Two mo' on Zo and Yao, from NY papers: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/04/sports/basketball/04NETS.html Mourning and Yao: Two Big Bodies Collide By LEE JENKINS Published: November 4, 2003 AST RUTHERFORD, N.J., Nov. 3 — The steepest challenge of Alonzo Mourning's comeback tour measures 7 feet 6 inches with a flat top. While the rest of the N.B.A was introduced to Yao Ming last season, Mourning sat out because of a kidney disorder, watching Yao from afar with interest and amazement. "He's one of the few centers capable of doing the things he's able to do," Mourning said. "Not many 7-4, 7-5 guys are as coordinated and can shoot and pass the way he does." Mourning added that Yao has the skills to be a top-three center. "Does he have the work ethic and drive?" he said. "That remains to be seen." Mourning first faced Yao in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, but he expects to see a more polished version when the Nets play the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night at Continental Arena. "He's a totally different player now," Mourning said. "I can't even use that as a reference point." Like the rest of the league, the 6-10, 261-pound Mourning will be undersized in this matchup, but he has a copy of the game plan N.B.A. centers have adopted against Yao since he was a rookie last season. Mourning and Jason Collins, the Nets' 7-foot starting center, will try to run Yao on the offensive end, then get physical with him on defense, pushing him off the block and out of his comfort zone. That is the strategy Collins employed last season with only limited success. "A couple of times, he turned around and shot over me like I was 6-2," Collins said. Coach Byron Scott also remembers his centers lunging at Yao's shot "like they were really going to block it. Then he goes in and dunks." Yao leads Houston with 19 points a game and had converted 13 of 19 field goals heading into Monday's game against Chicago. While Yao represents the future of N.B.A. big men, the 33-year-old Mourning is only trying to prove he is not yet in the past. A reminder of his age, in contrast to Yao's youth, will be sitting conspicuously on the Rockets' bench. Patrick Ewing, who served as Mourning's chief rival during the grudge matches between the Knicks and the Miami Heat in the 1990's, is now an assistant coach in Houston, tutoring Yao to take another giant stride in his development. Although Ewing does not speak Chinese and sometimes runs into a communication barrier with Yao, he is helping Yao establish deeper position in the post and learn a variety of new shots. Ewing and Mourning talk regularly on the phone and sometimes chat about Yao's future. "He's working on his game, learning the game," Mourning said. "He's being a little more poised making decisions." Mourning might also evaluate the poise and decision-making of Houston's new coach, Jeff Van Gundy, who is best known for coaching the Knicks. This will be the first time Van Gundy and Mourning meet with new teams, but old memories are still intact. Mourning sometimes jokes about the time Van Gundy clutched his leg during a dust-up in a playoff game in 1998. No one has used that technique yet to defend Yao, but his N.B.A. career is still in the early stages. --- http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/story/133525p-119065c.html Nets: Yao measures up By JULIAN GARCIA DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER The Nets were reunited with former assistant coach Eddie Jordan when they played at Washington on Saturday. Tonight they will welcome former Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy back to the metropolitan area when they face the Houston Rockets at the Meadowlands. Jordan and Van Gundy are considered among the brightest coaches in the league, but no matter what kind of plays they draw up, neither can present the kind of challenge the Nets will face on the court tonight. The Nets will need to find a way to stop Yao Ming, the 7-6 center who occupies a lot of territory in the middle of the Rockets' front court. The Nets likely will double-team Yao, so their overall defense may suffer, especially since their best defender, Kenyon Martin, will not play because of a sprained left ankle. Alonzo Mourning and Jason Collins will be responsible for handling Yao most of the time, and Mourning knows he'll have a difficult job. "He's one of the few centers in the world who is able to do what he does," Mourning said. So what exactly does Yao do so well? Mourning said Yao is so tough because of his size - duh - and also because he can shoot surprisingly well for a big man and also pass as well as any center in the league. "There aren't many (7-6) guys who are as coordinated, who can shoot, who can pass," Mourning said. After being selected first in the 2002 draft, Yao averaged 13.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.7 blocks for Houston last season. Mourning has seen enough to know that the Rockets made the right decision. "I would have picked him first too," said Mourning, who said he thinks Yao could become one of the top three centers in the league. "He definitely has those skills to do that," Mourning said. "Does he have the work ethic and the drive? That remains to be seen." Even though he can shoot, the Nets know their best defense would be to keep Yao away from the paint. But even that might not work. "A couple of times last year he turned around and shot right over me like I was 6-2," said Collins, another 7-footer. Byron Scott said it's important to be "aggressive and physical" with Yao. "But I don't think you outmuscle him," Scott said. "He's about 280 so he's not small." Bad news. Yao is actually listed at 310 pounds. K-MART'S CLOSED: Martin is still recovering after turning his ankle in the win over Minnesota on Friday. He didn't practice yesterday but lifted weights and rode a stationary bike. He likely will miss a couple of more games. He issued a statement through the team, saying, "I'm feeling better but it's still sore." Rodney Rogers (lacerated thumb) is not expected to play, either. ... Jason Kidd sat out the final minutes of practice yesterday. It's part of Scott's plan to save Kidd's energy for games. He is averaging just over 40 minutes a game. Originally published on November 4, 2003
Umm...nice to say he would have picked him first, too, but who exactly are the other two supposed to be (other than Shaq) who would have to be better than Yao right now? I hope he is not thinking of himself...
in all Honesty Yah Should be the 3rd best center in the league this year, but who knows how it will pan out. He is in a group of guys that hovwe behind Shaq and Duncan. Of all the guys in that tier he is the only one with real upside, so its not like he wont be the 3rd best or maybe higher. but for now, there are a handfull of guys that earn that level of respect.
He could become one of the Top 3 centers in the league? I count 1 that's definitely better. But I fail to see a 3rd that's even close. Unless you count TD a center. In which case, Yao has the 3rd position locked up already. Regardless, a silly thing of Mourning to say.
