where the hell has the Dream been all of Yao's young career! well its a start and I hope Yao works his ass off in the summer to replicate some of those moves.
Obviously, Yao doesn't have Dream's quickness, but he will be well served by the one dribble moves that they are practicing. Even at a slower pace, they are better than the multi dribble moves now in Yao's quiver.
Seeing them next to each other is just another reminder of how athletic Hakeem was and how unreal his footwork is. At least Yao can learn the footwork part.
That one dribble move makes all the difference. It keeps the post player from getting stripped off the ball. I am surprised they have not done this before! Many times those spins are traveling though. If you do it quick, the refs don't call them because they can't see the travel. If you do it slow, they will call it. BTW, we need to sign Hakeem up. If he does not want to play the regular season, just keep him in our back pocket and let him play in the playoffs. He looks awesome. Rockets' dynasty, here we come !
They need to practice moves further out from the basket...where Yao has historically normally gotten post position. Otherwise, great video. Yao said so himself afterwards, now its about repetition in practice, then use in scrimmages, then use in some international games, then in the NBA.
Great video! Obviously Yao will never be Hakeem but if he can grasp some of the concepts that Dream is teaching him they could be devestating, quick first step, spin into the middle and making the jump hook a primary weapon. All of those could make a big difference. The biggest thing that Dream can teach Yao is attitude. That's an area that I wish they could get Moses Malone to help out with too.
This is long, long, long overdue...If I read correctly, it was only an hour, so I hope they have more sessions planned for the future... Hell, have Yao pay for the Dream to come to China...He needs someone like this to coach and take Yao to the next level...
Doh, of course, these are Dream's moves and Yao was just learning them for the first time. But eventually, it is not the move that is the most important, but the little lessons about having the dominating mentality, how to use his height, how to leverage his strength, etc. I am so excited with this, while at the same time wondering what if Yao had this opportunity 2 years ago when Dream first offered. Tom Thib might be good, but he is a short guy who never played in the NBA. How could he ever teach Yao effectively?
that video made me giddy!!! wow hakeem still has all the moves. Even in the video, he seems faster than yao. Come on Yao, Step Up!!
The results of this can only be positive for Yao. Yao has been improving every year. Hopefully we'll see another big up in Yao's development. Also - Yao seems to have accumliated a host of injuries...I hope this does not worse with time...
Yeah, it's a long time coming. I'm excited to see them on the court together. Hakeem looks fit. Sign him as an assistant couch or back up center. I guess he still can play 10-15 mins a game.
As long as he get the technique and footwork down he'll be alright. Yao will never be as quick as Dream but if he works hard and keep at it he can be a lot quicker than what he was in previous years.
We should Sign Dream . . . just to let him retire as a ROCKET! I don't care it if is for only 1 day Rocket River
1 day?? how about him playing powerforward for 1 year then retire! looking at the video, I can EASILY CONCLUDE. He'd DESTROY JUWAN at his current age.
Dream is so smooth, even in his older age (not like grand daddy old, but nba old). He practiced those moves so much, that even when he puts them down for awhile and then picks them back up, it's like he never put them down! A lot of his moves are based on quickness that Yao doesn't have, but he might not need it. A lot of Dream's move were out of necessity. He wasn't going to go through Ewing, Robinson, Shaq, Mark Eaton, Daugherty, Duckworth, old Kareem, Old Moses, or any of the other big men during his time. All of them were just as big, or bigger and just as strong or stronger, so he developed quickness for fakes and to go around them. Yao is taller than anyone in the NBA, and stronger than anyone in the NBA sans Shaq. So he will be able to get his shot off, cleanly, with just a little of Hakeem's moves. I don't think Ewing was good for him for that, because Ewing went into your chest and faded away. Hakeem is giving Yao alternatives to when one option is taken away, go to option 2, and 3. They can't stop all of them, you'll only stop yourself by missing, and that's expected because you can't shoot 100%. I also like when Dream told him to lean into the layup. Yao is too freaking big to try up and under layups when he feels a presence nearby, he's too big for that. Yao really has the ability to be the most unstoppable player in the NBA. I hope he soon realizes it himself. Good video.
that video combined with the Sam Cassell TNT fundamentals video is further evidence that ClutchCity Rockets was such a good team, they beat the Spurs of this year by 20 points without sweating. If they put Duncan 1 on 1 with Dream, he'd get David Robinsoned , Dream would average 40pts again. Cassell would post up Parker. Otis Thorpe would grab everyboard, Mario Elie would out hustle Ginobli, and Robert Horry would cancel out Robert Horry.
There's not anyone here who would be more excited for the Rockets than I would be to get Dream under contract, either as an assistant coach, or as a player/coach. (a mind-numbing fantasy!) The problem is that Hakeem is an astute businessman, a multi-millionaire, 44 years old, and although I think he could still give us quality minutes off the bench at the 4/5, or more likely as an assistant, why would he want to? He's enjoying his life. Dream would honestly have to have a deep desire to come back in a role to even consider it. I want it, but I just don't see it happening. The best we can hope for is that Yao gets enough time off to train extensively during the summer with Dream, while Dream is in town. And how likely is that??
