I hope folks here have been around long enough to remember Kevin McHale. McHale was a nightmare skill player that could handle the high and low post. He was not a super athlete, but he could shoot the midrange j, box out for rebounds, play decent defense and be a really effective weapon. What I'm reading about Ming tells me that he might be able to fit that mold. I was not a fan of the Smits comparison b/c he was not healthy most of the time. I know McHale had the longest arms since Plasticman, but I'll make the comparison anyway. Being optimistic, I'd like to see Rudy coach Ming on the fundamentals of high and low post play. Rudy should see something of himself in Ming. Rudy was a tall player in his time, and could handle the high post and face up. Barkley once said that McHale was the toughest matchup he has ever had. With the right coaching, Ming might make it near that level. McHale was all about footwork, form, up and under, half jump hook, 12 footer off the glass. That's old school scoring. Folks might argue that the league and game has changed, and I would agree to some extent. But fundamental basketball still revolves around pick and roll, low post drop step, boxing out . . . those concepts will always work if skillfully executed. Wait, someone is still doing it old school style in the post - Tim Duncan. I know, Timmy is one of the best and played 4 years of serious ball and was a sure thing. But Tim is not a power player. he does not steam roll folks. He uses height, leverage, position, footwork and freakin skill to kick ass. Ming has the lower body weight to hold his position (which distinguishes him from Bradley). he should be able to bulk up his upper body. The truth is that i wouldn't know what to do with all the time on my hands if i forfeited my right to complain, so I won't ask anyone to stop moaning about Ming becoming a bust. But the possibilities for success are there. I was calling him Yao Manute Bradley Bol Ellison Ming 2 weeks ago. I'm still worried, but let's be optimistic. After all, if he is a bust, optimism may be the only thing we get to enjoy, if only for a short while. for now, I'll call him Yao McHale Ming.
Great post Rileydog. I think you have something there. I really think people don't give "good proper footwork" the proper respect when it comes to playing defense and making offensive moves. It is not always about who is the most athletic or who is the biggest and strongest. I quoted the parts of your post that specifically talk about McHale's and Duncan's footwork and positioning and I think they are dead on. I really do think that Ming has the potential to be similar to those players. He seems to be that style of player. Now whether he ever gets to that level we will have to wait and see but I think it is fair to look at McHale and Duncan and perhaps see Ming in the same light years down the road. Ming already has great skills and has shown a willingness to continue learning and a passion for basketball. That is a great mix! Chris
Thx. I hated McHale's pasty butt b'c we couldn't stop the Celts in the 80's. But damn he was good. (I've come a long way since last week, when I was asking for people to give me 5 reasons why Ming won't be a complete bust. B'c of the footwork issue, I thought about bringing Hakeem into the analysis, but Dream was a freakin ballerina Hulk the likes of which we will probably never see again.)
the mchale comparison is something i never thought about, but seems to make alot of sense. alot of people(me as well) become blinded by freakish athleticism that it's easy to overlook the more important things like strong fundamentals and footwork. like you said, duncan has these things, he's not a freak but he might be the best player in the game. i look at ming and from what i've read about him, it seems he has the intagibles as well. btw, it's also good to see another person coming around to ming after intelligently thinking it over. ming-haters, read his last paragraph and at least admit the possibility of him being good.
I see more Brad Daughtery which is very good also. Daughtery if he came out to day would be passed for these high jumping no skill players teams are so high on. In 8 yrs he was a 5 time all star until he back went out. If Ming con produce and be that type of player, its a done deal .
McHale had probably the best textbook low posts moves of anyone I ever saw. Hakeem had outstanding moves, of course, but he had way more athleticism than McHale to help him along. And I say this as a Celtic-hater back in the 80s. If Ming puts in the hard work that McHale did, he'll end up one of the all time great centers.
Yeah, Mo Malone didn't have enough help. Hakeem and Ralph could double Kareem, but couldn't stop Parish, McHale and that Bird guy. It's safe to say that if Ming turns out to be 80 percent of what McHale was, we'd be happier than pigs in ________. But everybody wants a dunker with "mad handles" and all that other crap. Case in point - I think somebody wanted to take Nene over Ming. Oh well. Draft day will be interesting.
