Yao: "It is okay that I have quite game"

[dunleavyjr]

I'm not sure if this is the attitude fans want from Yao. Listen to what he has to say about it

By CHRIS DUNCAN, AP Sports Writer 7 hours, 45 minutes ago

HOUSTON (AP)—Yao Ming has taken only 13 shots in the last two games of Houston’s first-round series against Portland. That’s OK with him.

The Trail Blazers have shut down the Rockets’ 7-foot-6 center with aggressive double-teams and physical play, but they still trail the series 2-1 heading into Game 4 on Sunday in Houston.

Yao was limited to seven points on 2-for-7 shooting in Game 3, but Luis Scola scored 19, Shane Battier added 16 and Houston won 86-83. Yao scored only 11 in Game 2 and the Rockets still nearly rallied before losing 107-103.

Yao will gladly continue to take on multiple defenders and leave the scoring to teammates as long as the Rockets keep winning.

“We have a lot of weapons,” said Yao, who averaged 19.7 points during the regular season. “Actually, I’m not very frustrated. I have not caused the damage I did in the first game, but I think I have still helped the team win. That’s the only thing I care about.”

Scola shot 8-of-15 in Game 3, most of them mid-range jumpers taken while Yao was locking arms and fighting Greg Oden or Joel Przybilla for position underneath.

Portland also held Ron Artest to nine points in Game 3, but Carl Landry came off the bench to score 10, leaving the Blazers feeling as if they let a big opportunity slip away.

“Yao and Ron don’t even score in double figures and they win the game,” said Portland’s Brandon Roy. “They made some good adjustments, some guys came off the bench and played well. We felt like we did a good job of taking away the two guys, and their other guys got it going.”

Yao is still the Rockets’ most reliable scoring option, and they’ll try to force the ball to him again in Game 4. Yao became the focal point of the offense when Tracy McGrady went out with season-ending knee surgery in February, and scored 24 points on 9-of-9 shooting in the Rockets’ victory at Portland in the series opener.

“That’s going to be the challenge from here on in,” Battier said. “They’re going to take him away. We have to do a better job of getting him the ball and still exploiting the holes they give us.”

On Saturday, Portland coach Nate McMillan seemed more concerned with the Blazers’ offense, especially early in Game 3.

Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, who together scored 69 points in Game 2, shot a combined 4-for-15 from the field in the first half on Friday. The Blazers shot 38 percent overall in the half and trailed 48-37 at the break.

“We just didn’t do a lot of things we did in Game 2 to win,” McMillan said. “We didn’t have the ball movement, we didn’t have the sharpness, the execution, as far as going hard on every possession, being connected. We went back to just reacting, as opposed to being the aggressors.”

Roy said the Blazers never seem to start well against the Rockets at the Toyota Center, where they’ve lost 11 of their last 12 games. The Rockets also jumped on Portland early in Game 1 last Saturday, leading 34-23 after one quarter and cruising to a 108-81 victory.

“We’re just coming out and the other team is playing a little bit harder than we are, with a little bit more focus,” Roy said. “We’ve got to do a better job of executing our offense and putting more pressure on them defensively. Right now, it’s easy for them to guard us, because we’re not getting very much movement.”

The offense flowed better in the second half on Friday, and the Blazers cut a 17-point deficit to 81-80 in the final minute. The Rockets went 5-for-6 from the free throw line from there to seal it, but the Blazers walked away with confidence for the next game.

“We did a good job in the second half,” Roy said. “We battled back, we got stops late and we were able to get some baskets. But we were trying to come back from a 10-point deficit in the playoffs, and that’s tough. The regular season, maybe. But we can’t get down in the playoffs, especially in their building.

“There are definitely some positives,” he said. “We played pretty well and we’ve just got to try to build on it.”

One of the teams will buck its playoff history with a victory on Sunday.

[stockmarketgod]

I have no problems with him opening up the court for his teammates, and winning the game is better than individual stats.

but when he gets the ball in deep, somtimes the best option is him... going up strong and putting it in the basket

[thefranchise03]

Well that explains it. No wonder he sucks. No killer instinct. Nothing. Even his own teammates dont want to give him the ball and I know why now. Its like they never even tried to give him the ball, making him look worse than he already is. Well I expect him to suck even more tomorrow when he gets dominated and shut down by Prisbilla and Oden.

