It is quite positive about the future of Rockets and the possibility of championship. It also coveres many aspects of current Rockets team, which have been discussed on this site. http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2005-01-11/21141345998.shtml It is in Chinese. Hopefully, someone can translate it.
Man, this is a long interview. I will break it down to a few segments. ------------------------ Chinese fans face to face with Drexler -------- Drexler: Yao should shoot 30+ per game http://sports.sina.com.cn 2005 January 1121:14 Sina sports Beijing time Jan 11, Today we have a special guest of Sinasports: Former NBA superstar Clyde Drexler . He answeres many questions of Rockets fans. Q: Many fans think Van Gumdy is doing a subpar job coaching Rockets this season. Mr Drexler, what's your opinion of JVG ? A: JVG is a very good defensive-minded coach, but Rockets ain't doing too well right now. He should work on the defence & speed. Also JVG needs to make sure the rock goest to Yao more ofen, perhaps had Yao shoot 15~20 times, Rockets' standing would've been better than the Q: Please comment on several players: Kobe, T-mac, Yao A: Kobe is great, but he might miss the departure of O'Neal; all players know they need someone beside themselves. Kobe is experiencing a difficult period due to that(Shaq's departure). Yao is a great offensive weapon, of course he is also good at defense. He has superb long range shooting and is an excellent passer; what he needs to do know is elevate the level of the players around him ( ) to achive success. Yao is the dominating player in the West. Iverson is very gifted, he has very good shooting touch, when he has the touch, the ball goes in, otherwise the balls don't go in & the team lose. Most time he has the feeling. T-Mac is a very good player, very stable. He and Yao forms M&M combo will have much impact in NBA. They need to find the chemistry within each other. In a few years they might win Championship. Q: Yao made great improvements during his 2nd season, but he has hardly improved during this season. What do you think of this? How much more will he improve ? A: This is NOT Yao's improvment slowing down, it's the coach didn't do his part. The coach should let the best shooter takes most shots. I don't have a clue why Yao's often playing 2nd or 3rd fiddle. Yao can still improve this season, he is still one of the most dominating centres in the West. Q: Yao & Tmac are the most promising combo in the NBA, Olajuwan used to be the best combo with you, what's the difference between these two ? A: These combos are so similar in many ways. Yao & T-Mac are so young & tender, they have a lot of room to improve. I & Olajuwan used be older and more experienced. M&M need to get the players to involve the whole team. Q: What is it like if you play with Yao side by side ? A: (laughter). That's impossible. But I'd like to be a basketball coach. I love to watch those games. I will be happiest when Rockets get another ring. Q: But fans keep dreaming even though it's impossible. Can you imagine what's like to partner with Yao ? A: If I play with Yao side by side, the future is very good. Everybody knows you need an inside presence, if you have a centre, you will win championship. Like WIlt, Walton, Rusell, Yao is the NEXT big man to win NBA Championship ---------------snip---------------------- Q: Rumore has it Lakers are trying to pry Yao before his contract ends, what do you think ? A: Those Lakers fans need to put down the pipe & do a reality check. Rockets ain't gonna let Yao go, any trade rumores are pure bullcrap, period, end of the discussion. Yao and Oneal are all very dominating, EVERY NBA team GM salivates the prospect of getting a big man. Rockets won't let him go. Q: Drexler, Rockets ' season hasn't been very smooth sailing, is it because Rockets have no outside shooter ? A: Rockets outside shooting took a serious blow, they traded away Jimmi, Stevie, Mobley... they need to more trades to change the team. Q: Last season it was obvious Rockets' Francis' team; many people think Yao will be the #1 option, but later on it's said JVG says T-Mac is the team's #1. Mr Drexler, who should be the #1 in your opinion ? A: I still think it's Coache's problem. Yao should be the #1, but the questions is: Yao still needs to touch the ball more often to be effective offensively; not like T-Mac getting more shots. The bottom line is: Coache makes the desicion, nobody else can change it. Q: Who will win this year's NBA Champ ? A: I have deep feelings for Rockets, I hope next season the Championship will be between Rockets & Heats. Heat will be in the finals. Q: We fans think Rockets are a bunch of passionless players, what do you think ? After the Francis gone, there is no more excitement, people ain't getting highs from watching their games. A: I agree. Rockets lack intensity & passion. blah..blah...blah.... Q: Rockets look bad other than Yao & T-Mac, do you think Rockets need more a power foward or point guard? A: Rockets need both. Ginoublie is a good candidate. They need an Stoudmare-type power forward, energetic. ( Obviously he hasn't seen Amare's rebounds stats) Q: Fans think Amare will never match against Yao. Please comment. A: I don't think Amare can rival. Stoudmire scores more because he's got the great Steve Nash feeding him. Rockets stilll ain't have no point guard. Individually Yao is better than him. But I think Amare is a very promising player. Q: M&M, if Yao goes to Laker land, will it be a better combo ? A: Man, I don't know what those Laker Fans smoking but it seems very potent. IMHO, Kobe is better than T-Mac, but Lakers will not let Kobe go, Rockets will not let go. Q: Mr Drexler, will you be a coach or owner of a team ? A: I 'd like to own a team but now I like relaxing & do what I want do do. Q: Mr Drexler, can you compare Yao & Olajuwan ? A: They have many similar aspects: they are both good shooters with 15~20 feet range; this means they can attract the defense from inside to out; they both have very high % fg, they should shoot 15~20 times, even 30 times. But it baffels me why he dosn't get chance to shoot. This is beyond my comprehension, this is also Rockets biggest mistake now. Q: A: Q: A:................nothing about Rockets............... Q: A: Q: A: Q: A:................blah blah...............
Drexler spent 25yrs giving the US media the most plain vanilla utterly uncontroversial interviews possible. I have a very difficult time believing he told Sinasports all this stuff.
Thanks for the translation. But... Van Grumpy? Is it really what Drexler said? Olliez, I know probably you don't like JVG and may be that's how you call him, but you don't have the right to add your own opinion into a translation. It's hard to believe that Drexler would actually call JVG with that name in the interview. And I also don't believe the reporter would use the term 'wet dreams'. That's why people are questioning the credibility of the interview.
That link posted is 2 days earlier than this link. It looks like some reporter took Drexler to some bars and allowed the Glyde to keep it real.
