1. This guy is the perfect student of the game. I still can't imagine someone coming from a totally different style of play and culture and do what he is doing this year. His came is quite a bit better this year and you can see that he has started to learn how to play though dead legs and exhaustion. He has also really learned how to step up his game in the 4th quarter. 2. The best half court defender on the team. The only problem is that it looks like he tries to imitate Dream on defense sometimes. He fly's around trying to defend everyone that gets within 10 feet of the goal even sometimes out to the top of the key. The only problem is that he does not have the same quickness as Dream and can't always get back into position when the opposing center flashes to the basket which sometimes leads to uncontested points in the paint. 3. It looks to me like he is getting quicker and developing a little more explosion in his jumps. 4. Why don't the Rockets put an oxygen tank on the sidelines for Yao Ming to use during time outs? This is done in football so why not basketball when it is obvious that Yao Ming is sucking wind.
You're completely right. Yao's good at study in many ways... That wil become the most popular highlight in TNT including JVG vs A.M one
I love Yao Ming as a person and a player, BUT I have some issues: 1. If I am big as he is, NOBODY in the NBA has a prayer of guarding me except Shaq. I would own the lane. It is about energy, drive, desire, determination, aggressiveness, meaness, etc. And he MUST develop more of these qualities. 2. He takes "vacations" during games, can't do this, see 1. 3. He hesitates when he gets the ball, DON'T! Explode to the basket! 4. On defense, stay put. Dare anyone to drive the lane. And get those elbows up. Make them pay for challeging you for the ball. 5. ACCEPT who you are, your skills, your size and throw them around. Dare to dominate. 6. And NEVER use the words, "tired," "exhausted," "pooped," or any related term, ever again. 7. Never and I mean NEVER dribble!!!
I agree with you solid except for the last point . I'm probably misunderstanding. Everyone need to dribble to move past your man or get into better position to shoot. Especially if we are a bad passing team. You probably mean dribble in traffic.
I will admit to a bit of hyperbole, but Ming's dribble is so "high" it is easy to steal. I would prefer for him to dribble much less than he does. If he gets the right position, AND if he receives the pass at the right time and location (which is rare, unfortunately) he shouldn't have to dribble.
I have to disagree. 1. It's hard to own the lane when you're getting mugged in there ILLEGALLY by defenders. JVG made it quite clear when he got off on the refs on this matter. If defenders are playing him fairly, and he still can't get position, then this is a valid point. Until then, we can only wait and see. 2. Hakeem even said in public that he takes breaks in games. You just have to when you're playing so much time. Besides, Yao needs more rest more than most players because of his size. If he's settling for jumpshots at times, I'd say let him. 3. I agree to a certain extent. He does hesitate too much for my taste. However, sometimes I wonder if it's what JVG wants him to do. Perhaps he makes better decisions are surveying the court? Not sure. He is quite tall, and if he's not in position to shoot right there, putting the ball on the floor presents a big risk for TOs. 4. Agree 5. similar to #1 6. Why? It's the truth. Yes, it's a huge liability for us because our offense sucks w/o him. And it will hinder his ability to become the dominant force he could be. But it doesn't make it less true.
THANK YOU!!! I love the effort that Yao puts in when he does this (as well as the fact that it shows his basketball IQ), but he often finds himself floating around 18 feet from the basket while the lane is open for layups either from the opposing center or another player who can now drive with impunity. Sometimes this defensive play works, but I think the coaching staff should work with Yao to help him figure out when to pick his spots. We basically lost the Suns game on a play like this when Yao switched onto Joe Johnson and Johnson used his quickness to score the go-ahead basket. That should never happen. Maybe Yao should quickly disrupt the opposing player after Yao's man sets a pick, but he should never switch to guarding a quicker player on the perimeter.
meh, if I was living inside Ming's body, which is a freaky thought, the defenders could foul me all they want, but more often than not, they wouldn't stop me. If in a 330 lb and 7'6' body, one assumes a "football" mentality, one becomes unstoppable. It is all about attitude. I would put people on the floor, in the seats, out of my way. I would take my "big butt" and my "oak-like" legs and move folks "around". In my view, it mainly mental.
