Link "Isiah Thomas spoke to Patrick Ewing recently about returning to the franchise where Ewing carved out a Hall of Fame career. Ewing is under contract with the Houston Rockets an as assistant coach on Jeff Van Gundy's staff."
With the type of game Yao plays the best coach for him would be Hakeem. I know that is highly unlikely, but losing Ewing would not be a major loss. Kareem could offer better advice than Patrick.
Replace him with someone who has a similar game to Yao like Kareem. Moses and Hakeem are great, but they have a completely different game than Yao. I don't think that Yao could play like they did so their teaching might be in vain.
What has Kareem done that makes people think he could give better advice? The guy is an egomaniac and that's why he's having such a hard time getting coaching jobs and keeping coaching jobs (like the Clippers job). And I haven't seen anything that would suggest that Hakeem would WANT to coach let alone is capable of coaching. Just because you were a great player doesn't mean you'll be a great coach. People want Yao to become more of a banger and physical player, that would mean that Ewing would be a better mentor in that regard then Hakeem. Moses Malone would also be a good mentor, in theory.
Kareem said he wanted to help Yao with his shot, to make him into a superstar. You don't hear that everyday from one of the greatest players of all time. If JVG has half a brain under that shiny head, he'll let Ewing go and pick Kareem up.
Mo Malone's offered in the past, not sure why they haven't taken him up on it. I think he'd be as good a teacher as Ewing, and he has Houston ties.
If Kareem does nothing more than teach Yao, who's an intelligent fellow, how to shoot a hook shot like he did, then it would be worth having him for awhile. I think Kareem knows how to shoot a hook shot. I think he could be useful giving tips on how to play with McGrady as well, if we get him. He's got a huge ego, but a lot of current and former NBA players do. And Kareem has had a rough life, for him, anyway, the last several years. I think he's probably a bit more humble than he used to be.
I think it has to do with 2 things: 1) Yao's slow progression has to be blamed on somebody ...and it sure as heck won't be Yao! 2) Ewing is a former Knick. People can't get over that and therefore will insist that hes not the right man for the job.
I thought he progressed by leaps and bounds myself. His moves are quicker. He's more physical. He's stronger. He manhandled Shaq. He didn't get into foul trouble. He much further along than I expected when we drafted the him. I'm quite content with what Ewing has done.
