Patrick Ewing: Passing Center?

just because you don't do something great doesn't mean you can't teach it well.

the greatest hitters very rarely end up as hitting coaches...because they have a hard time teaching it.

 

I think Pat had a rep for never kicking it out once he got it. However, Yao is already a great passer, he needs help on positioning, both offensively and defensively and could use a few more post moves. This is not to say he shouldn't work on passing, just that he has other areas where Ewing (hopefully) will be able to help him a lot.

 

yao doesn't need a whole lot of help in his passing game. The biggest thing Ewing can provide Yao is some different tactics that he can use to "get over" on the officials. Ewing was one of the masters in that category. You know, how to set moving picks, how to scream really loudly and painfully when going up for a shot in the paint and how to most importantly, how to SPEND THAT MONEY! actually, i will love having a center on the bench who is not too far removed from his playing days--and who knows the officials and can coach yao on how each one calls the game.

 

I also think Yao is already a good passing center, and I further believe that he will become known as one of the best the league has seen (anyone else see that slap to Francis in the corner?).

Ewing will be able to give help with rebounding, positioning, and post moves. He should also be able to give some good pointers on the officials, but I don't want Yao to be whining to the refs like Ewing did.

I think Ewing has as much to teach Eddie as he does Yao.

 

I would love Pat to teach Yao his running hook. If Yao could learn to shoot the jump hook better and find a running hook it would compliment his fadeaway perfectly. He could truly use the dream shake.

 

I really like the idea of Ewing helping our young players. He never had "out of this world ability", so he was required to actually learn techniques, tricks of the trade, fundamentals, footwork, positioning, dirtyness and hard work.
These things he can teach vs saying "well, jump higher".

 

The signature Ewing move (three steps across the lane to baby hook), a move that Shaq is even bringing out now would be unstoppable by Yao. He could start from the three point line.

 

If my memory serve me good, Ewing did have a very effective jump shoot. But, I am not quite sure that kind of skill is transferrable.

KH

 

I think the main way Ewing can influence Yao is to make Yao play every play, every game. Ewing had a shooters mentality, even if he missed the last 5, he thought he would make the next 10. I never liked Ewing's game, but I did admire his effort and his desire. If he can push Yao every game, heck, every quarter to go harder and be more aggressive, it will be worth having a hated Knick on our bench.

 

Ewing a Passing Center? Only if he isn't used to Tex-Mex food...