[Diable]

I was just looking at the stats on Knickerblogger.net and I suddenly realized that Yao Ming had moved all the way up to 8th in PER.At 25.9 he is approaching the superstar level statistical production of the very best players in the league.I knew he'd strung together a lot of really great games,but I didn't realize that he was quite at the level of the top ten or so players in the league.I wonder what his PER was at the beginning of March,because I made on a post on the 2nd in which I pasted the top 30 and he was not included(undoubtedly because he had not played in enough games to qualify).

[quench23]

Hes really shining without Tmac, good for him

[Sir Patchwork]

A lot. Yao Ming, in the past couple months has been every bit of the player he supposed to be coming out of the draft, and that's damned good. That injury must have been holding him back. He has been the best player in the league in the past couple months and I hope he builds on it by having a whole year like this next season. 25 and 12 or something. That would be insane, and not that unrealistic.

[SPMJ]

I think he was like this from the very beginning of the season. But w/ T-mac in and out so much Yao was somewhat struggling with his offensive rhythm. Now w/ T-mac done and knowing where the ball will ALWAYS be coming, he's exploded. I voted him Top 10 when there was a thread on it a month ago. And if he wasn't surrounded by the most worthless crap around him, we'd be talking Top 5. He's close to 30/15 every night. That's Shaq-like.

[blh5387]

THIS is the Yao Ming that was so hyped about when it all began. In fact, this might have surpassed people's original expectations. But it looks like the 18/9 yao ming is gone...

All in all, I'm real happy for Yao. He's putting away all his critics, and he's showing that he really is a great basketball player.

[Hakeem]

Originally Posted by SPMJ

I think he was like this from the very beginning of the season. But w/ T-mac in and out so much Yao was somewhat struggling with his offensive rhythm. Now w/ T-mac done and knowing where the ball will ALWAYS be coming, he's exploded.

Yeah. The injury was holding him back, however you could tell from the start of the season that he'd improved on both ends of the floor. But with a new backcourt and no T-Mac and the change in his role, there was an adjustment period offensively. He had to accept that he was going to be thrown the ball every time down, that the double would come every time, and that with such teammates he'd sometimes have to fight through the doubles rather than kick it out always. No more easy baskets via T-Mac.

He's 27/12 on 55% from the field since the break.

[DuMa]

i expected him to improve a lot more because he didnt play basketball for china in the offseason. he has a lot more stamina and energy nowadays to finish games.

i think the biggest difference is minutes played. check his minutes last year and his minutes this year.

[darknezx]

It's mainly his mental toughness that's come through, and being more assertive. It's also due in part to the bonehead officials not calling dumb fouls on him, you don't see him in foul troubles every night now.

[Seuss]

Originally Posted by darknezx

It's mainly his mental toughness that's come through, and being more assertive. It's also due in part to the bonehead officials not calling dumb fouls on him, you don't see him in foul troubles every night now.

Just what I was going to say.


Its more mental then it is physical.

[naibsel]

Originally Posted by quench23

Hes really shining without Tmac, good for him

its not without tmac, if u look houston's 1 thru 4 suck up the joint alot, (exception of the occasional luther outburst). if tmac was there taking the opportunities the other guards gets. yao would still be getting his 30-12 or wateva it is he averages now.

he hasn't gotten better, he's just lost the toe injury

[OneBadLT123]

Well watching Yao progress over his career i can say what i have seen was that this season he got a LOT stronger now. His body is more massive, also the toe injury has been bothering him for well over a year and it got to the point where it needed surgury to clear an infection in his bone. Also, not only that, his mental game as well has improved, its like he became a whole new focused player now.

Im lovin it!