What they said: March 2004
Wednesday, March 31st, 2004
by John
“He’s a good player, but at 7-7, he’s just doing what he’s supposed to do. So, it’s not that I’m going to say I’m not impressed, but at 7-7 you’re supposed to shoot over whoever’s sticking you. He’s a long, long drink of water. I probably won’t help out [on the defensive end] as much. I’ll probably lean on him a little more, get him tired. And hopefully in the fourth quarter I’ll have a little more than he will.”
“I’m just going to try to stay in front of him. If he scores, he scores. Hopefully, I can get the opportunity to go back at him. Whenever you’re playing somebody that’s a scorer, you have to make them work on both ends. So, if those guys are coming down shooting and not playing defense, then he’s probably going to have a big night.
“But I guarantee he won’t stick me one-on-one. I guarantee you that. They have to double- and triple- and do that. We play him straight up…. I think I can affect his shot most of the time.”
– Shaquille O’Neal before his matchup against Yao on April 1st, 3/31/04
“It’s not just bad for Yao; it’s bad for our organization. We do not deserve to be penalized because he is 7-6 and has a wonderful attitude and respect toward officials. Again, I’m not begging, but it’s impossible. As much as we go to him, it’s impossible.”
“It’s inequity; it really is. Yao Ming does not get officiated correctly. Plain and simple, Milwaukee (on Sunday), three flops, three offensive fouls. Last game, no free throws. That doesn’t spark outrage, but if that was another center or another player, he’d be kicking the ball into the stands. It’s a joke. It’s really a joke.”
“He’s hard to officiate, but I feel it’s like saying some team is hard to prepare for as a coach. We get paid for it. I don’t know what that means. If it’s so easy, all of us could do it. O’Neal deserves his free throws. Believe me, he deserves his free throws. Probably more. All I’m saying is it’s impossible what is happening (to Yao).
“I don’t know why it’s happening. All I know is I’m right. I don’t know the reasons. I don’t know know the psychology. I just know I’m watching, he’s getting fouled, he should be living on the line, and it’s not happening.”
“(Yao’s) very easy to officiate, because no matter what you do, he’s just going to walk to the other end. He’s not going to make a stand. He’s not going to get a technical foul. He’s not going to kick a ball in the stands. And I applaud him for that. But he’s also being taken advantage of for his kindness and his respect, and he’s not being given the respect back.”
– Rockets’ Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy on Yao not getting the calls he deserves, 3/31/04
“He’s a good player, but at 7-7, he’s just doing what he’s supposed to do. So, it’s not that I’m going to say I’m not impressed, but at 7-7 you’re supposed to shoot over whoever’s sticking you. He’s a long, long drink of water. I probably won’t help out [on the defensive end] as much. I’ll probably lean on him a little more, get him tired. And hopefully in the fourth quarter I’ll have a little more than he will.”
“I’m just going to try to stay in front of him. If he scores, he scores. Hopefully, I can get the opportunity to go back at him. Whenever you’re playing somebody that’s a scorer, you have to make them work on both ends. So, if those guys are coming down shooting and not playing defense, then he’s probably going to have a big night.
“But I guarantee he won’t stick me one-on-one. I guarantee you that. They have to double- and triple- and do that. We play him straight up…. I think I can affect his shot most of the time.”
- – Shaquille O’Neal before his matchup against Yao on April 1st, 3/31/04
“It’s not just bad for Yao; it’s bad for our organization. We do not deserve to be penalized because he is 7-6 and has a wonderful attitude and respect toward officials. Again, I’m not begging, but it’s impossible. As much as we go to him, it’s impossible.”
“It’s inequity; it really is. Yao Ming does not get officiated correctly. Plain and simple, Milwaukee (on Sunday), three flops, three offensive fouls. Last game, no free throws. That doesn’t spark outrage, but if that was another center or another player, he’d be kicking the ball into the stands. It’s a joke. It’s really a joke.”
“He’s hard to officiate, but I feel it’s like saying some team is hard to prepare for as a coach. We get paid for it. I don’t know what that means. If it’s so easy, all of us could do it. O’Neal deserves his free throws. Believe me, he deserves his free throws. Probably more. All I’m saying is it’s impossible what is happening (to Yao).
“I don’t know why it’s happening. All I know is I’m right. I don’t know the reasons. I don’t know know the psychology. I just know I’m watching, he’s getting fouled, he should be living on the line, and it’s not happening.”
“(Yao’s) very easy to officiate, because no matter what you do, he’s just going to walk to the other end. He’s not going to make a stand. He’s not going to get a technical foul. He’s not going to kick a ball in the stands. And I applaud him for that. But he’s also being taken advantage of for his kindness and his respect, and he’s not being given the respect back.”
- – Rockets’ Head Coach Jeff Van Gundy on Yao not getting the calls he deserves, 3/31/04