I've now posted this twice, but have not heard from the Anti-Ming camp. I really want to hear from Anti Mingers. I'm barely on the Pro-Ming side of the fence, so I'd like to hear feedback. On balance, the Pro Ming sentiment is better reasoned, and the Anti-Ming camp sounds emotional and kneejerk. ========== I hope folks here have been around long enough to remember Kevin McHale. McHale was a nightmare skill player that could handle the high and low post. He was not a super athlete, but he could shoot the midrange j, box out for rebounds, play decent defense and be a really effective weapon. What I'm reading about Ming tells me that he might be able to fit that mold. I was not a fan of the Smits comparison b/c he was not healthy most of the time. I know McHale had the longest arms since Plasticman, but I'll make the comparison anyway. Being optimistic, I'd like to see Rudy coach Ming on the fundamentals of high and low post play. Rudy should see something of himself in Ming. Rudy was a tall player in his time, and could handle the high post and face up. Barkley once said that McHale was the toughest matchup he has ever had. With the right coaching, Ming might make it near that level. McHale was all about footwork, form, up and under, half jump hook, 12 footer off the glass. That's old school scoring. Folks might argue that the league and game has changed, and I would agree to some extent. But fundamental basketball still revolves around pick and roll, low post drop step, boxing out . . . those concepts will always work if skillfully executed. Wait, someone is still doing it old school style in the post - Tim Duncan. I know, Timmy is one of the best and played 4 years of serious ball and was a sure thing. But Tim is not a power player. he does not steam roll folks. He uses height, leverage, position, footwork and freakin skill to kick ass. Ming has the lower body weight to hold his position (which distinguishes him from Bradley). he should be able to bulk up his upper body. The truth is that i wouldn't know what to do with all the time on my hands if i forfeited my right to complain, so I won't ask anyone to stop moaning about Ming becoming a bust. But the possibilities for success are there. I was calling him Yao Manute Bradley Bol Ellison Ming 2 weeks ago. I'm still worried, but let's be optimistic. After all, if he is a bust, optimism may be the only thing we get to enjoy, if only for a short while. for now, I'll call him Yao McHale Ming.
