Titan Sports Articles on Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes

pryuen · Oct 8, 2007

Found 4 inter-related articles from Titan Sports about Luis Scola and Chuck Hayes by their reporters reporting straight from Austin:

Yao Ming Assessement on Luis Scola (by Wang Meng)

Luis Scola's NBA adaptation in the training camp (by Zhang Minghao)

Exclusive Interview of Luis Scola at Day 5 of the training camp (by Zhang Minghao)

Chuck Hayes' Passing Like Vlade Divac (by Wang Meng)

Since the 4 articles are focused on our most troubled/worried Position 4 spot, I think they will be of interest to you guys here.

Anyway, since every of the article are pretty long one, and I'm just back into the office after my National Anniversary holidays, it might take me sometime tonight for the translation.

So stay tune for them. And I'm sure you guys will be as pumped up as I am after reading them......cos we seem to have solved our problem on Spot 4, and found the right partner for Yao Ming !!

Shay · Oct 8, 2007

Can't wait for this , and hope we can have one on the pg situation but thios will do .
Thanks a lot pry.

pryuen · Oct 8, 2007

Okay, the first article from Wang Meng on Yao Ming's assessment of Luis Scola.

http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-10-08/0424/85678390.html

Reporter Wang Meng reports from Austin

Looking at his new and old partners on Position 4, Yao Ming could not but help wondering who will be his starting power forward? Including Yao Ming, no one knows yet what will be the final decision of Rick Adelman. And as far as Yao Ming is concerned, each has his own advantages and superiority.

Luis Scola is a rookie, and is a key player that the Houston Rockets want to develop, and the team wishes that he can pass the NBA adaptation stage as soon as possible, that he can find his feelings about how to compete in NBA to fully demonstrate his superiority and dominance. Even though he had only played together with Luis Scola for 2 to 3 times (during the team scrimmage), Yao Ming is actually already pretty clear about Luis Scola’s superiority. “I knew he is pretty good on rebounding; I’ve checked his stats, and he is one of the leaders on rebounds in the FIBA Americas Championship. Now, I also discovered that he is very intelligent and smart, and his ability to find and create opportunities (to score) is very strong. I don’t think I need to say anything more about his passing skill.”

As someone that has gone through that experience (of transiting from international basketball to NBA), Yao Ming analyzed the adjustment that Luis Scola needs to face. “He and I are the same type of players; body wise, we are both not that physically strong, I mean, when compared to the local American players. And therefore our strengths have been that we are both good to spot opportunities and able to find ways to score that others do not pay much attention to. And I thought, this is exactly where Luis Scola is good at, and that probably explains why he can excel and stand out amongst his competitors.”

But regardless, Luis Scola is still considered a rookie in NBA; even though he had played professional basketball for 10 years in Europe, he still needs to adjust to the customs and rhythm of NBA basketball. Yao Ming said: “For him, initially it will be just like me when I first joined NBA; he will also have to face the same problems that I faced and that is to adjust to the speed and intensity of NBA games. I’m not implying that European basketball is not strong, but European basketball, rhythm wise, is completely different to NBA basketball. I also played against European teams and their level/standard is also very high; if you follow their rhythm, they will also make it very tough and uncomfortable for you. So as far as Luis Scola is concerned, he only has to learn, follow and adjust to the NBA rhythm here, and gradually he will be fine.”

But how long will be “gradually he will be fine”? Yao Ming continued to elaborate: “With a previous sample like me here, it should not be too long (for Luis Scola to get adapted to the NBA speed and rhythm); regardless of what will happen, he is much stronger than I when I first entered NBA.”

And certainly in Yao Ming’s eyes, it was not just all about Luis Scola; he also has eyes for Chuck Hayes; when everyone was praising the progress made by Chuck Hayes over this summer, Yao Ming also nodded his head, as he also witnessed for himself some fabulous passing of Chuck Hayes. Yao Ming said: “I had also discovered how good he passes the ball; I can only explain it like this, different systems can stimulate the players to display different potentials."
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TheBornLoser · Oct 8, 2007

Thanks dude!!!

