Yao's agent questioning Chinese NT's training method

Kobe's vertical has to be more than 35. I am guessing 39-40.

 

what kind of statement is that? Yao might as well thrown in the towel...i am disappointed that a statement like this comes from a 22 years old .you just don't make a statement like that to your opponent, no matter how much upper hand he has gained on you...yao is young ,he can work hard ,build up some muscles and play agressively ,and if things did not work out well then he can praise his opponents later.

 

Oh, I remember now. The website which posts this interview was the same one which had that 'fake' picture of Yao standing next to a chef. We were even laughing at how poorly that picture was photoshopped.

 

double post. deleted.

 

There is a culture difference between Chinese and American. Statement like this from Chinese people doesn't mean they have lost confidence. They were taught to be humble when they speak, give themselves some room for not being considered too cocky. No big deal. Actually Yao said he did much better than he thought he would in his rookie year, did that mean he didn't have confidence at all when he came here? Or did that make him play worse?

 

That's part of the chinese culture (or confucian culture: japan, korean, vietnam...).

Most of professional go playes won by being luckier claimed by themself. So, most competitions seem wild by just listen to what players said.

 

see below

 

I was wrong, Shaq's vertical in 1995 was 48". I should have said almost 50".

Newsweek, May 1, 1995


Copyright 1995 Newsweek
Newsweek

May 1, 1995 , UNITED STATES EDITION

"But look, if he were just another oversize fellow with amazing reflexes, we wouldn't be bothering you with this story. Shaq lights up the eyes of little boys -- indeed, all ages and genders -- from Beijing to Orlando to Barcelona and back again. Basketball coaches say you can't teach a 48-inch vertical leap."

 

Actually when I read the interview, it didnt suprise me that he said he's not going to be like Shaq, which is probably true. What he meant was that he is not going to play like Shaq by using sheer physical strength. What surprised me was that he think he needs to look up to Divac. Divac is a great player, but the guy is always billed as soft and know for his infamous flops, no Yao should never look up to him.

 

First of all, I am not a Yao hater. He has been the only thing giving me hope througout the whole miserable season, and the start of the long seven-month offseason. Now, I know it is going to be tough for him to be like Shaq, but I hate the fact that he has already ruled out the possibility- after one year and just two meetings with the big fella! What the hell?

I know Yao will never be the in-your-face dominant dunk-machine that Shaq is, but I still want Yao to have the same impact on his team! Championships!

Vlade Divac never led anyone to a title by himself, and he never will. Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt that anyone on this board wants Yao to turn out just like Vlade. That quote screams out laziness and resignation.

 

Actually, I'd be thrilled if Yao turned out like Vlade. Vlade is probably the smartest center in the league. He can get you with a precision pass or take it STRONGLY to the hole.

Also, a lot of people hate his flopping, but he probably gets 2-3 buckets taken away from opposing teams with those flops, another way he burns you...

 

It's no shame to think that Yao will never be as good as Sabonis in his prime...

Sabonis in his prime was one of the best centers to EVER play the game, maybe even on Hakeem's level for all we know.

 

There is some thing called "mutual respect":

A.I. on Yao: he's a gift from god;
Yao on A.I.: he's the player i'm most impressed in NBA.

Divac on Yao: he's ROY, he changed the game plan for opposing team;
Yao on Divac: he's the player i want to be.

PS. all quotes are not word by word.

 

I think your getting somewhere, buddy.
We're faced with a major cultural difference here and it's going to take getting used to.

I'm more concerned about what kind of offseason schedule Yao ends up with, this physical problem he supposedly has, and if he's ever going to spend significant time here in the States for training purposes. I'm hoping the "physical problem" is a means to get him back here and/or get him a break.

 

No! it is not laziness and resignation.
It is along the line of the Chinese proverb like
"Know yourself (weakness and strength) and know your enemy (weakness and strength) before the battle then you will win every balttle".

He is evaluating himself and Shaq for the battle.
I think that he evaluates that he cannot go against Shaq with sheer physical strength alone that is why he studies Vlade. (to come up with the way for the team to win against Shaq's)

 

Link? That's BS. No way in hell he had a vertical over 40. You sure they aren't measuring his 3rd leg instead of his vertical?

 

I hear you ZRB, although it's weird to read Championship in your post.

I read biograph about Yao( I think someone translated it here on this borad, the 7 part one) it mentioned that Yao was never a standing-out student when he was in school. We need to pour some fire into him, otherwise we've got a serious problem, more serious than not making playoff this year.

 

It's not BS. If you want the article go to the library or subscribe to Lexis Nexis.

 

Daveweek, April 29, 2003

Copyright 2003 Daveweek

April 28, 2003, Non-BS edition

"Those *basketball* coaches were smoking crack."

 

lmao

If Shaq's vertical was 40+, he would be blocking alot more shots than he has in his career.

I think Spud's vertical was around 52". No way Shaq had a vertical close to his.