As we head into Friday's Shaq vs. Yao showdown, it's a good time to review what Yao Ming has already accomplished, because perhaps no player in history has turned public opinion so completely on its head in such a short time.
The 7-foot-6 Chinese rookie is averaging 13 points and eight rebounds a game and is the front-runner for the league's Rookie of the Year Award despite a painfully slow start and several other barriers.
“New culture. New system. New teammates. Misses summer league. Misses the orientation. Misses first two weeks of camp ..." said Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich, recounting the obstacles Yao faced heading into the season. "But we thought he was a pretty good player all along."
Not everyone did. Yao's first two weeks produced some ugly stat lines -- his first six games produced 20 points combined and more turnovers than field goals -- and unflattering comparisons to big stiffs like Chuck Nevitt and Manute Bol. But Tomjanovich knew how much progress Yao was making despite the criticism.
"That’s sports. Either you’re the best or the worst," said Tomjanovich about the rush to judgment on the NBA's No. 1 overall draft pick. "But Yao gained respect [from teammates] right from the beginning. I was very encouraged even though his numbers weren’t big."
Of course, a week later, Yao had his coming-out party in a 30-point, 16-rebound tour de force against Dallas' Shawn Bradley, and the rest was history.
But Yao and his teammates are in a learning process, and there's still a long way to go. "We’re just learning all the stuff. We've got a brand-new team," said Tomjanovich, pointing out that in addition to Yao, James Posey and Bostjan Nachbar are new, Glen Rice barely played last year, Maurice Taylor didn’t play at all, and Eddie Griffin is in just his second season.
The result of all that newness is a team that's up and down more than Moochie Norris' hair. Some nights -- like when they followed a 25-point rout of Philadelphia with an impressive victory against the Kings -- the Rockets look like a top-four seed in the West. On others -- like Friday night's moribund defeat in Atlanta, during which Yao showed impressive command of his newly learned English swear words -- they look like the players met one another just a few minutes before tip-off.
Yet the Rockets have all the pieces in place to be a serious contender down the road. Point guard Steve Francis is a superstar in his own right; combined with Yao, that gives the Rockets cornerstones at the two toughest positions to fill. Griffin is even younger than Yao and is steadily ironing out the holes in his game, while Cuttino Mobley provides a scoring threat at the other guard spot. It may not come together this year, but when it does -- and it will -- the Rockets are going to be something special.
And three months into his NBA career, it's already clear that Yao will be the centerpiece. While he may not shine in his first encounter against Shaq (provided his sprained knee is healed by Friday), his development this year has still been an amazing story.
Shaq talks smack
"Tell Yao Ming, 'ching-chong-yang-wah-ah-soh.'" That's what Shaquille O'Neal said six months ago, but this week it ignited a firestorm after a columnist for AsianWeek complained about it. Shaq insisted the comments weren't racist, saying, "At times I try to be a comedian." At times Shaq tries to be a rapper too, and it works out about as well.
Shaq says no
Shaquille O'Neal stayed true to his word that he wouldn't play in the Olympics if Phil Jackson wasn't the coach. The Lakers' star announced Monday that he turned down an invitation to suit up for Larry Brown's USA team in 2004. Mike Krzyzewski immediately put in a call lobbying for Christian Laettner to take O'Neal's spot.
Action Jackson Mark Jackson handed out his 10,000th career assist Wednesday night in Utah's 99-93 victory over Phoenix, becoming only the third player in NBA history to reach that mark. Jackson should surpass Magic Johnson for second later in the season, but he'll have to play until he's 90 to take the top spot. Teammate John Stockton is miles ahead at 15,453, and expanding his lead every day.
SWISH: Juwan Howard
While his start to the season was nothing to write home about, Howard has dialed it up of late. He's scored at least 19 points in 11 straight games, and averaged 22 points and 10.5 rebounds as the Nuggets won two of their four games this week.
