If this has been discussed before, diregard this thread. If not, what the heck does Patrick Ewing do as an assistant coach? Isn't he supposed to be teaching Yao how to play the C position? I don't see any improvement in his offensive game. Pewing is always praised as one of the best shooting C's ever but has he helped Yao at all? Anyway...from all my years of playing nba live and watching rox games since they were on HSE here are my suggestions. Two ways for Yao to improve his offensive game: 1) Take it outside like Rick Smits and shoot the mid range jumper more. Heck, take it to the 3pt line like Jack Sikma used to do. (only kidding). Yao does shoot the mid range jumper on occassion but he never looks comfortable doing it. He's got a good shot. He should take it outside more. I know, he's 7-6, his game should be close to the basket, but he's just not strong enough (yet) or quick enough, which brings me to suggestion #2 2) Somebody (how about kareem?) should teach him how to properly shoot the sky (jump) hook. None of this flipping of the wrist line drive stuff, but a sweeping hook like kareem used to. I think Kareem had a pretty decent career with that shot. Yao would be unstoppable. Near the end of his career even Dream would turn to the middle for a jump hook and it would almost be "unbeatable". forget the shanghai shake for now
I haven't seen anything on Ewing lately on this board, but i can't stand the guy. I never thought he was very good as a player and he's doing a terrible job with Yao. I don't even know what he's trying to teach him but it's having an awful effect on Yao's game.
What in the heck happend to my team? I'll tell you what happened. Rudy T. came down with a life threating illness, and ever since then this team has gone down hill. Ewing sucks!!
I said at the beginning of the year, Yao needs a coach like Kareem, not Ewing. Yao can be very effective if he plays like Jabbar - but he's not ever going to be Pat Ewing, thank God. It's a bad decision, and reflects very poorly on JVG.
I agree - Given Yao's build, Yao's game reflects or could reflect Kareem's. Plus Kareem has actually coached. JVG went with a loyal homie.
I heard that's not even Ewing on the court, it's a double and Ewing's really making the strip club rounds...
Nope. With a few exceptions (ie: please keep this guy from the previous regime) every head coach selects their own assistants. Patrick is here because JVG wants him here. Similarly, Mario Elie is in San Antonio because JVG DIDN'T want him here.
I was referring to PE's boss. That reflects on the other two because they are the ones that gave him the carte blanche to bring him here.
Not really. As I said, the "carte blanche to bring him here" is something pretty much every head coach in the league has.
Ewing is not supposed to be a specialized Yao coach; he's an assistant coach for the whole team. But, you're right, he doesn't seem to do a whole hell of a lot. Then again, what do we know about what any of the asst coaches are doing? In any case, how can you criticize Ewing for what he is or is not doing to Yao's game when he doesn't have any particular responsibility for it?
Well even if he isn't one of Yao's personal coaches, you figure that he was one of the better centers in the past 20 years and he could stand to teach Yao a thing or two. All things considered, we have not seen a significant improvement in Yao's game, and if Ewing is around, he should have a bigger impact on Yao than this.
I'd feel better if one of the Rockets' past centers were brought in rather than Ewing... But it is JVG's right to pick who he wants. In the past, has ANYONE said, "Man, that assistant coach made a difference tonight!"? If not, I don't see how people can say Ewing's not helping the team. Maybe he is and we just don't see it since his job is to sit on the bench and pull JVG back in case he goes after someone's leg again.
Look at the success Patrick had Kwame Brown. Yao is bound to something great with Ewing at the helm. Sike sike sike sike
You guys are gonna rip me for this, but I think I see improvement with Yao in the post. Last night, he faced up and took the J if he was open. If the guy closed in he would fake and drive. Yao's biggest problem is finishing strong under the hoop. All of the times he's been blocked is really playing a number in his head. The hook definitely needs a lot of work, but I think his little shots around the basket are looking better.
then we would need a interpreter to translate Big Mo speak to Colin so he can tell Yao what the hell Moses just said... great idea...
