http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/rox/1629079 Oct. 22, 2002, 10:47PM Rockets summary Much improved As much as Yao Ming has impressed his teammates, Juaquin Hawkins has been impressed by something no other Rockets player can be -- Yao's improvement. As a member of Chung Ching in the China Basketball Association, Hawkins said he watched Yao play three years ago. When Yao began practicing with the Rockets this week, Hawkins said he barely recognized him. "He's a lot different," said Hawkins, who described the play in China as comparable to "low Division I" college basketball. "He's a lot more skilled," Hawkins said. "He's improved his all-around skills. He's always been able to shoot. But he's improved his passing, rebounding, really, all his skills. I had no idea he'd be able to pass the way he can pass. His overall awareness as a basketball player is much better. He's going to be a big asset to this team." Honoring Fox Fang Feng Di and Yao Zhi Yuan, Yao Ming's mother and father, visited the Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M on Tuesday to attend the unveiling of a sculpture of Capt. James R. Fox, Jr., a Texan who lost his life fighting in China in World War II. Tall tales Children and stuffed animals overtook the court at Compaq Center after practice Tuesday as the Rockets and Hewlett-Packard kicked off their 2002-03 Read to Achieve program. About 250 elementary school students listened with wide eyes as the Rockets read them children's stories from giant books. New Rocket Yao Ming even got in on the action. Yao read the story of George Washington and his famed cherry tree in Chinese, while interpreter Colin Pine translated for the students. Yao and guard Steve Francis shared arguably the most popular reading station. "This is a great opportunity for the kids," said Michael Chang, chairman of the Houston Hua Xia Chinese School, which along with the Chinese Community Center brought about 10 students. Other participating schools included Franklin, MacGregor, Alcott, Holden and Carrillo. More time needed Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich had hoped by now to begin zeroing in on the start of the regular season. But he said that team events (including the Read to Achieve program Tuesday), the addition of Yao Ming and injuries have forced him to remain in more of a preseason mode. "I really wanted to get secluded," Tomjanovich said. "This is a wonderful thing, Read to Achieve. I love it. But I would have liked to have gone longer. But I'm a coach. I wanted to do a lot more. It's not enough. I want more. "We're so screwed up. We have guys hurt. We have new guys coming in. It's not ideal, but when the hell has it ever been ideal? It's always crazy. I'm doing what I do." The Rockets will be without Moochie Norris (dislocated finger), Kenny Thomas (broken thumb), Glen Rice (flu) and Pete Mickeal (sore right foot) tonight. But Rockets guard Steve Francis said that going over plays for Yao Ming has helped his teammates. "It's helpful to some of the guys who still don't know the plays," Francis said. "It's not like we're going backward. We're still going over the plays. And I think Yao saved a lot of guys (from) not knowing the plays in a game." -- JONATHAN FEIGEN and JANNY HU
That's kind of like being in school and being afraid to ask a question for fear of sounding stupid. Those guys are probably glad Yao showed up so they could review without anybody finding out they didn't know it in the first place.
This should be Nachbars first chance at prolonged playing time,,Should be very interesting,,,,,,pretty mush alone at the 3.
can Hawk play the 3? I thought he was a 2 guard, but I heard someone mention that he could play SF also.. I would hope so..there aint noone else..
