Exclusive Interview on Tom Thibodeau About Yao Ming

pryuen · Feb 21, 2008

Read this article by Wang Meng of Titan Sports, in which Tom Thibodeau compares Yao Ming versus Kevin Garnett, and talked about his impression about the improvements that Yao Ming has made in his game.

ENJOY !!!

http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2008-02-20/11063483036.shtml

Wang Meng of Titan Sports reports from New Orleans

It was the 2008 NBA All Stars Rookies versus Sophomores Challenge game, and Tom Thibodeau, the ex-Rockets Assistant Coach, was the head coach for the Sophomores team. During the half time intermission, Yao Ming finally caught time to chat with him. Yao Ming was already sitting in the commentator box of CCTV5 (China Central Television Station 5), but as soon as he saw Tom Thibodeau walking out of the players’ tunnel to the bench, Yao Ming hurriedly stood up, and told the CCTV5 working staff: “I have to go to greet my coach.” That was only 5 minutes away from CCTV5 direct live telecasting.

It was precisely this short guy with a loud voice that had helped Yao Ming to have progressed and grown so quickly in the past 3 years. Previously, right before the training of the All Stars started, when Yao Ming walked into the stadium, and saw Tom Thibodeau sitting at the corner, he immediately walked over and sat by Tom Thibodeau, and started to crack jokes with him: “What the hell are you doing here? This is NBA All Stars Game. It has nothing to do with defense.”

Tom Thibodeau laughed heartily together with Yao Ming and rebuked: “Then tell me, why are you here? To fly and throw down a few of those tomahawk dunks?” Both were happy to see each other, laughed heartily together, and started to chat. Tom Thibodeau ridiculed Yao Ming: “I heard that you arrived late for the NBA All Stars just because you have to spend the Valentine’s Day with your wife at home. Was it so?” Yao Ming nodded shyly, but then counter-attacked: “Then how did you spend your Valentine’s Day?” Tom Thibodeau, who had been so concentrated and diligent in pursuing his coaching ambition, is still single and unmarried; he replied: “Hey…..you surely know that already.”

And while they were chatting (and making fun of each other), the NBA TV camera crew were aiming the camera at them; so the naughty Yao Ming tried to play some tricks onto Tom Thibodeau: “Well, never mind. Now let me do some match-making for you here over the national TV network.” Turning his head to the camera, Yao Ming said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, here is this very outstanding young man……..” Both erupted into hearty laughter.

So right before the closure of the 2008 NBA All Stars activities, Tom Thibodeau received the following interview by Titan Sports.

TITAN Sports: Yao Ming always told us if not for your help and coaching, he would not have been able to play at his current level. Now that you have joined the Boston Celtics, and they also have another great big man there. How will you compare the 2 of them, Yao Ming and Kevin Garnett?

Tom Thibodeau: They are 2 entirely different types of players, but they share one common thing: they are both extremely hard-working and assiduous players; and in the entire NBA league, both of them are known to be players that are most stringent and self-demanding of themselves in training. The Kevin Garnett on the training court is actually not so different to the Kevin Garnett that competes on court, and sometimes, he is even more fierce and diligent during team practice and training. Same for Yao Ming. That is probably the main reason why both are amongst the elite and great interior players of the league. Sometimes, if you have to be successful and great in this league, gifted talents only accounted for a very small part of it.

TITAN Sports: So in actual competition, what are the major differences between the two of them?

Tom Thibodeau: Yao Ming is more or less a traditional centre, playing and initiating offense with his back to the basket. As for Kevin Garnett, he is more versatile in terms of his offensive repertoire, and he is extremely accurate and deadly in his midrange jumpers. He has also very good passing skills, and he has this very rare and unique athletism seldom found in big guys; he moves and reacts quicker and more accurate. And when it comes to defense end of the game, I would say Kevin Garnett can defend any positions, be they centres, forwards or guards. Relatively speaking, Kevin Garnett is a more all-round and comprehensive player than Yao Ming.

TITAN Sports: You spent a very long time with Yao Ming. What in Yao Ming mostly amaze you?

Tom Thibodeau: His working attitude and manner; the degree he self-demanded himself. In the past 4 years, he had not changed a bit. He never slows down or relaxes. I truly admire his will and persistence.

TITAN Sports: So are you still following and paying attention to Yao Ming’s game?

Tom Thibodeau: Of course! I cared about him and any news related to him. We are good friends.

TITAN Sports: And now you’ve become his opponent who understands his game most.

