all jokes aside he actually runs fluidly. (unlike yao) seems to be ridiculously athletic. i thinkk he can be coached.
I am impressed with Ha's agility. But ridiculously athletic? That's ridiculous! If you think losing a jump ball to a guard is considered ridiculously athletic, then Yao should win every single gold medal in the Olympics. The problem with Ha right now is that he has no skill. He's as raw as it gets. Going 0 for 6 in a game isn't inspiring. However, I think he has more physical potential than Yao. He's a bit shorter (not a whole lot), but he looks stronger, more agile, has longer arms and better conditioning. Top priority for Ha if he wants to get anywhere near Yao: 1. Get a brain. Yao's a very very smart player. He makes stupid decisions on occasion, but his overall Bball IQ is exceptionally high for a center. Ha hasn't shown any flashes of brilliancy so far. I am not sure he will ever. 2. Improve fundamentals. Yao's very fundamentally sound. He can shoot, pass and dribble hehind his back. Ha needs to work on that. Yao's field-goal % is so high, because he abuses his height and shoots over everyone alot of times. If Ha can't shoot, his height is such a waste. 3. Go to a plastic surgeon. Yao's no Prince Charming, but if you put him next to Ha, Yao becomes an all-world male model. 4. If he can't do any of these three, die, and hope for a better reincarnation next life. Ha's chance of becoming the next Yao Ming is between 0.000034% and 0.000035%, according to my calculation. However, if he works on his games, his chance of becoming the next Mark Eaton is between 14.5643% to 14.5644%.
From The Oregonian : No clash, just a skirmish With the Rockets' win decided early, fans settle for a matchup between Houston's Yao Ming and Portland's Ha Seung Jin Thursday, March 31, 2005 GEOFFREY C. ARNOLD Yao Ming vs. Ha Seung Jin. Clash of the titans. OK, that was a stretch because Yao scored 29 points and Ha went scoreless, but the opportunity to watch 7-foot-3 Ha square off against 7-6 Yao was a source of intrigue during the Blazers' 100-84 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at the Rose Garden. The reason for the intrigue was because the game wasn't close after the first quarter, when the Rockets, behind 14 points from Yao, took a 31-26 lead. Tracy McGrady took over in the second quarter, scoring 15 of his 26 points and getting eight of his 10 rebounds as the Rockets (44-28) completed a four-game season sweep over the Blazers (24-46). A buzz rippled through the reported crowd of 17,840 when Ha entered the game and stood alongside the Yao with 4:25 remaining in the first quarter. Ha quickly had an impact, but not in the way he wanted -- he shoved guard Bob Sura to the court and was called for an offensive foul. Ha finally got his first shot at Yao when he took a pass in the post area. Ha, who said before the game he wouldn't be afraid to attack Yao, didn't disappoint. The 19-year-old muscled his way down the baseline and attempted a short jump hook, only to have it blocked by Yao with 2:42 remaining. "The thing I didn't want to have happen is him being starry-eyed with Yao. I don't think he did," Blazers interim coach Kevin Pritchard said. "He was battling and got a few fouls. I was happy about that, because he didn't back down." Ha and Yao exchanged pleasantries while standing next to each other during Travis Outlaw's two free throws later in the quarter. "I said hello to him and asked him if his parents came with him to America," Yao, 24, said. "He said they were here, and I'm glad for him, because life in America is much harder than just the basketball on the floor." Round Two occurred when Ha entered the game with 7:58 remaining in the fourth quarter. Ha's best chance to score came quickly, but he missed a left-handed reverse layup attempt. He finished 0 for 6 from the field and had four rebounds, two turnovers and four fouls in a season-high 15 minutes. "It was a good learning experience for me," Ha said through an interpreter. "I'm not too worried about this season. I just want to do what the coaches want. I'll work out after the season and practice so I can get better for next season." One of Ha's fouls sent the 310-pound Yao crashing to the court, and Yao immediately grabbed his calf. Yao was fine, but the force of Ha's foul wasn't lost on him. "He has learned how to use his body and play a physical game. He uses his arms," said Yao, who made 12 of 18 shots and finished with 29 points. "I think he's heavier than I am already." While Yao was unhurt, the play caused Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy to grimace. Van Gundy paused a long time when asked about Ha after the game. "He fouls," Van Gundy said. This wasn't the first time Ha and Yao have faced each other. They squared off during the 2003 Asian championship game. Ha played for South Korea, Yao for China. "I played four minutes and had four fouls," Ha said. "But I got a dunk." Yao hasn't forgotten. "I remember the dunk. That was the first time I played against him, and he played with a lot of confidence," Yao said. "He did a great job and he's very talented. "But we won the game." Some things don't change.
If Yao played like YAO but had HA's face.....would you still like having HA-faced Yao on the rox? HA is one ugly guy
Van Gundy is hilarious... 'While Yao was unhurt, the play caused Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy to grimace. Van Gundy paused a long time when asked about Ha after the game. "He fouls," Van Gundy said.'
How did Yao talk to him? I'm assuming this guy couldn't understand English, since it's his first year here. Maybe Yao speaks Korean?
I seriously doubt Yao speaks Korean...he probably asked him in English and Ha understood and replied in the little English he knew.
No, they used hand guesture. Does anyone know Ha has been training under the instrucation of the former Bulls great Will Purdue? According to Will, this Ha kid got some real talent. He will become a force in this league for a long time, eventually reach the level of the great Will.
Is that the same Will "Six Foul" Perdue we are talking about? You figure they could find someone better to teach the kid
Are people seriously disparaging Will Perdue, progenitor of the fabulous Perdunk? Shame on you. tsk, tsk, tsk.
This talk about the HA guy reminded me of the other 7 footer - that Russian dude that was picked up by the Mavericks -the one that had his picture taken with Shawn Bradley and Cuban. What ever happened to that guy, Is he on the Mavs roster, or minor league some where? There was alot of hype about that guy -can't see to recall his name.
