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Indy Star At Least Says, "Hey, the guy's a rookie"

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by ROXTXIA, Aug 30, 2002.

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  1. ROXTXIA

    ROXTXIA Member

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    Warning! Gross generalization approaching!

    Maybe we're just more genteel in the Midwest than those East Coast sportswriters. :D
    ---------------------------------------------------------------
    World Championships Notebook: Give Yao the damn ball

    INDIANAPOLIS — For the last few years, NBA general managers, scouts and even a player or two have flown across the Pacific to get an up-close look at Yao Ming. Some teams have literally spent months watching him play. So why all the mystery about what Yao can or can't do?

    The answer became evident watching Germany take apart China in the opening round of the World Basketball Championships.

    China's shaky guards refused to pass Yao the ball in the post. He was being guarded by a guy six inches shorter and could never get the ball when he called for it. Yao touched the ball just four times in the first half, despite being open almost everytime down the floor.

    Unbelievable. There may be a billion people in China, but apparently none of them know how to play point guard.

    Several NBA scouts confirmed that what we were seeing Thursday night was par for the course. Team China just doesn't give Yao the touches he deserves or needs.

    "He's going to be shocked when he gets to the NBA," one scout told Insider. "When a 7-foot-6 guy gets position in the post and calls for the ball, he's going to get it every time."

    So take his 16-point game Thursday night with a grain of salt. He could've scored much more had he been given more opportunities.

    What's going on? It's not the system. When Nuggets big man Menk Bateer (23 points, 7 boards) was in the game, he got the ball almost every time down the court. In fact, for many scouts it was Menk, not Yao, who stole the show.

    "He's really improved," one league exec said. "He's such a wide body and he does a great job of clearing out his defender. He's got a real chance to be a nice backup center in the NBA. He's strong as an ox, and fundamentally he's really progressed."

    Several scouts fingered China's coaching, not Yao or their guards, as the biggest problem. "The really run one play, that's it. Unfortunately, that play isn't designed to get Yao the ball."

    Now you know why Wang Zhizhi decided his career was better off working on his game over here.

    As for Yao's foul-plagued first half, don't worry about it. "He rarely gets into foul trouble," one scout said. "I don't think it will be a problem in the NBA. He really knows how to block shots without fouling the guy. This was an aberration."
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    I'll add the link, but the IndyStar article reads much like the Chronicle's.

    http://www.indystar.com/article.php?kravming30.html
     
    #1 ROXTXIA, Aug 30, 2002
    Last edited: Aug 30, 2002
  2. RocketsPimp

    RocketsPimp Member

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    Nice to hear someone outside of Houston offer some perspective. I especially liked this part:

    "There may be a billion people in China, but apparently none of them know how to play point guard."
     
    #2 RocketsPimp, Aug 30, 2002
  3. WNBA

    WNBA Member

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    "Unbelievable. There may be a billion people in China, but apparently none of them know how to play point guard"

    This is harsh. I believe they have PG home .

    China got Wang zhizhi, but they did not want to use him. Their 3 PF totally scored 1 point and 1 rebound in such a big game. What a joke! But CBA like it.

    to me, China need better leadership. Let CBA down.
     
    #3 WNBA, Aug 30, 2002
  4. Panda

    Panda Member

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    I've said this and I'll say it again, that NT coach Wang Fei sucks donkey balls. He never compliments Yao and sometimes criticises Yao after a game, when he himself is the most responsible for China's sub par performance. What an idiot! :mad:
     
    #4 Panda, Aug 30, 2002
  5. Deckard

    Deckard Blade Runner
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    Uh, I can't believe I'm agreeing with a bear. ;)

    The coach for China should be put back in the china cabinet, along with his guards. Also, I think Yao is sore from his encounter with the NBA team. Looks like a sore hand/wrist where he has the cut, from what I could see when he was sitting on the bench. (on my little internet screen)
     
    #5 Deckard, Aug 30, 2002
  6. WNBA

    WNBA Member

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    Hah, that's the only coach who had been educated in NBA for one year...

    I guess guy must be only familar with the strip clubs of Dallas.
     
    #6 WNBA, Aug 30, 2002
  7. GATER

    GATER Member

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    Disclaimer - I am not a coach but consider myself a very highly observant fan.

    As I watched the game against Germany, I was struck by the lack of off the ball movement displayed by the Chinese NT. I don't know if this is intentional, lack of player skill or lack of coaching. It would seem (given Yao's passing skills) that something as simple as a high P&R would be more effective than what they were running. :confused:

    I also recall that Bateer was set lower in the blocks more often than Yao and that Mengke looked to go to the hoop immediately while Ming was out higher and looked to pass first. This pass first thinking usual resulted in enough time for double teams to form.

    It was late and maybe I missed something but I have the tape and am going to take another look. Actually, I thought the German team was talented and well coached and losing to them was not extremely shameful...hell, Dirk has developed into a world class player!
     
    #7 GATER, Aug 30, 2002
  8. windandsea

    windandsea Member

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    Ming is angry at his guards.:)

    [​IMG]
     
    #8 windandsea, Aug 30, 2002
  9. red

    red Member

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    "i will break you..."
     
    #9 red, Aug 30, 2002
  10. micah1j

    micah1j Member

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    "Throw me the damn ball!" Keyshawn Johnson and Yao Ming
     
    #10 micah1j, Aug 30, 2002
  11. aznlincolnpark

    aznlincolnpark Member

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    very mean angry pic of yao ming :D
     
    #11 aznlincolnpark, Aug 30, 2002
  12. xlr817

    xlr817 Member

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    .....or maybe he said....."Gimme da damn rock down low fools..or I will personally subject both of you to Chinese water torture!":D :cool:
     
    #12 xlr817, Aug 30, 2002
  13. RocketForever

    RocketForever Member

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    LOL:D :D :D :D :D
     
    #13 RocketForever, Aug 31, 2002
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