I originally wanted to post this to the "official" thread of Yao Ming's 2007 summer activities. But I guess, this warrants a separate thread on its own, as I think there will be photos and video about this in the next few days or so. So behold this historic meeting of the old and new Houston Rockets Giants !!!
if yao learns half as much as emeka did from hakeem, or even as much as jermaine oneal did from simply watching tapes... ...we should expect one hell of a year from yao.
I disagree...we knew he was going to train with him well before the firing. I don't think jeff has anything against hakeem or him working with yao. I just don't think hakeem and him had ever really met before game 7 -- he was on the sidelines.
I sure hope Dream shows Yao how to be quick and athletic. Those were two of Dreams' major attributes.
dream just please teach yao how to manhandle the post. hell, deke could give him pointers in there. yao's offense just needs more aggressiveness. defense is where he's really not that dominating.
I've held off posting this comment, because I have zero information about what goes on in JVG's head, but he has said publically (and to Dream, I think) that he sees Olajuwon in his nightmares. And there are reasons I've taken JVG's literal words about that. 1. In Dream's "glory days" he took plays off and completely freelanced. I can see ass't coach JVG being horrified and telling Ewing "he'll give you about 8 pts. a game". 2. Dream had high turnover games and even in '94 (MVP season) he'd get frustrated with defensive pressure/pounding (Seattle not-withstanding) and JVG believed they (NY) had the superior center. 3. Dream and Yao are/were very different players but they both are quite unique. And JVG never wanted Yao to get Dream-itis and really let his entire game just "flow". 4. Dream always has said that any talented center is more important than any other talented player at any other position. JVG must have wretched at the thought. 5. Dream might have inadvertantly "hypnotized" Yao to getting JVG fired. Yao's comments about the bench (if true) may have had an impact in JVG's firing, but I find it impossible to give him blame or credit. Dream's going to tell Yao to go get a ring, and most of us know how Dream went about it. I'm sure JVG was distantly apoplectic at that time. But it may have had more impact on his tenure here than most think. Anyway, Dream and Yao - well, they probably have more in common than most people think.
There were reports that JVG only allowed Ewing and Tom Thibodeau responsible for Yao's training. Is it hard to see there are something behind JVG's losing his reign for this change? Did you hear any responses from the Rockets or Yao when Kareem Adul Jabber, Moses Malone, & Hakeem offer to tutor Yao before? It's obvious to me but may not be for you.
Hakeem didn't really offer before, Moses and Kareem did...but then again, maybe you're right. I guess I didn't put enough thought into it... honestly, I'm against jeff's firing...I think we would have been much improved this year. with that said, I am a true rockets fan...always have been, so I hope for the best from adelman. hope he gets us over the hump, and in a way I hope you're right. maybe this will open the flood gates to Yao training with some of our previous greats.
I read this and immediately got goose bumps and a huge grin across my face. Lets hope its not just a one-time thing
It sounds good, but I'm not sure if it will make much difference. Dream's strength was his superior athleticism for a 7ft, quick, explosive, both of those are Yao's weakness, which are not something you can change, especially for a 7.6ft guy. I'm hoping for the best.
