I vaguely remember something like that, but the only quote I could find comes from this past summer: Former LA Lakers star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has urged the young pretender to use his height to greater advantage if the Rockets and China are to rise to the top of their trees. "He doesn't play the game that way at this point in his career. I think he could be very effective. I would imagine that he must get frustrated because people expect so much from him. He hasn't been able to deliver. I can see he doesn't understand the dynamics here. He's very intelligent, he's a good athlete, and he has a great attitude. He can be a great player, but nobody has taken him through those steps yet."
It's pretty simple, from my point of view. I just don't like him. I think he's the wrong guy to tutor Yao, but that's coincidence.
So because you don't like someone, that means they are not qualified? Thats the problem I think most have with Ewing. The guy was a sworn enemy of the Rockets and practically Hakeem's arch rival for many years. In reality, he might be one of the best coaches for Yao. Ewing relied far more on technique and fundamentals than anything else. He was not super athletic. Hakeem might be a great coach for Yao, but the odds wouldn't favor that seeing as how Hakeem relied mostly on pure athleticism, which Yao has ZERO of in comparison. IOW, Hakeem probably can't teach what he had. In the same way that MJ couldn't teach his Wizard's teamates what he had. Mo Malone relied on pure hustle and determination. Again, not Yao's style. For the record, I think Kareem might be a great coach for Yao. But to assume he would be better than Ewing is pretty baseless at this point in time.
All your base are belong to us! I agree with your post... Moses and Dream aren't the right fit for coaching Yao, although, in Dream's case, he could teach him something, but to the best of my limited knowledge, has no interest in doing so. As for Ewing, my personal feelings aside, I just don't see much of an impact on Yao's play that I can point at coming from Patrick. Maybe others can, but I can't. I watched Abdul-Jabbar play a lot, starting with the year he got beat by Hayes and the Coogs in the Dome, in one of the biggest upsets of all time in college basketball. (Akeem was involved in one of the other ones. ) I think the guy could teach a lot to Yao, no only about big man play, but about a big man getting into fantastic shape. Kareem did it for 20 years. I'm sure hell will freeze over before Ewing leaves and someone like Kareem comes in, so this discussion is pretty pointless.
But why? Is hit because Patrick can't teach or Yao can't learn? We just don't know, and thats always my point when people want to blame Ewing for Yao's problems. In reality, I think alot of Yao's problems are due to the weight he has put on. How ironic that most of thought that would make him better (including me). There is only so much you can effectively teach someone who doesn't have the physical skills to replicate what he has been taught.
Ewing ahs done a lot for this behemoth. After Yao gets stripped or commits a stupid mistake, in timeouts, Pat always tells Yao to keep the Ball up and elbows out and swing to keep players off him. He always gives him pointers but the guy isn't performing. Like I said OVERRATED. The guy will be better off traded for quality players like Odom. Why i s Walton good? Why? He hasn't proved to me anything that he is capable of coaching much less have a coherent thought.
You're batting a thousand. I thought Yao's extra weight would be a plus as well, but he hasn't had the quickness he showed in his first year, especially, since putting on the weight. And maybe Yao just can't "get it," although he is, by all accounts, a very intelligent guy. That leaves your point of not physically being capable of doing what he's taught. That could be the problem. This is where I think Kareem could help, although it would require a different off-season regimen for Yao. Abdul-Jabbar was never the heavy hitter type of 5. Dream was able to develop strength and finesse, over the years. Yao will never have anything near his quickness. Kareem didn't have his quickness either, but had finesse in spades. Heck, maybe they'll make a change next summer, lots of them. That's if Yao has any time for things related to his NBA team and his NBA career. And that's not a sure thing at all. If Van Gundy is here all season, Ewing will be as well.
Deck: I think you're not giving Kareem enough credit, even the middle aged Kareem could still run the floor with the Showtime lakers; the young Lew Alcindor I think was probably a lot quicker than that, though I never saw him. I'm not sure what his exact playing weight was but I've seen it as high as 260 and as low as 225, FWIW.
Well, I want to be clear that I didn't mean to insinuate that this has anything to do with Yao's intelligence. I don't think there is a coach on earth that can teach Bill Gates how to pull off a 360 degree dunk in traffic. See my point? Yao is limited more by his physical attributes than his mental ones. Alot of said that Yao will have a much larger learning curve and I am inclined to agree. I think the most important things that Ewing, or even a Kareem can teach Yao is "veteran saavy" so to speak. In that, although Yao might always be limited in what he can do on the court physically, with "know how" and technique and overall, experience, he can become consistantly effective using the physical tools he does have.
Yeah, Kareem was lean strong. Almost like Artis Gilmore, who some have said might be the 2nd strongest guy in NBA history besides Shaq. Yao has more of a bulky strong frame (i.e. he can put on muscle, but its going to slow him down). Its almost like Yao could stand to lose some of the bulk out of his lower trunk area and legs, although I dont think its possible given his physical makeup.
Kareem was a gazelle compared to most centers. You're right about that. Hakeem's quickness was on a whole 'nother level, as we are all too aware of. The reason Kareem could motor down the court way past when other centers could have had a lot to do with keeping himself in such terrific shape. And he could nail that hook shot until he dragged himself away from the game. I'm not sure what his weight was, although it no doubt increased as he was in the league. He compensated by never letting his conditioning lag behind any weight gain he might have had, imo. That's one of the things I think he could help Yao with. He could pass as well. Kareem averaged almost twice the assists Ewing did during his career. He could show Yao how to use his height to better advantage passing to his teammates. Hell, I think he could show Yao a lot, but he wasn't a former Knick.
I agree. I believe Yao needs a good communicator, and a patient one at that. Walton and Robinson are qualified in that regard. Ewing, Malone, Kareem, Hakeem aren't. Also, Yao needs someone who knows how to play without being athletic. That disqualifies Robinson. Walton is the most ideal coach for Yao. Another guy I would like is Sabonis (although I don't know how you workout the logistics of translation ).
That's one key thing Kareem could teach Yao: how to work on his endurance. What can Ewing possibly teach him? How to get head in a VIP room?
In my opinion, Yao works twice as hard in the paint this year, but does not get twice as winded. I actually think he has improved his stamina dramtically. Tho' he still needs some work by nba standards. The Strength should payoff in the second half of the season.
Les Alexander might need to just hire Kareem. I remember when the Astros changed hitting coaches when Jimi got canned. Gary Gaetti came on board, and things started to turn around.
I remember that segment of the interview. I think JVG said he didn't see any similarity between Yao and Kareem.
I don't know how if Ewing has been able to help Yao or not but I honestly thought Yao would pick up some smarts from him and become a better jumpshooter with his coaching.
I agree in that Kareem has a similar body type to Yao (extra tall) and not that much upper body strength. Of the above mentioned I think Kareem could teach Yao alot about facing up and dropping that hook shot from all over the court. - Tim Duncan when he retires would be the best tutor J
