Yao is still weaker and slower than half of the centers he plays against. His strength is better but it is not the reason he has improved. Footwork is a huge part of becoming a great center and that is what Yao has improved at more than anything. That does not have much to do with Falsone. Working on footwork with the ball and getting around your defender is key. Also, getting position is not all about strength but footwork and using your body the right way. At the beginning of the season Yao was doing all these things the best he has ever done and then he got hurt and he was not able to do these things consistently and got a little rusty. One of the biggest things Yao needs to keep in mind and what Thibodeau and Dream are trying to teach him is that he needs to develop that will to dominate. That is the missing link in Yao's game. During Dream's time with him it wasn't all about doing this move and that move it was more about motivating him to dominate and realize he is the biggest player on the court and nobody can stop him.
You do know that there are lots of posters call everything except for dunks, jump shots, right? Hook shot, baby hooks, jump hooks, or whatever else, in those game threads, some posters categorize all those to jump shots for a soft big man.
Do I need to read further? Put your center list up, and cut it in half, then you can try to rationalize your claim with stats or whatever criteria you can come up with. Good luck with that.
______________________________ June 19, 2007, 5:28PM Adelman adds four assistants to coaching staff Associated Press The Houston Rockets hired four assistant coaches on Tuesday, including former NBA All-Star Jack Sikma. R.J. Adelman, the oldest son of new head coach Rick Adelman, will also join the staff. Elston Turner and T.R. Dunn are the other assistants to Rick Adelman, who was hired on May 23 to replace the fired Jeff Van Gundy. Sikma, a seven-time All-Star center, was an assistant in Seattle for the past four seasons. The 6-foot-11 Sikma played 14 seasons in the NBA, averaging 15.6 points and 9.8 rebounds in 1,107 combined games with Seattle and Milwaukee. R.J. Adelman was a scout for the SuperSonics last season. Rick Adelman coached Sacramento from 1998-2006 and R.J. was a scout and an assistant video coordinator there during his father's last five seasons. Turner was an assistant for Adelman for six seasons in Sacramento. He previously worked as an assistant in Portland, where Adelman coached from 1988-94. Turner played eight seasons in the NBA in the 1980s, with Dallas, Denver and Chicago. Dunn has spent the last three seasons as an assistant in Sacramento, the first two under Adelman. Before joining the Kings, Dunn spent two seasons as an assistant in Denver. In 2001-02, Dunn worked as an assistant coach at Alabama, his alma mater. Dunn coached the WNBA's Charlotte Sting in 2000. He was an assistant coach with the Charlotte Hornets from 1991-97 and worked on the Denver Nuggets' staff during the 1997-98 season. Dunn played 14 seasons in the NBA. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4903416.html
No, most people just used that as an excuse. They really just hated Jeff Van Gundy and would say anything in hopes of dumping Mr. Grumpy. Now that the bald eagle has been kicked to the curb I suspect all to be well again, with the exception of a few lost Van Gundy lovers.
ahhh........nope I do agree that the key to Yao's continued development is footwork. It seems strange that Yao doesn't use a weapon as effective as his hookshot 5+ times every game. Working on the footowork to make more use of that shot would be a good investment this offseason
Really? I'll give you one example. Have you noticed how easy Yao catch those bullet passes that TMac or Rafer throw to him? Oh you haven't. Then do you remember how Yao caught the ball 3 years ago like the ball was a hot potato? Of cause you don't.
the numbers say it, if you watch you notice...yao has improved dramatically at both ends of the floor since he came into the league...hes stronger, hes in better shape, he has more moves and counter moves, his defense has improved...the one thing he must improve on is his turnovers...the staff they have assembled...wow
