kills pretty much everyone. I mean we’ve had back-to-backs after playing the late game on Thursdays (by the way, talk about a stupid day for the NBA). That’s a fairly weak argument… and that’s coming from a guy that’s best excuse is normally of the “blame the refs” argument.

As for the refs… pretty much every win nowdays involves getting bailed out by the refs, no matter who wins & who loses. (Of course, I can’t comment on yesterday’s game, because I didn’t watch it).

I’m just saying every team does. It’s a league wide phenomenon and it’s gross to see. Everytime I see Battier run to the semi-circle and “set his feet” before falling over, I wanna puke. And yes, he’s been doing it since he learned from the master, Coach K. (I just appreciated it so much more back then)

Your team flops, our team flops. Just because your overgrown “superstar” center was gassed in the 4th quarter and our superstar was just getting going, doesn’t mean you have to bitch.

Suck it up. No whining. Enjoy your backup/future point guard’s best game of his life. Enjoy the fact that Battier looks as comfortable as Roger Clemens in front of Congress from the 3-point line. Keep rooting on Yao to run down the court—or at least walk, he’ll get there eventually. This team has first round out written all over it… or is that the last two years calling?

Are you a Utah Jazz fan? You have more posts on a Houston Rockets blog than your own teams blog?

Umm, o…kay…. O_o

is pretty much the beginning of time here.

At least, he’s the only coach I’ve ever seen on the Jazz…

no. That’s Yao & Tim Duncan and the likes. Sorry, but true.
Guys on the Jazz don’t whine.

Gay elf defense? Sure.
Third string C calling for the ball? Sure.
Backstabbing the owners in Cleveland? Sure.
Flopping? Sure.
Whining? Not so much.

this season, you’re correct. Last season, that wasn’t true. But it’s actually fairly close.

Closer than that “Deron Williams is better than Chris Paul” crap Jazz fans keep going on about.

Comparing per-game averages is a silly exercise.

Yao does not block as many shots as Dwight, but as any smart fans know, a blocked shot is useless if it goes right back to the other team. Rather, Yao is one of the best in league in occupying space and forcing his opponent to change their shot.

Yao does not grab as many rebounds as Dwight, but again, the Rockets are 4th in league defensive rebound rate, and only one percent away from the top of the league Lakers. Sure Yao could steal more rebounds from Scola/Landry/Artest and boost his stats, but his simply occupying space allows his teammates to greatly increase their rebound rates.

Yao only averages 2 assists a game. That is simply a product of the way NBA teams play him. They double team with the near-side defender and leave the opposite wing player open. His passes out of double teams almost always lead to wide-open shots, but only after a series of ball swings.

Yao is also one of the most efficient scorers in the NBA. He requires very few field goal attempts to score, and is excellent at drawing fouls (except when the officials conspire against him). Dwight is too…except he can’t hit his free throws.

So, Yao is by far the best Center in the game. His quantifiable effect on a game is enormous. If our league was not so stat-obsessed (meaningless stats I might add) and perimeter oriented, he would likely be considered an MVP candidate.

he’d probably get hurt if fell down.

I read this blog almost as much as I read my own.

I have HUGE respect for both of you (It’s growing for BBN). I love your community. Lots of dedicated fans. tear

I really wish we could grow that at TBJ. Slow but steady I guess.