Yao should never ever attempt to take a charge...again.

To add to it, most international bigs are soft. They train different than ones that play over here. If Yao had gone to Georgetown when Thompson was there, he would be light years better than he is now. Overseas, they treat big men like guards. They do some of the same drills which helps them t be good shooters. Wen they come to the nba and play against big strong physical players, its a shock. That's why guys like Dirk gets taken out the game by 6'8 sf like mcgrady,barnes,jackson, and Marion. The whole thing about him taking charges is a joke. He shouldve stop doing it from his experience against Dallas in the playoffs. The TNT crew kept saying if he jumps for the block, he wouldn't get those stupid blocking fouls.

 

yeah!Yao always tries to block by his chest........

 

you can't call anyone soft without defining "soft".

 

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I agree.
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That's the thing with international players in any sport, they have a much different style of play than we do. You gave a great example for basketball.
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The same is evident in soccer. Players from different regions have a special techniques and playing styles than others. Asians generally use their speed to their advantage. Africans play very physically. Europeans have an amazing passing game..
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Hell, I'll even take it one step further. When I'm playing a video game like Call of Duty 4 or something, and I play against British players, it is sooo much different. They have weird strategies and move in different patterns than anything you would ever expect playing against a normal player.
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The point of all this is, international basketball players are indeed trained differently, and it most definitely shows. Especially in the case of Yao Ming, because he is so physically different than every one else, it makes his game ugly. He has the typical international player's strengths of good shooting, free throw efficiency, high bball IQ, etc.. What he lack though is good old American grit and toughness. It shows in things like dunking, blocking, actively pursuing rebounds, and the like...

Does that make him a bad player? No
Does that mean he isn't one of the best? No
I just mean that his game is not as exciting to watch as it possibly could be, and that he has some deficiencies because of it..
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To address the main topic, I think his taking charges is worthless and disgraceful for a man his size. However, if that can gain us possession or two, keep doing what you're doing Big dawg..

 

Agreed. He always got called for a foul if he jumped for a block.

Bynum beating Gerald to the hospital= not "soft"?

 

it's either he take a charge and get hit
or
try to block and land on someone foot

 

its well within the confines of the game, and if he can move his feet and get to the spot and take the charge he should, I'd rather he get a charge then go up to block a shot and twist his ankle or his knee.

 

I agree. I would be embarassed and ashamed of myself if I was 7'6 and was trying to draw a charge from a guard. Pretty pathetic. Deke and Hakeem need to mentor this man a little bit more on the art of shotblocking

 

All in all, I worry about Yao's durability and if he can land the falls with control it is without doubt better then risking landing wrong from a jump or worse yet the VERY COMMON landing on someone shoes. Therefore I am okay with this method. Yes I would rather see a show time block but whatever send the ball our way then so be it.

 

Centers taking charges is soooo little mermaid.

 

sometimes it just makes more sense to take a charge. It can also be used as a momentum changer in your favor.

 

Yao should at least raise his hands up while taking the charge instead of his arms to his side so he won't look as much of a softy

 

Agree completely. Yao isn't quite in the same weight class as Shaq, but Yao's a big dude. Period.

I'd definitely be an advocate of just mashing the other center from time to time.

 

i agree. his build and speed are too big a liability to be able to pull off a charge in the last second. he's been having a lot more success just jumping straight up and altering a shot.

 

Yao is not soft!

 

Yeah, really. Deke played against a pissed off shaq in the finals and took elbow after elbow. Shaq admires Dream because he never flopped and played him straight up. A 320lbs man taking charges might as well put on a G-string, red stillettos and work south main again.

 

Neato. Shaq's admiration. That and $5 million can get you a shoe deal with Li Ning, like Chuck Hayes!

Shaq also averaged 33 and 16 in that series, including a 44-20 game, and a 28-20 game with 9 assists.

Maybe Deke should've taken a charge or two.

 

When Shaq was dropping 28-12.5-6.25 asst on Dream, he didn't take any charges. I guess he should have too.

 

Different strokes for different folks.

If Yao takes a charge it is fine by me.

DD

 

I guess it'll also be fine by you when he injures himself in the process.