Blasphemer! You may want to tell that to Hakeem. After all, Akeem learned how to play his best ball by playing pickup games against Moses at Fonde Rec Center.
Man, if they brought in Jabbar and he did absolutely nothing except teach Yao that sky hook, it would be worth whatever we had to pay. That shot was unstoppable at the time, and in the hands of someone 7'6"... Damn, I just wet myself!
Hakeem wouldn't be a good coach for Yao because he's a completely different player. Yao wouldn't understand how to be quicker than everyone else on the floor with pogo-stick jumping ability, and Hakeem wouldn't understand what it's like to be the tallest, biggest player on the court. Completely diferent skill sets. Besides, he's not interested. Moses wouldn't work because we'd have to hire another translator just so Yao could understand him. Jabbar's desperate to get into coaching, but burned so many bridges, I don't think he's got a shot. Every time Bill Walton calls a Rocket's game he's practically begging the Rockets to let him work with Yao Ming at some point, but he won't leave his announcing job to become a full-time coach. Bill Russell was a championship winning coach, and a great defensive mind. Him and Walton working on Yao over the summer would be something interesting - but neither would do it full time.
This summer, maybe Yao can get some individualized attention from the guru, Pete Newell. He has Rockets connections and is considered the premier big man teacher. He's still alive, right? He's very, very old if he is. So move fast, Rockets!
Again, that is by play against him. He was a good pratice partner when he was still young enough to go at it with Dream. I said he won't be a good TEACHER because he have nothing systematic to TEACH.
1st of all, the best players rarely are good teachers. They have God given talent that they take to new heights in their profession. They found out what worked for them & expounded upon it. The best player teachers are the ones that have to try everything to accomplish their goals because they don't have all the ability. Dream's success was due mainly to his quickness & footwork which was honed on the soccor fields. He was a super player, but he just doesn't seem to have teacher qualities. I would consider Bill Russell, Rick Smits and Dave Cowen as possible mentors for Yao if they wanted to.
Uhmmm........BILL RUSSEL he has 11 rings, thats one for each finger on both hands plus a spare.....lol and he was pretty tenacious defender and rebounder which is where Yao has the greatest shortcomings.
If we keep Mutumbo around for another couple of years i think it will help yao's development. He can actually lead by example. For awhile Mutumbo has been playing much better D than Yao. I think JVG can teach Yao a couple offensive moves after coaching Ewing. Plus, Yao already has the moves, just not the execution and rebounding. We all know rebounding is mostly desire and Yao just needs more stamina and aggresiveness.
I know Zo is still dreaming of being the player he once was, but I don't think that's going to happen. He's got skills, is a hard worker, and seems like he might be a good fit. He's going to have to retire soon, right?
And he can coach, my only question is he wouldn't come out of retirement to coach Yao on a full time basis and would a part time probably only in the offseason coach help Yao. Maybe Clifford Ray would be an option, he has been working with Dwight Howard effectively and with Johnny Davis gone he may be available if Ewing leaves.
I wonder what Ewing has on that clipboard? The 3D Cube? "Ewing" in bubble letters? I know, a Liger of course.
I've been saying for awhile no matter what happens with this season we should keep Mutumbo around to tutor Yao in D and rebounding. I think Sampson would be a good match too. When Ralph was on he was practically unstobbable. At 7'-4" he could handle the rock like a guard. More importantly for Yao though Sampson was a great rebound who knew how to use his reach to grab the ball out of the year even though he had to contend with much much stronger centers like Artis Gilmore.
Bill Russel would be a good choice. He was a defensive center. And I remember he taught Deke how to rebound.
We need to hire Orlando's big man coach. Why do people here assume that great players can make great coaches? Coaching is 80% communication. If it were that easy, then Michael Jordan would never have needed a head coach.
