Let me tell you why JVG destroyed Yao. Most of you just think that I'm crazy, think that he helped Yao develop into the best center, and didn't play very well under Adelman right now. I had already posted the following message 2-3 weeks ago somewhere in this forum, and I really don't want to post it over and over again. But I just see you bash me on this topic in another thread, today. JVG's strength is defense and Yao's strength is offense. Clearly, there is a conflict of interest. On the offensive side, JVG is a below averaged offensive coach. If Yao was teached by an above averaged offensive NBA coach in the last 4 years, easily but not certainly, we might have seen a much better Yao. To me, Yao was just one of the robots in JVG's system. On the defensive side, JVG is a great defensive coach. After 4 years playing under JVG, Yao should be a good defender, but it is not true. Ironically, I believe, Yao played a better defense this year than he did before. When he walked into NBA 5 years ago, Yao is just a baby, who didn't know how to play in NBA, and he got zero point in his first game. As a baby and a very nice guy, Yao will learn almost everthing from his coach and follow coach's order exactly. The first few years of Yao's NBA career are particularly critical for him, when he needed a good tutor/coach to develop him. Use common sense, if you need hire a tutor to coach Yao, do you want to hire JVG? Why didn't Yao play very well this year? New coach, new system. He had never had a single chance to play in a good offensive system during the last 4 years. He has lost many ability since then. What I'm trying to say is that Yao could be a much better player without the guidance of JVG. Now, maybe, it is too late. .
all very well thought out. Except for one thing...yao is having a worse offensive year this year you need to go back to the drawing board on your theory of how jvg ruined yao...and how jvg is the cause of all cancer
also, yao is a very good low post defender. He isnt the best weak side guy, but thats due to his physical limitations, i.e. not quick enough.
It had already been answered in my post: Why didn't Yao play very well this year? New coach, new system. He had never had a single chance to play in a good offensive system during the last 4 years. He has lost many ability since then. JVG trained Yao solely playing in the low post as a robot during the last 4 years. There is nothing can be changed overnight. And, as I said, maybe it is to late to change anything.
the basket is still 10 feet tall and the ball is the same size. Put it in the hole if he is as offensively gifted and "limited" by jvg as you claim. seems like you are just making excuses. Either you insanely dense and slighlty delusional, or just arguing for the sake of arguing never mind...i just read the second paragraph...you are insane
Do you really know anything about basketball? Under JVG (now I give Yao and the assistant coaches much more credit as he is the one with the talent and they work with him in practices much more than the actual head coach), Yao began as a soft big man with a finesse game. When JVG left, Yao had an assortment of low post moves, understood team defense, had a great mid-range game and was considered the best center in the NBA (or one of them). He is now capable and willing to use his height/weight advantage to play well under the basket and still is able to make midrange jumpshots with ease. He is great at passing out of the double team and isn't afraid to dunk. The only knock on Yao is his lack of quickness, which no one can change...that's why he will never be as good as Hakeem. He has the skillset, which he honed during the JVG years, just not the quickness. Adelman has him playing more at the top of the key like a Miller or Divac, but that isn't Yao's strength and shouldn't be, though he can hit a long range jumpshot. This offense is based more around cutting and movement and spacing, and that takes away from big Yao hanging out under the basket. Is that a bad thing? Everyone struggles with a new offense, especially a complicated one. It takes time to adjust. Yao's numbers are down b/c we also have other players that are capable of scoring, and he passes a lot out of double teams when opposing teams focus on doubling him. You saying JVG ruined, hindered or even slowed down Yao is the most ridiculous thing that I have ever seen someone post in GARM. Congrats
evidence that Yao became a better player under JVG and was not ruined by him? you can start with statistics. always a good baseline. check his stats from his first season under JVG to last season. better yet, if possible, go watch a handful of games from the first and last year he played under JVG, then come back and talk (basically when you know what you are talking about) i really don't think you know what you are talking about
JVG didn't destroy Yao. Yes, Yao had a variety of quick moves that he could use, but he was never quick enough to match Hakeem's speed. Using only those moves he wouldn't have dominated the league. JVG's insistence on him playing the low post actually helped Yao a lot. If you just want flashy drives or under-the-basket moves, sure Gundy's insistence that Yao gain muscle to bang in the post hurt. However, Yao would have always been limited by his speed, quickness, and athleticism if he relied on all those finesse skills. His ceiling is much higher as a pure low-post player. Which defender in the league can block a Yao jump hook 5 ft from the basket? Not many.
Do you really know how good Yao could become? Are you sure? It is debatable, but I don't want to go any further. I know that Yao has played better and better each year under JVG. Yao is the best NBA center. I agree. But, I think he could play better and JVG destroyed him. In my post, I proved that Yao could become a much better player. I don't think you can prove me wrong, can you? .
