This toe thing is a concern, but I sure like the "routine dunks" part. Especially playing a tall guy like Pavel (who of course has no experience against the big boys.) Still... the whole "out-of-shape" issue was a bit disconcerting, and you NEVER want your giant walking around with problems with his toes or feet. I sure as hell hope Dell Harris is smart enough to give Yao whatever time and treatment he needs to get this cleared up. I mean, c'mon, these are exhibition games.
Somehow I feel that Dallas is using Yao to train their rookies. Those rookies earned good experience pre-NBA.. I am not sure how much Yao could improve by playing with them, though. You may argue that all Yao need is just to get back to shape before Olympics, but no doubt the whole practice is a big favor to Dallas Mav.
Del Harris is a very knowleadgeable coach. A great teacher. He really understands basketball. China is lucky as hell to get him.
Seeing Yao in the Chinese jersey makes me wonder if he will switch back to number he wore in China now that Cato is gone.
probably not. "11" has a quite special meaning to Yao. it is his girlfriend Ye Li's number in the chinese women's national basketball team.
http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2004-07-03/0911975052.shtml The foreign coaches (one is Del Harris) of the CNT just commented that Yi is making progress every week and "it is hard to imagine the opponents will be able to score in the paint against a front line of Yao and Yi in the 2008 Olympics."