http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/rockets/2005-10-27-yao_x.htm Rockets' Yao grows better By David DuPree, USA TODAY Yao Ming is stronger, more mobile, in better condition and has more moves than ever. That translates into bad news for the rest of the NBA as the 7-6 Houston Rockets center, who now speaks fluent English, also has a fluent game. Yao Ming expects to improve upon his performance the past three seasons. This preseason, he's averaging 19.4 points in 26.6 minutes a game. "Despite what people say about wanting more, Yao is a very good player and I don't understand the criticism he gets," said Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy. "He has made steady progress. Does he have greatness in him of Shaquille O'Neal? Time will tell. But he doesn't have to apologize for being a very good player in this league and doing something that no man of his size has done, which is to be something other than a specialist." Yao's scoring and shooting have improved in each of his first three seasons to 18.3 points a game and 55.2% last season. Early indications are this season will be even better. Going into Thursday's preseason game, Yao is averaging 19.4 points in 26.6 minutes a game. He is showing a variety of new moves inside. In addition to making 51.6% of his shots, he gets to the free throw line seven times a game. He got there only 6.2 times in 30.6 minutes a game last season. "I still need some improvements offensively and defensively," Yao said. "But I feel I'm more physical on the post and inside. In the games I played, I drew a lot of fouls and got to the free throw line. That's my game. ... I just feel comfortable." Yao had surgery after last season to remove a bone spur from his foot and had more down time this offseason than ever. He rehabilitated in Houston instead of going to China to rejoin his national team as he usually does. He did play for China in the Asian championships, but he had less of a time commitment than before. He spent the offseason working out with assistant coach Tom Thibodeau and a strength coach. "Yao is very strong, that hasn't been the problem," Van Gundy said. "Conditioning, mobility and balance have been, and he's making improvements in those areas. No one talks about a 7-6 guy running the floor well, but he does. "In his first year, he looked like he was on a downhill slope on offense, but on defense it was like a 50-degree incline. Even though he still fouls, his help is earlier, his pick-and-roll coverages are better." Rockets star Tracy McGrady is impressed with what he has seen from his fellow All-Star. "He's looking good. He's staying strong and holding his position," McGrady said. "That's our best offense, getting the ball to him and going inside-out or me and him playing pick-and-roll." Yao Ming expects to improve upon his performance the past three seasons. This preseason, he's averaging 19.4 points in 26.6 minutes a game. By Jessica Kourkounis, AP (pic)
His jump hook has looked unstoppable this pre-season. He's not fouling as much on the perimeter. He does look more difficult to dislodge, and he's not dribbling as much, avoiding turnovers by just catching and shooting. He's getting fouled more, and shooting FT at a 90% clip! I expect a lot more scoring from Yao this season. Unfortunately, I think his rebounding won't improve much.
Although I'm hoping it will be true this year, I'm not quite sold on the line about him getting more trips to the free throw line just yet... Since coaches are using more players in the pre-season, they're also using up more fouls. The notion of conserving fouls for the crucial parts of the game is pretty much out the window in pre-season.
Yeah, and that should be his bread & butter shot. Keep going to the jump hook until they adjust to stop it. Then throw in a baseline spin. Then when all eyes are on Yao, watch him pass out of the double (and triple) teams and oh yeah, here comes fun. I sure hope this is Yao's year.
Is it just me, or has anyone noticed that Yao Ming seems A LOT quicker this year in his movements and reaction times?
Yao's jumphook has pretty much been money since the second half of last year. And another facet that I'm happy to see him improving is his face-up game from 10 ft. He's got basically three main moves. Either he: 1. Shoots a jumper over the opponents head. 2. Does a pump-fake and takes two dribbles by the guy for a finger-roll or leaner. 3. Does a pump-fake and takes a one dribble fake into the middle, and spins back to the baseline for a hook or fadeaway. 4. And occasionally he even puts in the Shanghai Shake after he fakes into the middle in example #3. He's had these moves before, but he looks to be making them a bit smoother than he used to. You can see him tweaking and refining all facets of his low post game. And I've said it before, but if he can start doing this stuff from 15 ft out, then league might as well pack it in. Yao is pretty much unstoppable down low right now. But if he could be just as effective despite being pushed out of the low block, then there's really no way you can stop the guy. BTW don't look now, but after the first few games where Yao looked a step slow on defense, he's put together back to back strong performances on defense. He's blocked and changed a lot of shots the past two games. Even against the Hornets, we were burned due to them being absolutely unconscious from behind the arc, because I don't remember that many points in the paint at all. Yao is very firmly rounding his all-around game into shape, except for the fact that he should have stepped up more last night when the games started to slip away. But it's still early. Rome and superstars aren't built overnight. And I'm sure he'll get plenty of reminders of his newfound responsibilities, now that he's a max-level player, from JVG, T-mac, and even Ewing if last night was any indication.
There is one thing Yao needs to improve quick: don't hold on the ball for too long, make a move quick or kick it out, and while he holds the ball, hold it up high to avoid turnover. There were times in this preseason Yao held the ball for a good 3-4 seconds and finally decided to kick it out, that is what I don't like.
Good Article.. Comfort, comfort, comfort-that is what it is about with Yao. I think he will produce more this season based on the fact that he is more comfortable. with his teammates and what JVG is trying to do. I still cant believe people have compared him to Rik Smits, when that guy probably never scored 40 points in a nba game his whole career.
Not to rain on your parade, but Smits tops Yao in just about every career-high, and in the years that Smits and Yao played comparable minutes, Smits' numbers were just a hair shy of Yao's. The comparison, AT THIS POINT IN YAO'S CAREER, really isn't that unfair. Yao shoud only improve though, where as we've obviously seen the best of Smits.
Yao has always been about more than stats. Can you honestly suggest Smits was the presence in the paint Yao is on a daily basis? Or he altered as many shots as Yao? Yao had better averages than Smits' best year in only his 2nd year.
I see what you are saying regarding career highs. In all honesty it took Rik Smits 7 years in the league before he averaged 30 minutes a game. In that 7th year Rik averaged similar numbers to what yao did last year.
Yao's game is evolving and by the time he finishes his career he will be remembered as a low post player and not the 15-18' perimeter player he was when he first came into the league. Smits left as a big that could shoot the ball from the outside. Smits never showed the durabilty that Yao has shown nor was he ever much of a defender. I hope to compare Yao to Shaq and not Rik Smits in a few years, anything less will be a disappointment.
i think his foot work has gotten a lot better especially when he comes out to help on defense, opponents, ussually guards, they ussually outruns him to the basket, but now he moving his leg very well and prevent guards from beating him to the basket, that one thing that have notice in the preseason, last year guards would run pass him and have a easy layup, or he too slow to catch up to them so he foul them