BRICK: Antoine Walker
We're used to Walker shooting a low percentage, but this is ridiculous. He shot 7-for-19 in a loss to Washington Monday, and it was his best game of the week. All told, he hit 33 percent from the field, including 4-for-25 on 3-pointers. Walker's 14-point average was seven below his norm as Boston lost three of four.
SWISH: Lamar Odom
Coming back to the court after nearly a year of battling wrist and ankle injuries, Odom has shown why his return was so highly anticipated. The Clipper forward averaged 20 points, six boards and five assists while shooting the lights out (57 percent) on the week as his team won twice and took Dallas to the wire in its only loss.
BRICK: Rodney Rogers
Rogers' forgettable week was highlighted by a one-point, 0-for-5 effort in 18 minutes in the Nets' 118-82 shellacking by the Kings. On the week, he shot 6-for-21 with four turnovers.
SWISH: Matt Harpring
Harpring continues to be the runaway favorite for the league's Most Improved Player award. This week he set a career high with 31 points against Miami, drained the shot on Mark Jackson's 10,000th assist and averaged 24 points and nine rebounds on sizzling 62 percent shooting.
BRICK: Nick Van Exel
"Nick the Quick" was "Nick the Brick" this week, making just 12 of his 39 attempts from the field and scratching out double figures in just one of the Mavericks' four contests. At least Van Exel didn't miss any free throws -- he never got to the line in 96 minutes of action.
New Jersey Nets at Philadelphia 76ers, Tuesday, 7 p.m. EST Kenyon Martin, meet Keith Van Horn. Oh, you've met before? ... Van Horn gets his first shot at his former teammates since Martin questioned Van Horn's toughness in the NBA Finals. Now exiled to Philadelphia, the 76ers forward figures to be matched up against Martin most of the night and is a likely target if Martin decides to end his flagrant foul drought.
Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets, Friday, 9:30 p.m. EST
It's Yao Ming against Shaquille O'Neal, which would have been a big deal even before Shaq's comments caused a public stir. The Rockets' 7-foot-6 rookie didn't get a chance to play against the Lakers' immovable giant in Houston's first meeting with Los Angeles because O'Neal was attending a seminar on multiculturalism in Beijing.
Detroit Pistons at Indiana Pacers, Saturday, 7 p.m. EST
As if these two teams don't dislike each other enough already, first place in the Central Division could be at stake Saturday night. The Pacers are fully loaded, with Ron Artest back in the lineup after he was suspended three games for treating an expensive camera like a watermelon at a Gallagher show.
This department brings you thoughts and comments from around the country. Here's what people are saying this week:
Thin ice, Part I
The league's all-time winningest coach may need to update that résumé. Rumor has it that even with Vince Carter sidelined, Lenny Wilkens has two weeks to turn around the Raptors or he's toast. He got one step closer to keeping his job when the Raptors ended their 12-game losing skid with a win over Minnesota Sunday More.
Thin ice, Part Deux
It seems almost a foregone conclusion that the Clippers' Alvin Gentry will be joining Wilkens in the fraternity of former NBA coaches. General manager Elgin Baylor turned up to discuss X's and O's with the players before a recent game, indicating the end may be near. More. Meanwhile, Michael Olowokandi is upset that Clips' fans have booed him lustily of late, and Baylor had to sit him down for the "C'mon, it's only 48 minutes out of your day," talk. More.
Have a seat Vin Baker nearly went on a crying jag after getting a DNP-Coach's Decision in the Celtics' loss to Dallas Friday, but Boston coach Jim O'Brien is insisting that it was a one-shot deal based on matchups, and that he looks forward to seeing Baker contribute his three points, four turnovers and five fouls every night. More
Magic moves
Orlando is desperately trying to make a deal to get some frontcourt help and is trying to get Kwame Brown. But for some reason, their offer of "how about we give you Pat Burke andJacque Vaughn?" isn't getting very far. More
Remember me?
