winning streak, etc. It's more fun to encourage a player's progress than to say, "I was right. That guy never amounted to superstar status." Otherwise, sports would be predictable and boring. -- John

AirChina23 · 1 year ago

John, what do you think about Landry's future development? He's currently an undersized power forward/center, like Barkley was. Do you see him keep playing in this position? I know he's very athletic and he's getting stronger. But do you ever think he might be shifting to the small forward position? The Landry I know has a good shot and also pretty decent ball-handling skills. I'm not saying he should be competing with Shane for the job, which is a no-brainer given Battier's contributions and experience. I just don't know if he'll continue to have an advantage among the trees in the 4 and 5 positions in the years to come.

Landry is very unique and is unlike most power forwards. I don't think he'll be a small forward. He's got too much power to be relegated to the outside like most small forwards, and doesn't good enough ball-handling skills for that. I think Shane's playing time at SF is very safe. Landry is the same height as Carlos Boozer, 6' 9", but I think he attacks the rim more than Boozer. On the boards and on defense, maybe he could get close to Rodman, who was about the same size. If he ends up being like Boozer or better, or like Barkley as you brought up (which is a good comparison, too), then I think he'll be able to handle his own among the trees.

Wesley · 1 year ago

Amare was getting a lot of "superstar" phantom foul calls last night. 20 times to the line?! What a joke!

And it's a pleasure to see the Rockets lose without Yao. Keep it coming!

I agree with the Amare statement. The statement for the Rockets to continue to lose with Yao is....well, I won't respond to that one. Instead, I'll let others do that for me. -- John

arthurko from LA · 1 year ago

Yes! as a Yao first fan and rockets 2nd, I like the fact that teams like the suns are able to exploit that big absence in the middle without Yao on their way to a victory. People disagree with my views because I say I want the Rockets to lose without Yao, but that is also because I am looking in the long term. I would rather the Rockets get another solid draft pick than lose in the first round of the playoffs again. I think the Rockets used up too much fuel in their amazing 22 game run.
Think about it, at the rate the Rockets are playing right now, I think they might realistically be at a 6th, 7th, or 8th seed and that would mean facing Lakers, Hornets, Suns right now.
Anyway, I support the Rockets but for the long term. This year just isn't the time, that is without without Yao in the mix. With Yao being their franchise player
art

Wesley · 1 year ago

Rockets losing without Yao shows everyone that Yao is the most important player on this team. And he's also the best center in the NBA. That's the truth.

So, it's a pleasure to watch the Rockets lose without Yao. I'm sure majority of the people here are Yao only fans, and don't really care about the Rockets much.

wang ming · 1 year ago

Wesley you are a disgrace
John cares about the Rockets just as much as the Yao
I don't see him enjoying Rockets losing at all

Jebb · 1 year ago

People, stop those silly opinion about wanting Rockets losing games just to prove that Yao is the best player on the team!

Yao is the biggest and the most important piece of Rockets, period! Yao can help ANY team ( Ya, all 30 teams ) in the NBA and ALL of them would love to have Yao, this is true and only epople without much basketball knowledge would disagree with me.

Rockets is a dominant team with a healthy Yao, Yao commands a constant double team whenever he steps into the paint, and it is that much easy for Tracy, Scola ( or Landry ), Battier & Alston to beat the other 3 opposing players ( actually they play 4 on 3 when Yao has the ball! )!

Few people think that Rockets is a better team without Yao, they are dead wrong and they don't know much about basketball!

However, Rockets need all their pieces to contribute in different ways for them to go far in the playoff next season as outlined below:-

Yao - Keep turnover down, get more rebounds and more touches at the low block!

Tmac - Should go the rack more often, less long range shots!, play better defense and getting his team mates involved more! Practice free throw at least 500 shots per day! I can shoot 85% free throw if i am paid 19 Millions a year! ( No excuse!! )

Scola - Better defensive efforts & to improve free throw percentage too!

Landry - Play more minutes and expand his shooting ranges! He will be unguardable if he shoots a higher percentage shots with range!

Alston - Play smarter and drive to the rack more, get higher percentage shots! Need to improve his 3-points shooting percentage and make it a weapon!

D · 1 year ago

Since Yao went down, if you listen to th media, most of of them already acknowledge that Yao is the best player on this team. So it is pointless now to wish the Rockets to lose in order to show Yao's importance. You might have a debate of whether Yao is the best center in the NBA, but there is no denying of his importance and his contribution on and off the court to this team.

AirChina23 · 1 year ago

Wesley, it just shows that you're not a true Yao fan when you don't even care about the very team he plays for!

W · 1 year ago

I can understand people being a Yao fan first, and a Rocket fan second. But to now piss on Rockets. That's simply bad form, especially on a board, which author has pour his heart and soul since Yao can on the Rockets 6 years ago. arthurko, wesley - you're embarrassing yourselves.

floyd · 1 year ago

lol at john
i read from above that you wouldn't comment on whether you enjoyed rockets losing while yao's out... well, YOU are the biggest yao only fan in here
why pretend, just say you do. you absolutely love it.
oh are your comments regarding yao being booed printed yet from the washington post?
what a joke

Haha, you have no idea how wrong you are. I guess you don't read this site all that much. And I bet you're email address is not skippy@hotmail.com. If you're going to post something to diss someone, be a man and own up to you're real identity, 'floyd.' -- John