nice, i'm sure that comes in handy...myself, i have studied San Da and Northern boxing (aka long fist). now i'm on to southern style...i'd like to teach Yao some moves so he can bust Shaq's chops next time they meet. Seriously though, martial arts would be great for Yao; it would provide him better balance and positioning in the paint. I'd love to see it!
The bottom line is that yao plays basketball year round. He cannot be expected to play for the China national team and endure the rigorous schedule that the NBA offers. Missing rebounds, bricking shots, he's just too lathargic out there and we need him to have more energy for the playoffs. If he's this tired now, will he even be able to walk in march?
Why is it that someone who is 7'6" is automatically given every rebound? I don't know how many of you actually stepped onto a court or got any closer than the TV set, but if you don't have position, you are not likely to get the rebound or you're likely to be called for a foul going over someone's back. Yao is improving, he's starting to get aggressive. It's new to him because of his culture and he's posting nice numbers. He's getting a few blocks a game and altered many shots with his long arms. More over, Yao's a team player. He's doing what he thinks he should do. Sure, he could've taken a couple more shots, but with a team developed like the Rockets, distributing the ball around is not that bad of an idea. The offense, in my opinion, is running quite efficiently. Like some of the earlier posts have mentioned, there has been a lot of fronting on Yao. If they tried to get him the ball, some of you will be complaining about the guards making bone-headed decisions passing into a double team knowing Yao will get swarmed. It's almost the same as to passing into a corner to a double team and not allowing Yao to bring the ball anywhere but way above his head. One thing I noticed in this offense is the ability of players like Padgett, and JJ using the baseline under the basket as a passing route; making it easier to get the ball to the other end without passing across the 3 point line... letting teams adjust to double teaming Yao. The Rockets are under a new system, and whether you like it or not; they're showing that they can execute more often than last year. This is just the first 10-ish games of the season, and we're showing we can win against most teams that we should win against. Personally, Yao's probably my favorite player. And as biased as my comments are towards him, I can still tell you that he's not ready to get the ball 2/3s of the time. The effort Yao's giving just to get the position will drain him midway through the 3rd quarter. His stamina is an issue, and if you try to have him push and shove down the low post every turn, you won't have him for the second half of the season. The backcourt is not playing bad either. They have been distributing the ball pretty fairly and you can't tell that just by the number of assists they make. This isn't hockey, only 1 assist can be determined per basket made. If you want them to distribute the ball to Yao and he decides to pass, chances is you won't have a PG with 10 assists per game. Your offense is one that allows the whole team to pass the ball around creating a shot and at certain times have a player create his own shot. An offense like this, the only assist numbers that should matter is the number the team gets as a whole. There's just no pinning one player in this team. Basically, Yao gets stronger, Francis makes a few better decisions and work on fast breaks, We get some players back and play better defensively and offensively and this team will move in the right direction. There's no reason to ask the team to win every game; heck Lakers lost to Pistons yesterday.. and I think their expectations should be much higher than ours.
Hey Legrouper, I'm just a newbie on here but it seems as if you run your mouth on here a lot. I've read the last few threads and you are always causing problems and making the dumbest arguments. But don't let me stop you, you seem like the type that sinks himself with every post. It's gonna be a long season! I'm back
I hate how yao looks so awkward when he runs. In last nights game, the thing that bothered me the most was how long he waits before making a move towards the basket. He put up some numbers against a pretty bad team, but that heistation bull**** won't fly against a good team. He needs to make a move sooner instead of waiting and giving his next move away to the defender. I'm hoping that one day, yao can get closer to the basket and throw down instead of being muscled into a fade away jumper every time.
while it is difficult to build a culture, it is much more difficult to break a culture. Yao had been deeply ingrained in CBA's polite basketball culture from age 16 to 21. Since joining the NBA, Yao has steadily chipped away, his CBA BB culture; still has a ways to go. his play now is much more NBA-ized than this time last year. he still has much room of improvement. Rox/ Ewing need to work w Yao more in counteracting the double team defense. right now, that's his weakest link.
