Sabonis on Yao: "He needs to change his style" is pretty strong language, but luckily it is in relation to playing physically. I think that is something that the coaches can help Yao morph into. As others have pointed out, much of Yao's timidness now is probably related to his lack of playing time w/ the Rockets.. Let's just be excited that that dessert may eclipse the entre at some point, but that we have something on the table right now. I know that I have been staring at dessert this whole summer, but with a very capable Kenny starting next to Eddie, Cato's schizophrenia in remission, Morris coming on line (who perhaps will compete w/ Cato for Rockets' MIP), the retirement of Moochie and the aura of ownership (the beginning stages of leadership) about Steve... we have a lot to be excited about. But a well rested/well versed Yao... around March? on this team? whoa.
I totally agree with Sabonis' assessment. Yao needs a healthy dose of aggressiveness. He is missing out on so many plays by "hangin' out" and not being the go-getter. I was thinking that if Yao could attain the aggressiveness of Hawkins that he would be a defensive monster on the court.
hmm...well. Given time...i mean playing time, Yao will develop better, he looked much better last night.
Check Olowokandi's stats this year compared to his rookie season. Centers apparently often need more time, especially foreign-born ones.
The drive to the basket and the block on Sabonis showed glimpses of what is hopefully a sign of more physical play. I'm happy with any progress that Yao shows.
i believe he looked great yesterday, on the dunk, and block. i hope thats a sign of his potential, i am not giving up on yao. he is huge, and he has only been in the US for a short time. he needsd to get adjusted.
The thing that impressed me most about Yao in the Blazer game was that he has bought into Rudy's defensive scheme. He was constantly helping out teamates who were beaten. Kenny does this all the time also. The bad thing was Sabonis was left unguarded. Now if we can get the rest of the team to make the appropriate switches after Yao and Kenny make their switches we will have one hell of a defensive team.
Luckily? Why luckily? There sure are a lot of people that are sensitive at anything that *seems* like criticism towards the Rockets. I'm glad you ended up understanding what Sabonis meant. Even if Sabonis was talking about style, in general, I'd be willing to listen to him considering he's one of the best centers that ever played the game (even now, in his "old age" the guy has game!). What we missed from Sabonis, we'll see in Yao. Given time.
Sabonis is a Red. Don't listen to that commie b*stard. Oh, wait...um...uh...the world is so confusing.
I think there was a missed opportunity there last night. Not a big one, or maybe not that visible. None the less, I think it would have helped Ming. After Ming showed a little aggresivness, swatting Sabonis' falling down shot, he ran the court with the rest of the guys, sets a mediocre pick for Steve looking for a pick and roll, and then Steve cuts right at a wide open Ming in the lane, and dumps it off Cat out by the arc. It looked to me like Ming wanted the ball, and wanted to take it to the rack. Not a big deal, but I think it could have kept the tempo up, especially his. I have no problem with the way he is playing. He has a lot to learn about the NBA style, I just hope he doesn't get pissed by the lack of "team" ball, as to what he was used to before. I think with time, the aggression will start to show up.
i know what ur talking about, on the highlight reel I saw that. and a few other times. Yao appeared to want the ball, he even raised his hands once while posting up, but didnt get it. Whoa!!!!! 200 POSTS!!!!!
What Sabonis is saying is what a lot of people on this board have been saying for a while now. He needs to go through the same transition Gasol went through last year. At some point, he's just going to have to get more physical, more aggressive, and use his strength (not a lot) to its limit. Yao Ming is the world's makeup gift for Sabonis' early years. We are really going to enjoy it. If we make the playoffs as a 6th seed this year, and take the 3rd seed to 5 games, do you think Sabonis would consider becoming a part of the Rockets? Backup C or coaching staff?
The Gasol comparison is exactly right. Last year you could definitely described him as a rail, but it was his aggressive play, and physicality, that enabled him to post such impressive numbers. Kwame Brown will have to go some to prove he should have been the no 1 pick in that draft, that's for sure.
Trust me, Azadre....I agree! I'll even so so far as to say that Yao will make Francis'es game better (and the gang) before Francis can make Yao's game improve. It was funny seeing the posture of all the guards change after Yao started grabbing rebounds (ones that we normally wouldn't have gotten) and started kicking them out for passes! Francis, Mobley and Moochie all started jumping around like jumping- beans! It pepped them up, or something!