Tom Thibodeau: HA HA HA, you’re correct. Every time when we have to play with them, it is always I to set tactics and schemes on how to defend and guard Yao Ming. At least, I thought we were doing great in defending him the last time we met each and other. It looked like my work had started to bear fruits.

TITAN Sports: What is your appraisal of the current Rockets’ run and performance?

Tom Thibodeau: They have been doing great recently, almost second to none in the entire league. I still have many friends here (with the Rockets and in Houston). I hope everything will go smooth for them.

TITAN Sports: This year Yao Ming also made quite some changes in his role and functions in offense. So, as you see it, what is your take of Yao Ming’s current adaptation to Rick Adelman’s tactical system?

Tom Thibodeau: I think up till now, Yao Ming’s adaptation has been good. But I thought it was the other way round; it was more Rick Adelman adapted to Yao Ming and the Rockets. Rick Adelman is a great coach. He is extremely good in utilizing the offensive players/weapons in his hands. He definitely would not be giving up utilizing the dominance and lethality of Yao Ming down at the low post. Yao Ming is also a great player. I believe he can adapt to any offense and defense systems. I have trained him for such a long time. I knew he can play and dominate at the low post; I also knew he can do damages to his opponents by his jumpers far from the basket. Regardless of back-to-the-basket or face-the-basket, it will be very difficult to defend/guard Yao Ming. Obviously the Rockets is still in the process of adaptation and gelling; they will just become better and better.

TITAN Sports: In what particular aspects of his game you think Yao Ming had made improvement in the current season?

Tom Thibodeau: The increase in offensive rebounds had to be the biggest enhancement for him so far in the current season. This is one of the most important ways how a centre can be dominant within the paint, and we all knew how important offensive rebounds are to a team.

TITAN Sports: What about his defense?

Tom Thibodeau: Well, defense has always been his major problem area as far as Yao Ming is concerned; and throughout these years, he had been working diligently and assiduously to enhance his defense and he kept making progresses year-on-year. And this year, I thought the biggest progress he had made is on his defense on pick-and-roll; he now more and more knows how to make full use of his huge body frame to check and stop opponents penetrating into the restricted zone. He had been growing and making progress unceasingly.

TITAN Sports: So what kind of suggestions you will make to Yao Ming as far as improving his game?

Tom Thibodeau: Believe me. Yao Ming knew much better than you or me or anyone else what areas he needs to enhance, and what he needs to do to improve his game. He no longer needs my suggestions. I have known him for such a long time, and I knew how assiduous and diligent he put efforts into his training, and that is what makes him so special and unique. He will keep growing and making progresses, as long as he continuously keeps his good habit of coming to team practice daily 2 hours ahead of time, and reviewing play video of opponents before every competition. I believe he is very clear about what lies ahead of him. Up till now, Yao Ming is doing great; no major injuries and sicknesses, and his team is also on a winning streak recently. I just wish him the best of luck.

TITAN Sports: Talk to us about yourself. We were told that you always hope you will become Head Coach of a NBA team one day?

Tom Thibodeau: That indeed is always my aspiration and goal. I hope one day I can realize this dream. But now, I simply don’t think about it much. Our team is doing pretty well now with pretty good results too. I very much enjoy my daily work now with the Boston Celtics, and I enjoy winning every single competition. Moreover, we have this great opportunity to contend for the Championship this season. So to me, this is all-important. I enjoy very much my present life.
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wingz0 · Feb 21, 2008

Nice article pryuen.

Anyway, just my little 2 cents to note about Thibodeau. It was a mistake for Adelman not to retain him even tho JVG got fired. He went to the Celtics and if I'm not wrong, they are the number rated field-goal defensive team in the league. Makes you wonder how much of that is Thibodeau's work.

It'd be scary to think what our stats would be with Thibodeau and Adelman together.

DESMONDDD · Feb 21, 2008

nice~~~ thanks for the post

ParaSolid · Feb 21, 2008

Thanks for working assiduously, Pryuen!

OrangeRowdy95 · Feb 21, 2008

Didn't know he was single

wolverinemich · Feb 21, 2008

It's time for Thibodeau to go to work and land KG in HTown.

pryuen said:

Read this article by Wang Meng of Titan Sports, in which Tom Thibodeau compares Yao Ming versus Kevin Garnett, and talked about his impression about the improvements that Yao Ming has made in his game.

ENJOY !!!
Click to expand...

TrailerMonkey · Feb 22, 2008

That was a naughty and shy post about Tom Thibodeau and Yao. *giggles*

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Exclusive Interview on Tom Thibodeau About Yao Ming

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