Sane , I really think you're dreaming about Cato. Whats clue at all has Cato given to you that he'll come in in shape? He had all the reason to come in camp in shape and he didn't. He didn't get into decent shape until Jan or feb. Cato is what he is and thats a underacheiving, lazy ball player. He hasn't gotten any better since he was drafted,he's not a gym rat, and now he has more money than he can spend, I would expect what we saw. Ming on the other hand has been reported to be a gym rat and has gotten better every yr since playing pro ball. If Ming comes in , one thing for certain is he will be in shape period. He could come in give us 15pts 9 rebs and a couple of blocks, then I can except cato's 5pts 4 rebs. Otherwise, if we're expecting Taylor,Rice and Cato to elevate us, then we're in trouble.
He is NOT a shotblocker. The instincts are not there, he'll get two blocks in 30 minutes, but he doesn't want to roam or come from the weakside. He was letting a 5-10 PG from Marquette lay-up all over him at Loyola. He is TREMENDOUS at pick and roll defense, if anything, that was the biggest shocker to the GMs and scouts. He made 5 out of 16 from behind the three-point arc, these were uncontested pull-up jumpers. From just inside the 19-9 NCAA line, he made over 70% of his looks. Does not dunk, at all. Likes to finger roll and flip it in. Only dunked at Loyola when the groans were audible from Scott Layden. He'll sometimes have Austin Croshere disease. Too many moves, too many options, so he'll lose it when he thinks too much and gets caught halfway between two moves.
I've read his wingspan is anywhere from 7' to 7' 4". I remember looking on the Internet for similar measurements when Eddie Griffin was coming out and I could've sworn I read Eric Dampier has a 7' 9" wingspan and it's the largest in the NBA.
leebigez, First of all, Cato showed last year that he wants to play, and he'll give his all. That's the sign. Second of all, Ming is not a gym rat. It's been reported that he likes basketball. However, it has been reported, and he has been quoted as saying, that he hates going to the gym. Third of all, there's no indication that Ming will give us 15/9/2. In fact, I would go as far as saying he will give us 10/6/1 in 20 minutes a game. That includes rookie mistakes, and rookie wall. Not to mention INSANE fatigue if we make the playoffs. Also, he will take time to learn the plays, because he wont' be here in training camp and probably preseason. Just experience, effort, and chemistry gives Cato the edge. IF, and I did say if btw, Cato comes into camp in shape, then we HAVE to give him serious consideration.
originally posted by KellyDwyer Wasn't there for the workout, but did read Ric Bucher's article for ESPN. He said the same thing. There's not a whole lot that can be said to refute that. However, it would seem to me that his block totals in the CBA should count for something, especially if we choose to base so much of it on an uninspired workout that did not simulate game situations in any way. Cordell Henry making bank shots over Yao Ming is not a good sign, but I wouldn't say that he's not a shotblocker based on that 45 minute session. I agree that this is a problem with Yao. He's got to be more aggressive and that means dunking rather than laying it in. Dunking is a choice, though, not a skill. We're not talking about windmill jams here. We're just talking about finishing with authority. That's where coaching will have to make a difference. He needs to be taught to play a different style of ball. One good thing, though, is that he's very young. He's not coming over here a seasoned veteran of the international brand of hoops. He can definitely grow into the American style of play. International players that actually "convert" styles have to come early enough to not have those type of habits ingrained. Hoping this is the case for Yao, too.
You have got to be kidding. I really pray that you are. Please, no one EVER compare Ming to Dream. Period.
I saw he played the game against USA at Sydney Olympic Game. Unfortunatedly I didn't see more since I am out of China for long. I am not a propagandist of the Communist Party, so what I said is what think is the fact as a long time Rox fan. My mother is a long time China League follower, now she is with me. She is a former basketball team member of the Red Army, that is why her favorite boy is Zhizhi Wang, not Ming Yao. Quote her comments these days here: "Wang is better than Ming." "Ming made a great improvement these two years." "Bateer used to toss off Ming in China NBA, but now he is not able to do that anymore." "Ming can shot, run, block and dunk,he has fundamental, speaking of his skill, he has tons of things to learn." "His strength and his stamina is not fully developed, some time during the time out, you can see him panting." "Finishing strong? Ming does not have it." "Yao is post player all the time, if the guards can not find him, he would not ask for balls." Do all of these negative comments make you crazy? I guess all these info are known to the scouters and management of NBA teams, since nowadays, very games of China NBA are broadcasted. If he still become #1 draft, he will be the #1 draft with all these known weaknesses instead of the one on the paper, I hope all the fans understand this. Copy my previous post here. There are some easy comparisons. Vs Zhizhi Wang of Mavrick: Three years younger, three inches taller, less mobility, less agility, same competitiveness,Ming used to be the No. 2 in the nation beside Zhizhi two years ago, but now Ming is good enough to challenge Zhizhi for #1 seat. Vs Bateers of Nuggets: Much younger, much taller, much competitive, less muscle, ranked higher than Bateers. Vs Bradly of Mavrick: Same size, much younger, more strength, more competitiveness, less talks, much much affordable. You can get a rough image of him from these comparisons. I would say, no matter how good/bad the China League is, he is a NBA level player looking at his precedents in NBA. My whisper only for Rockets, why draft Ming? Go for a trade for Zhizhi. Nuggets is tanking him after his career high 19 points in 21 