[video] Interview with Hakeem and Yao after workout

Awesome. Thanks. You can see here, why it really pays off to have a good teacher. Frankly, I think Tom Thibodeau was the best that Yao has had so far. Ewing? Who knows.

 

In Jordan?

 

Hakeem looked like he was still in good shape. I know he was only shooting 2 feet from the basket, but he could be our answer at the PF position. Just rebound whatever Yao and company misses, lay the ball back up, and protect the basket.

 

That video may be the most beautiful thing I have seen as a Rockets fan since we swept the Magic.

 

now the rest of the championship Rocket heroes need to talk to the team.
Mario and Vernon need to talk to Tmac.

Kenny and Sam need to help Skip. Calvin Murphy needs to help Skip. Scotty Brooks needs to help Skip. Allen Leavell needs to help Skip. Sleepy Floyd needs to help Skip.

 

This is when I know you've gone too far. Too far in the right direction, maybe. But definitely too far.

 

Jeez. That was REALLY cool. We've been waiting so long to see it, I honestly thought we never would.

Hakeem was a master at going AROUND the defense. The feints that he could pull off using his footwork made him so difficult to guard. I really liked seeing him show Yao how to force a defender to cut him off BEFORE he makes his real move. The one-dribble moves especially would be so beneficial if Yao can incorporate them.

 

That was sweet. At one point around the 2:40 mark, Hakeem says "go!" right before the ball gets to Yao.

That's what made Hakeem so great. He knew what move he was going to do before he even got the ball. If Yao could master that, LOOK OUT.

 

damn i cant get it to work

i get the stupid chili's ad and thats it

 

Sweet pickup, m_cable. Add me to the folks giving you kudos for catching that. I heard Dream tell Yao to do both of those things in the video, although he's a little hard to understand, of course. It's two very simple things that Yao can work on that will make a big difference to his game. Why he didn't get this stuff long ago is a mystery, but better late than never. Perhaps he's been told this stuff before, but it didn't sound like it.

This should be a sticky... one of the two threads should be. Like bejezuz said, this just may be the coolest thing we've seen since the last championship. We've all wanted to have Dream tutor Yao. Watching that video brings it all home. The greatness of the Master as he teaches who we hope will be a master of his domain, the paint. Awesome.

 

When asked about the most important aspect of the day's training...Yao said "mentality"...he said, about The Dream, "I feel his heart"...and on that note let's build some hurting bombs and get ready for next year's domination...maybe all we needed for next season was this...
-V

 

Yao doesn't seem involved at all. He knows all the moves already. The question is how to save his energy to use those moves in a real game. And he needed to practice dribling skills and ball-catching skills instead of posting moves. When he gets those dribling skills, those posting moves should be automatic.

 

THe workout video was tight. Question is, how effective is this one session going to be? WHen the reporters asked if there was another workout planned, it seems as though there wasn't.

 

Amazing. I thought that Yao had decent footwork and he does but he is light years behind what Dream was doing. You could see Yao rehearsing the moves (without the ball) that Dream had just done and he still messed up.

It's really a shame that this meeting didn't happen a few years ago and I feel confident in saying that if these two met regularly over the summer you could almost pencil Yao in now for MVP.

Random thoughts:

Dream still looks quicker than 80% of the centers in the league today.

What if Amare actually had some heart AND had the opportunity to work with Dream? You would see the closest thing to prime time Dream possible.

 

Clutch, could you please merge the two workout threads together?

Thanks.

 

I don't know how effective these sessions will be for Yao, but watching him mimic Dream's moves really showcases how much smoother Dream is on offense. It's weird because Yao's one of the top low post players in the game and still looks inexperienced in comparison. How crazy is that?

 

Awesome, maybe in another five years, Kareem will drop by and polish Yao's skyhook. Then in another five years after that, Sabonis can teach Yao some passing techniques.

 

And Dream is 44 years old. How crazy is that?

Hakeem looks great. His arms are a little lean, but damn, the man looks good. He looks like he could still give you quality minutes at the 4/5. I have to stop thinking about that. It'll just drive me nuts. An impossibility. (and I'm already nuts, lol!)

 

You just hit the nail on the head!!! Hakeem is still athletic & would have to work this off season on his wind and stamina but looks llike he could do exactly what you are suggesting. He could be a player coach and would have a big impact upon the team and it's spirtual uplift.