Without you and tinman, this site would not.............

prv1981 · Oct 8, 2007

Thx pryuen. Cant wait to read the rest of the articles, very interesting read.

It seems as if Yao has noticed some things already that have made him praise Scola at this point. I like the fact that he can identify with Scola's playing style. I imagine that will only make it easier for them to play together and I think Yao will probably learn some things from Scola's intensity and will to suceed.

liangqj · Oct 8, 2007

Having finished reading the first articles. Yao is more mature now, not only for this report, also many reports I read before.

I am too excited for Scola, even though I am always worry about he can not adapt to NBA rhythm. Without a doubt, he is one of the best palyer in Europe. One of the important essential, our coach is not JVG. I can not wait the preseason start.

In the same way, first hand source from China is made me excite too.

LeFuglyLames · Oct 8, 2007

好，非常好！

rockpengroc · Oct 8, 2007

LeFuglyLames said:

好，非常好！
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it seems that there are so many fans come fome china. and me too!

i believe all of us are waiting for the start of the new season!
it's time!

pryuen · Oct 8, 2007

Here comes the 2nd article from Zhang Minghao on Luis Scola's NBA Adaptation.....

http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-10-08/0424/85489080.html

Reporter Zhang Minghao reports from Austin

The first time I saw Luis Scola was on the Media Day. He was rushed around everywhere by the staff photographers for photos with a face showing that he was totally at a loss. He was a big man at 2.06 Meter, but just tossed around and manipulated by much shorter photographers surrounding him, asked to make different kind of poses with a basketball on his hands and reluctantly putting on a smiling face showing his teeth.

I attempted to say hello to him in Spanish which at least will make him feel warm and familiar. But it took Luis Scola by surprise and he was sort of dumbfounded by me. It took him almost 10 seconds to realize that I was greeting him in 2 words in his mother tongue. Then he mumbled apologetically: “Oh, sorry; I did not realize that you’re speaking Spanish to me!”

Perhaps just like what he told me, everything had been very dissimilar; it was a very noisy and hectic Media Day, very many items to be accomplished on a to-do list, and tons of reporters. So with all the not-so-familiar team mates around him, and listening to English, a language that he can speak but not so familiar and warm to him yet, this big guy, donned with the Rockets #4 jersey, looked a little hoodwinked on this first day.

So people started to forget those glittering bright MVP trophies that he had been awarded, and began to suspect and speculate that after all, the new Rockets #4 looked like a simple and silly big fellow.

Even though, maybe he was unfamiliar with the environment, the Argentine appeared to be a little bit dumb off the court, yet once he stepped on court with the basketball, every of his MVP stances and quality returned.

He is 2.06 meter tall; but he surely can run and shoot; and what is more awesome is that he is so nimble with excellent footwork down at the low post; his turnaround, his dribbling, and his layups are not worst than those quicker and more agile shorter players. Perhaps, in the current big men of the Houston Rockets, Luis Scola is the only one that is able to play like this.

It was not only that. Luis Scola also possesses the slyness and intelligence of European players in defense. Throughout the 3 day’s team scrimmages, he had repeatedly succeeded in drawing offensive charges from his team mates. With his eyes set on the in-rushing opponent, with his 2 hands crossed on the chest, once there was body contact with the offending player, Luis Scola would in one very smooth motion fell onto the ground, usually accompanied with a painful scream. Such scene happened repeatedly to both Kirk Snyder and Shane Battier: Luis Scola would bellow a loud cry and drop onto the ground once contact was initiated, and Kirk Snyder or Shane Battier just haplessly waved their hands to plead their innocence. Then (after an offensive charge given to the attacking player), Luis Scola would stand up, pat his own buttocks, and was totally unscratched.

So compared with his off court demeanors, Luis Scola while playing on court is definitely more cunning, and not dumb at all.

