There's only so much Hakeem is going to be able to teach Yao. Okafor is much quicker and mobile than Yao. You can teach and teach, but there's a limit what your body can do. That being said, I'm sure Yao could learn a lot from Dream, too. Very nice story and I've loved Emeka's attitude and demeanor ever since he was drafted. Seems like a cool guy.
he's in good shape huh? lets sign him!! he's in better shape than baker is i bet. sorry couldnt help it.
If dream could teach Yao a decent pump fake and proper footwork, I would be happy. I remember yao having some decent moves in his rookie season, but it seems like Ewing untaught yao these moves, since he seldomly even attampts them anymore.
Still bothers me that he didn't finish his career as a Rocket where he belongs. I wish we could get him back as a bench coach or special tutor or something.
I'm curious as to where Hakeem keeps his permanent residence. The article mentioned he left his wife and kids in Jordan and came to Houston for whatever the reason. Hope he decides to stay long enough that he and Yao will eventually have an oppurtunity to work together.
He looks pretty cut... Lets cut Baker add Hakeem. Not only because he can still play a bit, but so he can mentor Yao during the season. But Hakeem would have to sacrafice a year of living in Jordan to do so. can you imagine these guys on the floor together during the closing minutes of the NBA FINALS: Yao Hakeem Swift T-Mac Sura/Anderson/Barry/James BELIEVE...
You guys kill me.........Ewing had nothing to do with it. The league changed the defensive rules after Yao's rookie campaign. Thats why he contantly gets swarmed with double and triple teams now unlike his rookie year. He still does the baseline moves, the up and under etc. Only thing is now teams can cheat down on him or rotate the PF over to help...thats also why we brought in T-Mac so now teams have to decide who they want to double down on. Oh and just because you don't think the Chinese NT games are important doesn't remove the fact that Yao has committments for them and probably would disagree strongly with you on that comment.
The competetion Yao will face in Qutar, like for instance when they face Iceland, will help improve his game. Playing in games against NBA competition at fonde during the summer and being tutored by the greatest nba center to ever play the game is great and all but it doesn't compare to preparing and getting ready to face iceland in qutar. thats the real deal right there.
yeah, its pretty rediculous that Yao could be being taught by one of the greatest ever, but instead he is in china wasting away his off-season. at least he's been recovering from his surgery so he hasnt had to play all that much yet.
Okafor is a better project for Dream because he's in similar situation as Dream back in the day. Okafor is the main guy on the Bobcats just as Dream was in his early years. I think Yao's problem is mental. He's shown tons of moves and skills.
Okafor is the closest in skill set to Hakeem than any big man I've seen since he was playing. He has that rare combination of stregnth, quickness, and explosive leaping ability, and the flat out tenacity to block everything that comes his way and still position himself to get the rebound. Yao just has a different skill set. He should look to someone more his speed. I actually would like Yao to learn to use his size like Mark Eaton did on the defensive end for Utah. But Eaton had a much stronger upper body.
