The best part of the deal is that Ming, like Eddie doesn't even have to bulk up to have a reasonably successful first year. He can shoot, and shoot well - which is more than most big men can say. Then he can just hang around the paint to block shots and rebound. The following is just one possible scenario: Picture the Rockets in an offensive set with Ming 15-20 ft from the basket. Steve has the ball at the top of the key, and the other center has followed Ming outside the key. Steve has attracted his normal double team, and KT, set free by the double team, sets a back pick on Ming's man. Ming cuts to the basket for the lob and dunk, or gets picked up and makes the easy pass to Cuttino or Eddie for 3. As the sage once said, to gain much, you must risk much. But when the alternative is just becoming a good but not great team, what are you risking? I think my new sig says it all....
I don't think many of you guys realize how big 7'5", 300lbs is. If we played the Lakers 82 times a year, the guy better stay outside. However, against most other teams in the league he will be just too powerfull inside. You are telling me that LaFrenz can stay with him? You are telling me that Przbila will guard him? You are telling he won't be able to score 30 points on Nazr Mohammed, who is all of 6'10"? Or Tony Battie? Or Uncle Cliff? Or Lorenzo White? There is a whole bunch of undersized centers in the NBA. There is another whole bunch that are bigger, but that Yao may actually have a step on: Nesterovich, Ostertag, Jerome James. Heck, if Utah doesn't play Ostertag on him, they just don't have a chance, he'll score at will. And making Jazz play Ostertag will screw them big time...
I was wondering if you guys realized that Ming from a scouting trip a few weeks ago weigh in at 230 lbs at 7' 5". Shaq came into the league at 290lbs and dude must weight in at 350 now. Any reason to believe that Ming will bulk up to 300lbs? I didn't see any 7 footers in the last 20 years that bulked up 50 lbs of muscle. Check out Manute and Bradley or if you want to go the opposite check out Tractor Traylor, Ostertag, and Bryant Reeves.
I heard this info on ESPN radio where he had a workout in Dallas prior to the draft with ZhiZhi. They had him weigh in at 240lbs and the actual weight of 280? was just an exaggeration.
according to espn ming weighed in at 290 and the 235 listed was a mistake. looking at him there is no possible way for him to be 235, his legs are giant and he's 7'5".
LaFrenz is a good shotblocker and would give Ming trouble. Besides, you don't have to block a shot to make someone miss. You are talking about a player that is used to playing against mostly 6'7" guys. Who knows how he will react to playing against people almost as tall as he is or stronger than he is. He will get beaten up in the paint. And don't forget the short arms. That lessens some of his effectiveness. You can't score in the paint if you can't establish good low post position and establishing position is about leverage and strength. The bottom line for this team is we have enough people that sit around on the perimeter waiting to jack up threes. What we need from the center position is someone that deals almost exclusively in the low block that will give us a bruising physical presence and some much needed toughness and agressiveness. Yes, his height will cause problems for other teams but it's not like people haven't played against that kind of height before. If we can trade the pick for a veteren role player and Dunleavy, I say do it.
Ming would be the logical pick for us because once Shaq retires which will be soon hopefully cause his body can't take that much more imho. There will only be Duncan left as the true great center/pf whatever you want to call it. Point is once Shaqs terror is over I think Ming can be the next dominant big man especially since he's 7'5 with skills. I can see it already Duncan tries to post on Ming and Ming will block him from sheer height advantage.
Yao Ming can and will become a dominate defensive player in the NBA. Sure, he was playing in China, but if u remember the China U.S. game, his block on Vince Carter was sick. This is a guy with a ton of basketball background (both of his parents played on chinese national team, he's probably breeded to play ball) will be a great player on day.
Rice was one of the dumbest deals that the Rockets could ever make. Mo from what hear is seariously overweight. Does anyone besides Rudy think they will help us.
the one thing everyone forgets about Yao is that he is 19 or 20 still. he would only be a sophomore in college here...he has so much time to mature and get used to the physical play. I do not think there is a sophomore in the US that is ready for the physical play in the NBA. In fact, all players coming in, especially the younger ones, all say that the physicalness of the NBA is the hardest thing to get used to. Most inside type players need about a year to get used to it and the younger ones need 1-2 years. So, his lack of physicalness does not bother me right now. I know that he can still shoot and play over the top with a lot of teams right now. he may still have trouble against the Lakers and SA, but he is over the top against others...
Ming is a Rocket... Oh and he weighs 296 thats from CD who attended the Chicago Workout... They said the information recieved reported he weighed 236 but Dawson looked at him and said the only way that guy ways 236 is if he is hollow inside... Anyway they later said it was a misprint and his correct weight was 296
I do. You'd be amazed at how much help it is to actually have a rotation that can go 9 or 10 deep in the regular season instead of the crappy bench we had this past year.
Ming will make it in the NBA. The question is where. Will Houston take a chance on him? That point about the parents are very true. Both are in the national team. The family eats and breathes basketball. The parents go watch Ming play and coaches him after games so he could improve. BTW, the father is 6'10" and the mother is 6'4". Them are TALL genes. And if you want some more insight into the guy, there is a great 1 1/2 year old article in ESPN (I think). One of the little tibits mentioned was that during one of the first pro games he played, he was knocked down 16 times. Now he's the one doing the knock downs in China. Also, Ming is a team player. That's how they play in China. They didn't even keep individual stats when they first started the league. They do now obviously. The 230lbs number is incorrect. CD was at the "demo" of Ming and it was a typo on the info sheet. He's listed at 296lbs. Dealing with China can be a problem but you got to remember that Ming is their MJ and that's worth something to them. I'm Chinese and I life in Houston. If Ming is on the team. I will go to the games. If the Rockets end up with a good/great SF, I might go to the games. Either way, I will still watch all the games.