And right after each day’s training/team scrimmage, the other side of Luis Scola personality and disposition would manifest. He would find a quiet corner, sit down, sip his fruit juice and observe players around him. He was carefully looking on and studying without making the slightest sound how his team mates were cracking jokes and making fun of each another, and how they called each other with their nick names. On Day 1 of the training camp, Luis Scola did not speak a word. But on Day 2, he began to act like all his other team mates; he would run up to pat the buttocks of his team mates, and crack a joke or two with them; and before the players left the training ground, he would run up and greet each and every of his team mate, and it was only after he made sure that he had said goodbye to every of this team mate, then he would take out his mobile, check the short messages, and slowly stroll towards the team bus (to leave the training court).

So it is safe to estimate that by the time the team returns to Houston, that dull and dumb big fellow will vanish. The training camp only lasted 6 days, but Luis Scola just keeps changing everyday. No wonder Luis Scola is always so proud of being an Argentine. Surely in this big fellow, you can easily find the intelligence and wisdom of the Lain people.
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Rasselas · Oct 8, 2007

Thanks pryuen -- this just made my morning. This is one of the most entertaining translations ever:

pryuen said:

Reporter Zhang Minghao reports from Austin

...but just tossed around and manipulated by much shorter photographers surrounding him

looked a little hoodwinked on this first day.

looked like a simple and silly big fellow.

the Argentine appeared to be a little bit dumb off the court

Luis Scola would stand up, pat his own buttocks, and was totally unscratched.

he would run up to pat the buttocks of his team

that dull and dumb big fellow will vanish.
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wnes · Oct 8, 2007

pryuen said:

Here comes the 2nd article from Zhang Minghao on Luis Scola's NBA Adaptation.....
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LOL ... what he is saying is Scola is a slick Euro flopper.

Hydhypedplaya · Oct 8, 2007

wnes said:

LOL ... what he is saying is Scola is a slick Euro flopper.
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Ya those were my first thoughts when I read that line. Hey I got no problem w/ it as long as he does not over due it. I mean every other NBA team has a skilled flopper, so why cant we?

Thanks pryuen, good read

pryuen · Oct 8, 2007

I have to skip the translation of the Exclusive Interview of Luis Scola for the moment, as it was too damn long.

So here is the article from Wang Meng on Chuck Hayes first.

http://nba.sports.tom.com/2007-10-08/0424/85858745.html

Reporter Wang Meng reports from Austin

In the power forward position, Luis Scola has only one competitor, (and that is) Chuck Hayes. Chuck Hayes has his own superiority; he understands Yao Ming; he understands NBA; he does not need such adaptation time required by Luis Scola; he could just when necessary be dispatched to play on court, grab rebounds for the Houston Rockets, blocks the opponents for Yao Ming. All Rockets fans know about his talents and ability in rebounding; in case Luis Scola do hit problems in his NBA adaptation, Chuck Hayes is a safe substitute for him.

On the season opening Media Day, Chuck Hayes told the reporters: “I am 100% certain that I will not be starting in the new season.” But 5 days into the preseason training camp, Chuck Hayes changed his stance; he seemed to have seen his own opportunity. He said: “I don’t know; maybe I will also have my opportunity. The Head Coach will make the final decision. I just have to continue to work diligently on my own game. I don’t care if I can start or not. I never have to worry about this.” There was a sudden sunbeam in the originally dark sky, and when Rick Adelman watched and nodded with approval at each of Chuck Hayes' passing, this wisp sunbeam became brighter.

Throughout the 5-day training camp, Chuck Hayes received heaps of accolades; whenever he dished out those exquisite assists of his, his team mates on the court side would exclaim: “Oh, Chuck is playing very much like Vlade Divac !!” Once deployed in the new systems of Rick Adelman, Chuck Hayes seemed to have transformed into another player beyond recognition. (No one seemed to realize) this short and sturdy power forward, labeled as just a blue collar player, has such exquisite passing skill.