Terrell Brandon says that there's no news to report and that he's not about to announce his retirement. But some of his Minnesota teammates went ahead and announced it for him anyway. Brandon is struggling to rehab a severe knee injury that he suffered nearly a year ago and isn't anywhere close to returning. More
In Portuguese, "Nene" means "baby." In English, it's a small flightless bird native to the slopes of Hawaii's Mount Haleakala. Given that he is neither small nor flightless nor a baby, Nene Hilario's name is a poor fit in either language. Friday night he flew for a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Nuggets launched a rare winning streak before falling to Houston the following night.
The Toronto Raptors announced that Vince Carter will be out for three more weeks, and one had to wonder if Raps GM Glen Grunwald was secretly doing cartwheels while shouting, "We're in it to win it!" from his rooftop. Without Carter the Raptors lost 12 straight before winning Sunday, and most weren't even close. With the Nuggets inexplicably winning games and the Cavs showing an occasional pulse, it's looking more and more possible that LeBron James could end up north of the border.
Post-holiday bargain shopping is a favorite pastime of many, and now you can join in the fun as well. This week Off The Glass says that if you dig through the discount bin in your league, you might find a Charlie Ward or Jerome Williams lying around waiting to be acquired for mere pennies.
This is the part where we ask you, the reader, to stop waving that towel on the sidelines, pull off the warmups, get on the floor and take some shots. Each week we'll ask a question and post the best responses a week later.
Last week WAAG asked whether Ron Artest should have received the same suspension as Chris Mills. Most thought Artest's suspension was OK, but that Mills got off way too easy:
They didn't have to suspend him at all. Just make him foot the entire $100 grand tab for the equipment he destroyed. Steven Thomas, Atlanta
I think a half-game suspension for Artest. He only threatens equipment, not people. You break it, you buy it, same as in the store. Glen Colvin, Shreveport, La.
Now every basketball fan should know that there is "All-Star" preferential treatment in the NBA. However, that list does not include Ron "The Mad Dog" Artest. Therefore, he should be punished as Chris Mills was, if not more severe. Mike Mo, Thornhill, Ontario
The true question should be, should Fox have been supended for six games while Chris Mills got a 15-minute time-out? He could have had a gun or anything in his car when he blocked that bus. Isaac Gary, Syracuse, N.Y.
It's time the NBA and all sports take a stance and let these players know that they are not above the law. Destroying property and hurting others should not be condoned in any sport. He should have been suspended seven games and fined. Charles Robinson, Pontiac, Mich.
Ron Artest should have received a three-day anger-management class. Jeff Young, Chicago
No. Mills should have received more time. But Artest deserved maybe five days and paying to replace the equipment. Lynette Kelsey, Riverside, Calif.
Naw, Artest's three-game suspension was fine. Mills, on the other hand should be doing 1-to-5 in the state pen. Timothy Harvin, Fairfax County, Va.
No, Artest should not have recieved the same punishment as Mills for one simple reason: Artest's outburst was mainly due to poor performance, and it stopped in the locker room. Mills' rage was directed at another player and spilled into the parking lot. Apples and oranges. Bryan Gelecki, Papillion, Neb.
No. Mills was on the verge of murder, while Artest threw a TV. Three games each? Should have been three for Ron and 10 (at least) for Chris. Owen McMullen, Rangoon, Burma
No. I agree with the Artest suspension, but what Mills reportedly did should have earned him more than three games. Make Mills' suspension six and keep Artest at three. You could never work at Circuit City with that attitude, Ron! Ryan Reed, Lethbridge, Alberta
Chris Mills' misbehavior after losing to the Blazers was seriously underpunished. Artest deserved the amount of time; Mills got lucky no one saw what happened. Dan Fussell, Vancouver, Wash.
This week's topic: Were Shaquille O'Neal's comments about Yao Ming out of line?
John Hollinger covers the NBA for CNNSI.com. "Week at a Glance" appears each Monday during the season.
In Portuguese, "Nene" means "baby." In English, it's a small flightless bird native to the slopes of Hawaii's Mount Haleakala. Given that he is neither small nor flightless nor a baby, Nene Hilario's name is a poor fit in either language. Friday night he flew for a career-high 20 points and 11 rebounds as the Nuggets launched a rare winning streak before falling to Houston the following night.
