Yao doesn't need to be taught finesse shots. Yao's already averaging nearly 20ppg on his finesse. Yao's biggest challenge is getting used to the physical game. Once Yao learns to play more physical w/out getting into foul trouble is the day Yao turns into an MVP candidate. Ewing's most effective shot was probably his 10-foot turnaround jumper. It was devastating. Sorta like Malone's. I hate both of them (as players) but they could nail that shot. Players normally don't become great by improving their existing strenghts. Players normally take the turn to greatness by adding new facets of their game which makes them less predictable and harder to defend. Dream came back every summer with a marked improvement on a new part of his game. Yao needs to do the same. If Yao can learn how to combine his finesse game with occasional flashes of brute force, it'll make him one hell of a player.
Seriously, since when did Ewing have no finesse in his game? Just because he was also big, used his size, and didn't have the greatest footwork in the history of the game (Hakeem), doesn't mean he didn't have finesse. What's more, Hakeem is just as physical a player early in his career with no finesse to speak of. All Hakeem relied upon was his physical attributes (jumping ability, height, size, etc.). Not saying Ewing is a great coach, or a bad coach. That'd be like me making a statement on the other assistant's coaching abilities. Who the hell knows? Until Yao says he was great, or he sucked, I'll be neutral on Ewing's coaching abilities.
QUESTION: Is Yao a better player now than before Ewing? Is his improvement due to Ewing? His stamina is better [no ewing] His shot is not as automatic His passing is not as great He is a better rebounder . . .i think [I have no numbers to back it up] Rocket River
And the basis for this opinion is what? The stats suggest you're incorrect. Some of ya'all are just not ever going to realize (paraphrasing Rick Pitino) that Hakeem and Rudy aren't walking into the locker room any time soon.
Garfield would say it best: Whoever's been tutoring Yao should be drug out into the street and shot. Then we can dance in the streets with Snoopy.
You don't think Yao has improved since his rookie year??? Wow. His scoring average has gone from 13.5 to 17.5 to 18.3 to 19.7 in his first 4 years respectively. I hated Ewing as a player too but none of us are there during practice, so how can anybody judge whether or not his is a good coach for Yao?
seriously no one knows for sure if PEwing helped or hindered Yao's development but I would be all for finding a big man coach with Rockets ties like Hakeem Moses Ralph (I think he needs a good job bad) I would prefer Moses out of all of them because he could teach Yao to rebound like no one else. I remember an interview where Moses talked about how much he teached Hakeem during the summers about rebounding, defense and the NBA in general. I think the main thing Yao needs to work on is his rebounding.. (1st) 3 or 4 more rebounds a game would make him a monster. J
I remember an article in the chronicle with Moses. He actually stated on the record that if the Rockets would like him to coach Yao, that they have his #. All they have to do is give him a call.
I'm in the middle about Ewing. I think he has experience, and like Yao had a good mid range shot. I think Ewing understands the game, and can be has been helpful to Yao even if they didn't have identical styles. However I agree with those that believe Ewing was just doing some resume building so he could coach somewhere preferably in NY. His heart wasn't in it, and he probably didn't put all he could into the job, so we aren't getting the best out of him as a coach for Yao. I would love to have Ralph Sampson come in and work with Yao. That would be great. I don't know if JVG would hire him, but I would absolutely love it.
There is no indication one way or the other whether Ewing is a good coach. The first year he was here, I thought Yao didn't improve at all. But then Yao clearly has improved since then. But who knows how much should be credited to Ewing? Anyway, Ewing haters hate him not because there is substantial evidence to judge his coaching abilities. It's because he was hated by Houston fans (And I am among them. ) ever since his Georgetown days.
Give me just ONE shred of evidence to support your claim. Just admit that you have no sound reason to base that statement on. If you hate seeing Ewing on our bench. Fine. I can agree with that. I hate Ewing, the player, as much as anybody. And personally, I don't really care if he stays or goes. I just don't understand why folks think he is doing a terrible job just because Yao has increased his production every year in the league. Nobody has ever coached a Chinese man to stardom in the NBA before. There are cultural variables to contend with on top of everything else. What makes you think Malone or Kareem would be any better? Dream might have SOME insight since he made a tough transition but even that doesn't fully compare to Yao's.
Don't even bother with this, blind Ewing bashing is endemic and stamping it out is like playing Whack-a-mole.
LOL! Are we in D&D or GARM? Evidence? In don't see how there can be evidence to support either your view or mine. I think this is an entirely opinion-based discussion.
so ewing took away his shot and his passing... the rockets should hire rik smits. he can probably show yao how to stop developing his post game. and maybe he can give him his shot back. seriously, ewing was a good choice. yao had a finesse game. he needed to improve on the areas, ewing was good at (rebounding, positioning, post game, etc.). i don't understand why people hate ewing so much. he did at least a solid job with yao. so it obviously has to do with his past as a ny knick and the personal expectations of some guys here of yao, which were just a little bit unrealistic.
I feel sorry for Ewing because of what has been said under this thread. I give this guy credit but he is not the indispensable guy for rockets. Good luck, Mr. Ewing.