[dunleavyjr]

Right now, Yao feels he is sitting on teammates' cushion.
So he is giving himself an excuse to suck.
Not a professional attitude.

I would have giving Yao respect if he said something like this:
"I know i suck. But i'll be ready in game 4. My teammates are
playing good ball. I too, have to step up a notch"

[thefranchise03]

Hes just not showing any aggression what so ever. its like hes letting scrubs like Prisbilla push him around, not doing anything about it. Plus his teammates dont even want to give him the ball and it showed last game. at least try. i thought they were going to make adjustments for game 3 but it was the same ol ****. i expect the same thing tomorrow, possibly even worse. hes just too weak, mentaly and physically. pathetic

[dunleavyjr]

Yao is losing respect from teammate.
For them to pass him the ball, he'll need to re-introduce himself.

If it helps waking him up, Rockets fans need to boo him.

[2fast4u]

this thread is for YOF pipz, but who cares?! winning is impt.　案ｄてゃｔｓてぇぼっとｍぃ根　案－うい

[hayden]

You guys aren't serious right? Without Yao, we'd be down 0-3 in the series. Just be thankful he is healthy and commanding the defensive attention of the entire Blazers team. Sheessh.

[rockybalboa11]

ignore the trolling

its really obvious

[HTown_TMac]

Quiet**

[rocketworld]

he's talking like tmac

[highrangeslang]

Eh, I think you guys are reading too much into this.

What he's saying is pretty much a stock answer for professional athletes. It's straight from the book of 'what you are supposed to say.'

A star player always says this when they have a slow game. They always say 'It's okay that I was quiet, because I had team mates who stepped up.'

It's almost as common as 'It is what it is.' Come on.

[ikedog34]

This is insane, what is wrong with you guys? Yao is doing everything he can. Von Wafer, Aaron Brooks, and Kyle lowry are looking like stars because of the attention Yao is receiving. Everyone here knows yao would love a no-whistle physical match, but that isn't how it is. He has to take the punishment because if he moves even a little, the other player is going to fall down and grab his back in pain. I feel good that our star player isn't a flopper. No other big in the nba gets the defensive attention yao does. The problem is we have 22 million sitting on the bench and walk-ons on the court. You think guys like dwayne wade, joe johnson, or even brandon roy wouldn't love the holes yao is creating? He is making the team better (which is what stars are supposed to do), and we take it forgranted. Do you guys really think our other players are that good? Put down the koolaid and see what yao has done for the team.

[thefranchise03]

he hasnt done **** for the team. 7 points? thats all? unacceptable. hes suppose to be dominating, not playing like a scrub

[N1ckyPoo]

Anybody in this thread want to meet up at a viewing party or something? So I can punch in the f***ing face. A bunch of idiots I tell ya.

[T-Wack]

That's the type of soft **** I've come top expect from the overgrown lummox.

[stockmarketgod]

That's the type of soft **** I've come top expect from the overgrown lummox.

at least the big Oaf,

wasnt on the bench,in street clothes, smiling and expressing her man love for "DICK" Bavetta.

Bavetta probably thought Tlady looked good in those clothes

[thefranchise03]

That explains everything. Typical soft weak Yao at his best. Now I know why he doesnt even want to score. I know for a fact his teammates are happy with that now they can take all the shots they want. wtf kind of a team is that? come on yao....this is down right pathetic..

[2fast4u]

That explains everything. Typical soft weak Yao at his best. Now I know why he doesnt even want to score. I know for a fact his teammates are happy with that now they can take all the shots they want. wtf kind of a team is that? come on yao....this is down right pathetic..

that explains that your ass is smarter than your farting brain! what do you want? yao scoring 75 pts and the team losing? or yao scored only 7 pts. but the team is winning? you do the math bonehead!!

[alex_cheung]

Could we bring the Lakers in our home court?