[Ric Bucher] How Yao finally became a dominant NBA player

Rarely does a player not get injured in his entire sports career. It happens to everybody. It's bad of course. This is part of sports.

 

I've always wondered why Yao seems to be quicker and more comfortable spinning toward the baseline from the left side of the basket, where he has to dribble with his left hand as opposed to from the right side of the basket, where he can dribble with his naturally dominant right hand. We've all observed that almost all of the layups and dunks that Yao get from his baseline spins are from the left side of the basket and Yao mostly settles for turn-around jumpers from the right side of the basket. Now, I think Yao's problems with his left foot is a likely reason for this anomaly. If Yao gets his left foot problems completely fixed this off-season and get some time to practice moves using it as the pivot, we may see Yao add some new moves next season.

 

Hey if this friggin' Jones Fracture on his left foot forces Yao to develop more ambidextrous post moves, then I am all for it!

 

I saw a video clip from the last Olympics with Yao on the right baseline. He usually shoots a hook or turnaround from that position, but this time he executed a spin-move and completely lost the guy guarding him. I was shocked at how fast it was. That's something I'd like to see next season.

 

"We can rebuild him."

 

The next season we are probably gonna see that freakin' fast spin from the right, together with Shanghai Shake No.1 through 10.

 

Earlier in the season, Yao seemed to have really solidified his left-baseline move (the one that is almost a hook against the defender every time), spinning to his right and dribbling along the line and moving in for a layup or to get fouled. A very nice, effective move, one that is almost impossible to stop.

But he did not have that same move from the right side.

As some have said, he would primarily spin to his left, yes, but would instead pull up for his nice little right-handed jump hook, or turn the other way for a fadeaway. Nice too, but not as strong.

However, over the last few weeks, he has added a KILLER drop-step move from the right side that is, if anything, even more effective than his sping move on the left side.

He backs the defender down, drops his left foot back and around the left side of the defender, and then it's OVER. Yao just spins on that left pivot foot, and it's a monster dunk, every freakin time he does it. It's SWEET.

I used to lament the fact that the Rox were trying to turn Yao into Patrick F-in Ewing. But now, uh, no. Ewing was never that good, on his best day. So now, give Yao maybe one more year to really perfect his moves around the basket, and THEN the coaches can start working on ways to extend his game, exploiting matchups or whatever, maybe depending on who we draft, and whether TMac is going to come back as anything other than a jump-shooter. If Tmac, or someone else, is going to need to work around the basket too, then Yao will just be that much more effective when they can choose to move him out to the post, maybe some kind of motion offense, keep the defense guessing.

Hoowee.. It could all be SO good, but at the same time, this is a real tightrope thing the Rox have going on, having to depend so totally on two guys who may well never be able to stay totally healthy.

I am crossing every finger and toe for both of em.

 

Can anyone here count the numbers of yao's post moves?

I remember reading somewhere that typical NBA centers have 2.5 moves. One that is most used, one counter move, and then a half to be used in desperation. But Dream has at least 10 and each one as effective. I am wonder how well is yao currently doing.

What I can think about now are the left baseline spin, spinning hook shot, and the turn-around fade-away jumper, although might not be as devastating. It would really be interesting to see how many solid moves he actually has.

 

Sharp observations! I've seen Shaq doing that a lot, and now we see Yao could do it as well. After 2 months' rest and "mental training" from now on, he would be a monster next season. Oh, wait, isn't he already one?

 

Yao is SOOOO much better at feeling the defender's weight on his back, using it to his advantage and drop-stepping right past the guy for the jam. It's a double edged sword. If the defender doesn't push Yao out, he gets an extremely easy look on the turnaround. And if they put too much weight against Yao, then he just spins past and that's all she wrote.

 

Really good article. The fire inside the big fella has been clear since his rookie season, but I never realized before how much he had to overcome.

 

There have been other positive articles about Yao in recent weeks. IMO they have not received the due Yao is due.

 

Great article. Remember this players poll in SI from February (based on 248 players)? The best part of this is how his explosion occurred IMMEDIATELY AFTER this poll was published, when he came off the surgery. Now if the refs would just give him a little more respect ...

[I can understand Kobe and Tracy getting 3-4%, because that's just 7-8 votes and there's always a handful of stud haters. But TWENTY-FIVE players rated Yao as most overrated in the NBA, second only to Stephon Marbury.]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/players/02/14/poll.0214/index.html

The most overrated?
Stephon Marbury, Knicks.....12%
Yao Ming, Rockets.....10%
Steve Francis, Magic.....9%
Carmello Anthony, Nuggets.....5%
Tracy McGrady, Rockets.....4%
Michael Olowokandi, Celtics.....4%
Kobe Bryant, Lakers.....3%
Paul Pierce, Celtics.....3%
Kenyon Martin, Nuggets.....3%
Jermaine O'Neal, Pacers.....3%

 

My favorite passage:

"My howl from the couch alarmed the entire family. I'm not sure my explanation to them hit home, and I don't know that I can offer a better one here. There are moments when an athlete or a person does something that reflects an attribute you suspected was there but didn't really have certifiable proof of. It's not the act itself, but the person's attitude about what he's just done. An attitude that indicates that what he did doesn't strike him as all that extraordinary and it won't be the last time you see it."

I had a similar moment with my family following a recent fierce-faced fist pump that Yao did after nailing a shot in the final minute of a close game. I've always believed he had the intensity and saw signs of it (e.g., the yell after dunking on Ratliffe), but something about that particular fist pump brought me out of the seat (and drew an eye roll from the Mrs). I think it was against the Clippers ... anyone remember?

 

I was thinking the same thing while reading the article.

Do you think the national team and doctors will clear a less than effective Yao?

 

I never realized how painful it must be for Yao to try to play with the injured toe. "Play with stone on top of your feet", Damn!

If anybody gonna call Yao soft again, he/she deserves a slap.

 

ric bucher loves yao...i love ric bucher

 

I'd like to think our trainers/doctors would have some sort of say in clearing him for the WCs.... Anybody remember the fiasco that involved Cuban, Insurance policies, and Dirk and Nash a few years ago? I think our team could call BS if they really didn't think he was ready to go for the WCs. I for one wouldn't mind seeing a 100% Yao score 60 points a game for the WCs....If he's ready it will probably help stamina.