Do you think after this season, this is the last time you will ever see a good Yao Ming? As Optimistic as I am, I believe we will see a Prime Yao Ming hit around his 30s just like a Kobe Bryant and a Hakeem Olajuwon. Since Yao's game is not fully based on athletic ability, I don't see why not. His physical body has never been the reason why he was successful at basketball anyways. Now that he has also done for playing with Team China. I think we could see him develop another go-to move in his game. Possibly learning how to play facing to the basket better, and beating players off the dribble that way. Or maybe we could see him develop a mid-range game and start picking n popping game with Kyle Lowry. I don't think he is past his prime, I am being optimistic about this. I wouldn't be surprised If I was wrong though. We might see another Dwyane Wade, where this season it might look like he regressed but he bounces back completely the next season. That or maybe he is saving his complete A game for the post-season. I just hope he can come back to the level he was before the knee injury in the 06-07 season. That Yao Ming would be the best big man in the game without thinking twice.
Yao has played so much ball between the NBA and Chinese National Team that it's entirely possible he peaked early.
Well in my opinion, he still isn't really 100%. I think due to the Olympics, he's only around 85-90% though. Really, maybe next season we can finally witness the 100% Yao Ming. I don't he's in his prime yet, because I still think he can develop, but probably not much.
There isn't much for Yao to develop except for him turning the ball over, not grabbing the rebounds firmly, and maybe a mid range jumper. Yao, in terms of athleticism, has already peaked. This is pretty much with any player. A player starts losing his athleticism, but finds other areas where he improves. If Yao can improve on the above 3 points, I mentioned, the loss of athleticism will be overcomed.
I do agree, there isn't much he really can develop except a consistent mid-range Jumper. I can see him possibly developing a face up basket game, but that's probably not going to happen. The most likely one is the mid-range jumper. Rebounds, possibly If Mutombo returns next season. Turning the ball over will never change because the athletic ability is what's holding him back.
I don't know. Face up ability has mainly to do with a shot that players respect and quickness. Yao doesn't have either now, but he can get the mid range jumper. He will never get the quickness. Yao's rebounding problem is his aggressiveness and technique. There is a reason why a player like Chuck Hayes is a great rebounder, even though his physical limitation. His turnovers can improve. Many times what happens is Yao is unaware of the incoming double teams. He will turn straight into a 2nd defender and gets the ball stripped. Other times, he doesn't pass quickly enough and throws a bad pass (because he is not aware of the double team fast enough). I do believe Yao will start working on his mid ranger jumper because in Rick's offense, sometimes Yao just hangs around the high post area after the pick and roll. For example, the layup Brooks did to seal the game against the Suns. Yao was too slow to roll with Brooks, but he tried. If Yao has a jumper, he could fade away to the high post area, and when Brooks sucks in two defenders, he'll just pass it to Yao.)
Well Yeah as I said, He COULD get the face up game. It is just extremely unlikely. I would rather have Yao become more dangerous in other areas too. Being stuck in the low-post is not a good thing. Especially when you are as dominant and aggressive like a Shaquille O'Neal. Yao needs to mix up his game more, I could careless how many people call him soft. Because us Rocket fans know what he is. Especially when Hakeem took way more jumpers than Yao did.
Everyone would love Yao to mix up his game. Rick tried to do that last season, but it just isn't happening... yet. Jeff's philosophy was to win every game no matter the cost and went to the proven play. But we have seen some great passes by Yao to cutters lately. I think he had at least 2 or 3 in the Phoenix game. Of course, for something like that to happen, we need his teammates to start moving and not standing around. And, like both of us posted, if Yao can shoot a mid-range jumper, it'll help him and the Rockets a lot. It'll preserve Yao's energy and there will be a lot less chance of him being called for an offensive foul when his back is away from the basket.
Question, It might sound noobish. However, I want to verify this. Was Hakeem able to shoot the mid range jumper consistently from the high post? Or what was it like for him? I would prefer Yao having both face up and mid-range jumper. But I'll be happy if he just gets one of them.
I think it a matter of how fast the boulder goes down the hill. Its either with a parachute or with a big rig. His game can improve marginally, but it will help him stay closer to his peak for longer like duncan. If he goes back to china and doesn't improve, he wil go down the hill a whole lot faster to the point he'll be detrimental.
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bByB5ZBNi_A&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bByB5ZBNi_A&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> watch the #2 play. or watch that whole clip in general. his athleticism, skill, talent, quickness combined was never seen before. that should answer your question. hakeem didn't have to get the ball near the basket to score. his quickness and athleticism allowed him to have a face up game and thus that's why his game was able to go to another level in his 30s. he was ridiculously skilled and gifted. with yao, the only use for his midrange jumper is if you run the pick and roll and then pass it back to him b/c no one is going to guard yao out there. and if he can make that, it will make his game much better. but seriously, you never saw dream play? gotta go study your youtube clips or espn classic or watch some clutch city tapes or something. even yao at his best right now isn't even close to what hakeem was.
Maybe I'm misunderstanding your post, are you indicating that Yao will be at the top of his game longer than Duncan? If so, you are crazy. I love Yao, but he won't stay on top for as long as Duncan has or did.
I've watched a hell lot of tapes of him, Documentaries and everything. I just didn't really see a lot of high post game when I saw the tapes and all that. I know Hakeem was extremely gifted as an athlete as well. I wish Yao could get a mid-range game AND a Face up game. But I'll still be happy if he only gets one of them.
no. he said if yao works on his weaknesses he can stay around this level of play (which is his peak right now) for a longer period of time like duncan is right now. duncan's peak has passed. but he's able to hover around "near" his peak b/c he has better teammates, but also play more perimeter-oriented (pop has told him to post up less) so he can save his body and energy. so if yao can work on some of his weaknesses and develop some type of midrange J where it'll alleviate his energy in the low post, he might play like an all-star for a longer period of time.
yao will NEVER have a face up game. he can't beat anyone off the dribble b/c he's so damn slow and clumsy. even in the post, if he takes more than 3 dribbles, it's an automatic turnover. a mid-range J is attainable. he just gotta work with someone in the offseason where he just imitates doing a pick and pop and just shoots those jumpers.
Yao is not going to be able to face up, he's too clumsy with the ball faced up. If he just gets a mid-range jumper that is fine. Yao isn't in his prime though, mentality wise it isn't there yet for him...his mentality can easily change...hell it could change next week.
He's been more clumsy ever since Adelman came here though, Just saying. I think it's possible, It's just unlikely. Too many pessimests here.
if you saw hakeem played, you know he improved each and every year, either on offense or defense. with kobe or michael, you can see their midrange game improve every year. yao hasn't improved much with his game on either end except for his shotblocking, which has been good this year--and it's not even his career high. its being "realistic." yao will be very good for the next few years. don't worry.
He should way better especially since he won't playing for the Olympics anymore. I don't know about Dirk, but he probably should get better too if he's done. Both Dirk and Yao are Gym rats.