Shaq vs. Yao People conveniently forget how many critics were bashing Shaq for NOT having a finesse game. His brute power game was also nowhere near as effective as it has been in recent years. But somehow, through the years, he's been able to shape opinion with the way he's played, into a standard for "dominant centers." This despite the fact that he is still ridiculously poor with his free throws. The one missing element I see to Yao's game involves his forward pivoting. If you notice, whenever Yao posts in the low blocks, he tends to pivot AWAY from the basket, much like Ewing did back in his day. And when you do that, the most natural shot is, you guess it!, the fadeaway. If Yao were to pivot forward like he does with hook shots, he'd be in a better position to posterize his opponent. Add a dribble and he's got TWO pivots to bridge the distance btw him and the hoop. My biggest fear is that Ewing is teaching/shaping Yao toward becoming an ultra-finesse player who relies on the fadeaway. Anyone who knows Ewing's game knows that he loved the fadeaway throughout his career. Perhaps, this is how Yao will define himself. Perhaps, not. Interestingly, all the predications of Yao becoming the second coming of Rik Smits has not come true. Lastly, Yao needs to take his time, BEFORE PUTTING THE ball on the court. He dribbles a little too much and too early, and that gives the defense time to cheat and react. Yao does far more damage when he's in possession of the ball AND has yet to dribble b/c here, he can pass, dribble, OR shoot. It also helps to keep his head up when making his move. Yao has a tendency to look down too much, IMO. theSAGE
When is Yao Going to Grow a Pair of.....#$^&??? Getting blocked. Getting stuffed. Getting stripped. Aren't you tired of seeing this time and time again? If Yao is trying to do his best Wang ZhiZhi impression, it's working. All this "soft play" has got to end. If the Rox are to improve, Yao is going to have to play more aggressively and start posterizing the opponents. He has everything we need to destroy the spirits of our opponents. But instead of taking full advantage of his 7'6" frame, his opting for weak turnarounds and fadeaways. Something Doesn't Smell Right Here!!!! and it isn't the turkey! theSAGE
I understand how you feel. Yao inspite of his descent final stats was dearly annoying. I did not see one positive power move. The whole was off key except Cato, Motay and Pike. Yao is soft by default but I still give him the benefit of doubt - believe that he will get better and more confident with time. Atimes this season, he has showed mental lapses. This is not like him. Maybe he is thinking too much. If you have 2 fouls in the first 2 minutes of the first quarter can you please be smart enough to do everything possible to avoid getting a cheap one before the 8 minute mark of the first quater? But to his credit he got to the line and knocked down some shots throughout the game. I am frustrated a bit but I will not be so hard on him since he is only in his second season. The main reason I still believe that still hinders Yao from reaching his full potential and dominate night in and out is his pathetic STAMINA level. This is the sole or main KEY that will make or mar Yao's greatness (or rather full potential). I suggest he seek medical help to tackle this fatique issue. I don't think rest in the summer or between games will help here. I am not an expert on fatique issues but if you get winded at the 8 minute mark in the first quarter of every game then something is wrong (medically methinks).
The ability to get to the line is tremendous asset, and I agree with you that Yao getting to the line tonite was very significant. However, some of those tonight were just plain awful. Sure, Ostertag is bigger, but what happenned to that sweet baby hook? My biggest fear is that Ewing is training Yao in the losing art of "the turnaround fadeaway" which really doesn't play to Yao's strengths. Yao's reach, height, and long legs gives him the ability to extend. And he should be attacking the basket (and not fading away) on each play. As for Stamina, do you know something that I should know Fegwu??? You're like the fifth person I know who referenced Yao's health/stamina as a reason for his decline in productivity. Does he have asthma? theSAGE
You would think that Yao would be tired of all of his shots being rejected by 3rd teir NBA players. To quote Bill Walton !! "Throw it down big fella, THROW IT DOWN !!" Yao is playing like a scared rabbit. If he just started DUNKING the darned ball, it would increase his effectiveness by 100%.... Yao is softer than a babies A$$. DD
I am worried about his health too. Don't you think that the team doctor should catch it if he has health problem?
