How desperately does Yao really need to develop an inside game?

DCkid · Aug 23, 2002

I think this is just another case of the "lazy media" where they just hear one thing (Ming is too weak) and milk it for all its worth. I see all these sports reporters (specifically Tom Tolbert) saying how Ming doesn't have any inside game to go along with his outside game. Tolbert was acting like Ming's never really going to be a very good NBA player until he develops that inside game and puts on all that muscle maybe 3 or 4 years down the road. I don't really know how he came to that conclusion from a single game where Ming only took twelve shots, but let's just assume that Ming has no inside game.

I also don't understand reporters who say, "what good is a 7-6 center who only shoots from the outside?" Well Idiot Sports Reporter (ISR), let me tell you what's good about it. First of all, you have a guy who's making shots...obviously that's good. Second, you have a guy who is 7-6 and can pretty much get the shot off whenever he wants. Third, and this is the biggest one, this 7-6 guy will be playing with two very active guards who can explode if given just a little bit of room. The fact is, centers are going to have to come out and guard Ming, otherwise it will be target practice. Players like Mobley, Francis, and possibly Boki are going to benefit from the extra spacing caused by Yao playing with them, and since Yao has a half-foot over his man he should be able to see the entire floor and make passes to cutters.

This is more how I see the Rockets offense going with Yao, than just throwing it to him down in the post everytime and alienating are other star players in the process. With Yao and Griffin on the floor at the same time, the spacing that this will create for the other players should be unbelievable. They can both fill it up from the outside.

The only real concern I would have with Yao playing on the outside, is that he won't be close enough to get offensive boards. But, after watching last night's game I don't think that's going to be a problem. He seemed to crash the boards after most shots, he seemed to have good anticipation of where the ball was going to end up and where he needed to be positioned, and lastly, he takes two steps from the 3 point line and he's already in the lane.

And I'm not saying Ming should never develop an inside game, because it obviously would be just another addition to his game. Plus, it would attract double teams causing Ming to kick it out to wide open 3-point shooters (any of that ring a bell?). But, I just dont' think it's neccesary that Ming put on 50 pounds of muscle and develops an inside game to be considered successful. It would just be icing on the cake.

montgo · Aug 23, 2002

Ming has an inside game, but you have to play your opponent and take what they give you with the talent you have. China has no prescence anywhere on the court. Yao attracts too much to come inside on the US and quite frankly, China's guards do not know how to feed and get the ball to him. Imagine, Francis and Mobes coming down court with Ming setting up just outside the baseline. I bet you you see more from Ming inside. But, I would not be surprise if more of his game comes from just beyond the block. He is not going to be Hakeem on the offensive end. He will be his own player with other moves Hakeem did not have, but still very effective and hard to defend.

MONON · Aug 23, 2002

DC,
You just saved me a lotta typing!!

The thing that amazes me the most is seeing someone that tall hold the ball that high over his head from 15 to 20 feet out & consistently hit the shot. Why is November still a year & a half(well it seems like a year & a half) away?!?!

crash5179 · Aug 23, 2002

Ming showed some nice inside moves a few times last night. He had one hook shot early in the game that did not go in but it was obvious that he knows how to shoot it as it looked good coming off of his hands.

Mings inside side game will continue to suffer as long as he plays with guards that can't even get the ball across half court most of the time.

jevjnd · Aug 23, 2002

Honestly I think that it is the only thing keeping him from being an absolute star from the get go. I must also add that I don't think that he's 4 years away I think that he's 2 years away and that he will show flashes in his 2nd NBA season. He plays so smart and can go uncontested at will, let's be real if he had that stronger upper-body that everyone talks about he would have had a bigger impact. As it stands I think that he will be a top 5 center next year and will get the best of all of last nights players down the road. Lastly is it just me or is Bateer better than you guys and myself thought?

Rocket River · Aug 23, 2002

Yao's ability to just shoot over the top of Davis, Wallace etc was great

Rocket River
excited

Dusty Bottoms · Aug 23, 2002

Originally posted by jevjnd
As it stands I think that he will be a top 5 center next year and will get the best of all of last nights players down the road.
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing. Zo is prolly still no. 2 and Dikembe is the eraser on defense, but after that there are only marginal players like the $12 million Kandi Man (not yet, but next season he will be). I'm thinking he's better than Kandi and the other mediocre centers from the start.

mulletman · Aug 23, 2002

Lastly is it just me or is Bateer better than you guys and myself thought?

Bateer wasnt bad at all. he just didnt look like he had any 'hops'.

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How desperately does Yao really need to develop an inside game?

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