Yao is aggressive.. he may not demonstrate it in a way easily recognizable by many on this board but he is.. You can tell by his hustle, his demeanor, his body language.. it seems like the more comfortable he becomes in his role as franchise player the better he is becoming and more confident. J
Gotta agree with you there, it is very mental establishing your presence in the post. Yao gotta listen to some Juvenile and learn how to back that ass up lol, look at Barkley, the man was 6'4" and had ZERO probems establishing himself down below, you gotta be a dick about it and act like this spot is mine get your butt outta my backyard
You will be fouled out before the 1st quarter end. Yao got enough offensive fouls already. How many players in this league have as many 2-offensive-foul games as Yao has?
I dont believe that we will see the real Yao Ming till we get an accurate passer with the mind set that he must pass to Yao Ming.When Yao Ming get the ball in position then we can judge how he is playing. At the present time Yao Ming is the victim of the mind games being played by Steve Francis. Francis doesn't like the idea that he has lost control of the Team to JVG, he doesn't like the fact that he is no longer the 'Star' person on the Team, he doesn't like that he can't play his most favoured style of play and is required to play defence, he doesn't like the idea that we might replace our Guards at seasons end. The court leader of the Team doesn't have the ability or focus to be helping Yao Ming to show his best game. So I hold judgement on Yao Ming till he gets the help he needs.
User, I actually think you DRAW more fouls when you are aggressive. But, you are right, there is a risk. Hotballa, exactly, Barkley is a good example and usually got postion and often created fouls in the process. Yetti, I agree that Ming does not "typically" get well timed, well placed passes. This is a major problem and affects his effectiveness. On the other hand, he is not always in the right position. Both are problems that must be resolved.
They got some big lineman for next season, didn't they? Maybe Carr won't have to run for his life! Someone like Ming would be a horrible offensive lineman. I don't think he could assume the position, and people would keep running into his knees.
"if i were in yao ming's body i'd be dominating." so you think that you are a smarter basketball player than yao ming is? that you have more drive? more desire? i agree that he still needs to be more agressive. but the problem is, Shaq is a freak of nature, Yao Ming is not. No one else over 7' has the agility and explosiveness Shaq has while retaining that amount of power. Yao Ming doesn't have the agility or quick reflexes that allows him to do what some of you are asking. Shaq has a powerful grip and huge hand, that limits his turnovers and allows him to explode for the dunk in traffic. Yao has much smaller hands and a weaker grip, so he loses the ball a lot after getting rebounds or whatever. but what it allows him to do is shoot jumpers, which Shaq cannot do. Yao is already becoming more assertive. He's game is unlike shaq's. nor is it like Hakeem's. it's a brand new game.
yipengzhao, I think Ming is a very smart player, but, yes, I believe that I would use his body differently. I don't know how he feels in there. He may not feel a surge of energy, he be very reserved, calm, passive, whatever. I am a VERY energetic, determined, driven kind of person. When I was younger I fouled out of almost every basketball game I ever played in. On the court I used to feel extremely aggressive, I liked physical contact, and I struggled with maintaining control. I think Ming is too controlled. There are extremes in both directions. Also, I can't imagine a 23 year old saying he is tired and exhausted all the time. I never use those words now, and I am well over twice his age.
Interesting. Every pic I recall seeing of Yao shooting FT's or FG's shows his hands nearly engulfing the ball.
i dont agree with the first portion. yao may not have shaqs athletic gifts, but he is a freak of nature given his height, size and then comparing that to other guys of his stature. he has great agility and coordination. can spin you one way or the other, tip toe the base line with those size 19s. shaq has great quickness when compared with other burley 7 footers, but he isnt even in contention with someone 5 inches shorter than he is, and thats the difference in height that yao and shaq split.