There is absolutely no reason for a 7-6 300+ lbs doing fadeaway jump hooks. Tomahawk that **** into someone face!
Yao's game is too predictable now, everybody and their mother knows his moves, he's too slow, and has the worst hands for a center.
To date, Yao has Clear Problem w/ Initiating Contact My guess is that it's psychological. But somewhere in the annals of JVG's stat book, I'm sure he's keeping track of what moves work and don't work for Yao. When Yao does his baseline move, he pivots TOWARD the basket. Why can't he do that from the other direction too??? You don't need to be Shaq to be a good forward pivoter. Pivot, pivot, and BAM you're in the paint for a dunk or a short hook. Instinctively, I think b/c Yao is so tall, and has been demonstrably taller than most of his competition in Asia, he has the habit of just stretching and tapping the ball, to himself and others, like playing Volleyball. Unfortunately, with bigger guys and jumping jacks in the NBA, that kind of stuff just isn't going to work. Neither are those soft layups from 2 feet out. Yao needs to take that ball and move aggressively toward the hoop. (i.e. JUMP THROUGH THE DIRECTION OF THE HOOP instead of just jumping up). I'm surprised that Ewing hasn't taught Yao the patented "hop skip" Ewing used to do so well in his prime. That's one move I wouldn't mind seeing Ewing teach Yao. But the weak fadeaways have got to go. theSAGE
Fadeaways Are Low Percentage Shots The absolute WORST shot for a player. The fadeaway is for players who are in DECLINE and lose their ability to jump over taller, more athletic defenders. Even MJ, post-prime ended up relying on this to limited success. I seriously think Yao needs to be watching more tape of: 1. Rik Smits 2. Shaq O'Neal 3. Charles Barkley However the mind thinks, the body will follow. And if Yao is so tuned into the two "Fs" in finesse and fadeways, he will never graduate to the next level. The hook is a very good weapon for Yao. I, personally, think this should be his weapon of choice. Yao's got the baseline dunk down off the spin move. Why can't he dunk spinning the other way??? Someone's got to tell him that he CAN get away with more contact even if he has to lean ever so slightly into the defender to dunk the ball. Barkley and Hakeem were the kings of keeping the offense moving FORWARD (much like soccer). If Yao can get this into his head, he will be unstoppable. theSAGE
I mentioned this problem when we drafted Yao last year. I said that Yao could only play about ~20 quality minutes in the first year, maybe ~25 the second year. Many people didn't understand it, they thought Yao could avoid this by skip his Chinese NT duties. Big mistake. I speak this from my personal experience. I went through the same training system in China from 11 to 18; I played in the Chinese National Junior team in 1985. The two biggest problems I see in Chinese system were lack of competitive games, and lack of intensity training. This is not just happening in basketball, it happens in Soccer as well. When I came to the States in 1989, I played some scrimmage games with several Division I players who late became NBA players. I was able to play with them for about 15 minutes, then I basically gave up defense because I would be too tire to catch up with them. The training problem. In China, the training is longer and harder than any training you’ll see in NBA. But the problem is the intensity level of the training. We could train 6 hours, ran 10 miles, lift tons of weight, played several full court practice games in ONE day, but the majority of them are non-contact, low intensity stuff. That’s why Chinese basketball & soccer players are good practice players, but not good game players. The lack of competitive games is another problem. I remember we averaged just ONE tournament, about EIGHT games in an ENTIRE year. It’s very hard to evaluate & improve your playing skill without actually playing enough games. You just cannot duplicate the game situation in practice! Coming out of the same system, I feel Yao had the same problem as I did. The only solution is to play through it. I don’t know how long it’ll take, but he needs to play through it. More rest will not help at all in this situation. --daoshi