mins in order to give Lafanze a time before playoff. I can say that Zhizhi is much better than he is doing in Mav uniform.He got game. Starting with Wang. Wang has inside game, five years ago, at Atlanta Olympic game(?), he was a kid playing the center for China Team, without recently emerged Ming, he impressed many with his capabilities of scoring and blocking against D. Robinson and US team. Someone started saying that this kid had game and should play in US. Considering his unreplaceable role in China Team and Army team, the Party would not let him go. After five years, five National Champions and a few titles in Asian he won with his teammates. this is actually his first year in NBA. Nilson told him that, I can remember, if you had the ball ten times and you only shot nine, you still owe me one. As a rookie, I guess it is hard for him to find a niche in the paint if he can not receive respect from refs and he is asked to shot the damn ball every time and he is still very vulnerable against all American studs. What he is doing is shooting outside jumpers at over 40%. In short, a very good first year to me. Inside game was prime part of his role back in China, he is just showing his versatility. 220 lbs? you are kidding me, I am almost 210. The whole China is blaming him not go inside in NBA as he did in China, I think he has no opportunity to do that with Mav. Ming Yao: Yao is surname. I could not compare China league to CBA, but I would say that two years ago, at Beijing "friendship game", China team beat US NCAA elite team, which include Battier, Dixon and more. NCAA is comparable to China League IMHO. Unrelevant statement: Some of you may not understand why Chinese Gov is trying to put conditions on Yao's case. You may not know that Yao, Wang and Bateer are all the superstars China NBA has, no matter how good or how bad China NBA is, without them, China NBA must struggle with its Survival, so does Shanghai Sharks. You may not know that Wang, Yao an Bateer have been keeping receiving "Athlete Allowance" from the China Gov since they were big kids, although the allowance are not many from American point of view. Now many young kid are being supported by the China Gov to realize their dreams being a star like Wang, Yao and Bateer. China is not a evil, it is only a country your paper seldom covered.
I remember I saw Yao in Olympic games, and some asian club games. What I summarize those several actions, it is "above average". You know, this is NBA, and west conference. I do not think the original starategy book says all centers should be Shark-like. Yao is a standard center following the classic definition of center. However, as of Shark's entrance NBA, everything has changed on the role and duty of centers. Nowadays, NBA elite centers try to emulate Shark. This is a trend, and mostly NBA oriented sign. MOst college ball teams are trying to produce and train their centers based on this trend, at least in America. Some European centers like Sabonis and Divac used to be a tall playmaker that can control the game. If a point guard is a cruiser in a fleet, center is like a carrier. They can pass, defend, even try 3-points, above all they should dominate and see below every other players to manipulate the ball-operation. However, NBA necessitate definitely different role of center maybe since the era of George Mikan. They should be tough enough to hustle in the paint, be physically dominant in order to advantage above the rim. Centers should have selective advanges which other positions lack. That is why most NBA teams are seeking highly specialized centers nowdays. NBA Centers are like goalies in hockey, keepers in soccer, catchers in baseball. They have their own special skills, and highly concentrate on them. No other skills are partly redundant for modern centers of NBA. In this sense, Yao is not best qualified NBA-ish center in curent status. Rather he is a tall and gifted young player who can have his own niche out of NBA. Whether he can transform himself into NBA suitable is totally depending on his endeaver, but out of his plays so far, it is too far away up until now.
The dunking isn't a problem when it comes to finishes and thunder from the above, my beef is that he has to take it strong and _try_ for a dunk even when he knows he ain't gunna make the shot. 98% of the time, he'll get fouled, and go to the line with that 80% FT stroke. It's all about trying to screw the defense, to make the refs determine the outcome, and adding a good 4-6 points to your total, not to mention sticking someone on the bench with foul trouble. And, as the workout progressed and he appeared more and more winded, the FT stroke remained.
I've seen bunches of the clips on ESPNEWS, and on local TV since we got the #1: -I saw him shoot with a fluid stroke with his foot on the 3 point line-not sure if it was college or NBA (I'd assume college), but impressive nonetheless-I don't doubt he could extend it. His stroke looked REALLY good. One of the exercises PJ ran him through was he got the ball on a pass around the free throw line with momentum, and took it to the basket. He caught the ball with ease, and dunked it with 2 hands. He has very good hands, and didn't look awkward going to the basket with the ball like, say Cato. Also, I don't know if everyone's seen this, but here's a FIRST HAND account of the Chicago workout, analyzing Ming, from nbadraft.net. Chicago Workout DoD-The listing from his measurements say he has a 7'4'' 3/4 wingspan, and a 9'7'' vertical reach, as well as 7'6'' 1/4 in shoes. (7'5'' in bare feet.)
I have only seen a couple of clips on the internet but not enough to judge him in any way so I have a some questions to those who have seen him: 1. Does Yao put the ball on the floor when he gets it close to the basket or does he just turn and shoot. 2. When Yao is holding the ball does he hold it low close to his waist or up over his head. 3. Does Yao go after rebounds or does he stand around and let the ball come to him. 4. When Yao gets a defensive rebound does just pass the ball to the nearest guard or does he look down court for a long outlet pass. 5. Is Yao foul prone.