In the team scrimmage, Luther Head dribbled all the way up to the 3-pointer arc; Chuck Hayes came up to the free throw line vertex with his back to the basket; he received the ball from Luther Head, and in a continuous movement, Luther Head glided into the low post area; without even taking a look at Luther Head, Chuck Hayes slightly kept off a defending John Lucas III with his shoulder, and then with his back to the basket, dished out a no-look pass just between the slit of John Lucas III and Luther Head; and the ball ran obediently into the hand of the unguarded Luther Head for an easy lay-up. Upon seeing this, Divac-related praises were resonated at the court side once more.

Regarding the praises from his team mates, Chuck Hayes just smiled. “Well, originally I can pass a ball, but I just did not have the opportunity to demonstrate my ability before, and now in this present systems (of Rick Adelman), I am required to pass more. I am this kind of player; I will do anything the systems request me to do. If I need to pass, I will pass; if I need to do all those tiring and dirty work, I will do.”

Even though Chuck Hayes said he did not care whether he will start or not, he is focusing all his attention in working diligently to enhance his game; every day after the training camp ended, people could still see him continue practicing his shooting: his free throws and mid-range jumpers from the free throw line; it is solely because in Rick Adelman’s systems, he not only requires his interior players can pass the ball, they must also be able to hit those mid-range jumpers. “Well, you all see now that I have been practicing a lot of my mid range jumpers, and I need to persist on such practice.”

On Day 3 of the training camp, Chuck Hayes was stepped on his left instep; blue stasis was formed on his instep and it was also swollen. He did not make a sound, and just hid himself quietly at a corner. Rafer Alston walked by and started to play a joke with him: “Hey, young man, you have to hang in there; this is no big deal. We all used to play on cement courts in New York; we might turn our ankles, just yell out painfully, but then we just continue with our play. You need to learn it from me.” Chuck Hayes just smiled back shyly and watched as Rafer Alston was gesticulating with his hands and feet in front of him.

I asked after his injury, and he said in a soft voice: “It is all right. I will be able to come back to play tomorrow.” And then on the second day, this solid, honest and good-natured lad did come back, continue running full of energy, and stay to practice his mid-range jumper after the end of team practice/scrimmage.
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Adelman · Oct 8, 2007

Thanks pruyen

cdrive · Oct 8, 2007

lol @ "pat the buttocks"

zong · Oct 8, 2007

Chuck Hayes is just too short for a PF, he can not match with other big PFs in the west on defensive end. It may take two months for Scola to know the NBA games, but he will do better than Yao at the beginning. Other players will not pay too much attention to him because any team has to figure out how to stop TMac and Yao first, and then leave Scola alone at the times.

mac_got_this · Oct 8, 2007

Hydhypedplaya said:

Ya those were my first thoughts when I read that line. Hey I got no problem w/ it as long as he does not over due it. I mean every other NBA team has a skilled flopper, so why cant we?

Thanks pryuen, good read
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Yeah but we already have two floppers in Battier, and Hayes. We need some shot blockers!!

liangqj · Oct 8, 2007

if Chuck Hayes has mid-range shoot and passing skill, extremely awesome.

foo82 · Oct 8, 2007

zong said:

Chuck Hayes is just too short for a PF, he can not match with other big PFs in the west on defensive end. It may take two months for Scola to know the NBA games, but he will do better than Yao at the beginning. Other players will not pay too much attention to him because any team has to figure out how to stop TMac and Yao first, and then leave Scola alone at the times.
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What are you talking about? He already has shown he can match up against bigger/stronger pf. Hell, he's even taken out Shaq!

Trip · Oct 8, 2007

Thanks for the translations. I always find it too hard to just read the Chinese articles. Reading Chinese on a computer screen is very distracting for me. All the ads on the site don't help either.

Whoever starts at the power forward I think will bring about his advantages and disadvantages, and I could trust Adelman to make the right choice.

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