http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/810535,CST-SPT-bside24.article Noah gears up for Yao's test February 24, 2008 BY BRIAN HANLEY bhanley@suntimes.com It wasn't exactly the words of encouragement rookie Joakim Noah wanted to hear on the eve of his matchup against against 7-6 and 310-pound Yao Ming. ''Thabo [Sefolosha] actually shook my hand this morning and said, 'Regardless what happens against Yao, you'll still be my dude, you're still my boy,''' Noah said Saturday. ''So that was pretty nice of him.'' Noah knows each game brings its own challenges now that he is the Bulls' post-Ben Wallace starting center. ''It's exciting,'' Noah said. ''Even [on Friday against the Denver Nuggets], Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin, I grew up watching those guys. I've been a fan of theirs since I was in seventh or eighth grade. So it's weird finally having an opportunity to play against them. I used to go to the Garden and watch Marcus Camby. He was my favorite player. I think I had his jersey.'' As for Yao, the Houston Rockets center is a big reason the team has won 11 in a row. He is averaging 22.2 points and 10.9 rebounds per game. With Wallace, the Bulls held Yao to 18 points and eight rebounds in the first meeting this season, which the Rockets won 116-98 on Dec. 22 at the United Center. ''I'm just going to try and play him as hard as I can, try to run him down the court as much as I can,'' Noah said. ''Just try to bother him as much as I can and not give him anything easy. He's definitely a tough assignment.'' Noah said he will miss Wallace, who was traded Thursday to the Cleveland Cavaliers. ''Can you imagine Ben Wallace telling you stories?'' Noah said. ''He's been in the league so long, just listening to his experiences, those are definitely things that are going to be missed.''
Doubt Noah guards him one on one because he will get killed. Yao probably sees double/triple teams and fronting defense. Let's see how Big Yao and the Rockets handle the Baby Bulls.
They will be punished by our other players if they double/triple teams Yao as Yao is a good passer. If they don't double teams Yao they will get killed one on one. We are in a good situation any way .
''Can you imagine Ben Wallace telling you stories?'' Noah said. ''He's been in the league so long, just listening to his experiences, those are definitely things that are going to be missed.'' translation: "Im glad we got rid of that old man, now I can start."
