Shanghai Doesn't Like Rox, May be HOAX

I hope it's just BS too. The post has several grammer errors in it so it's probably just Knicks management trying to spread rumors.

If it had any validity ESPN would have gotton a hold of it already.

 

HP,
I was listening to Rome today (but Rome had a fill in) and for the first time I heard someone (did not get his name) talk about how good Yao is instead of how he is over hyped. The guy was very convincing when he said that Yao had tons more talent than Bradley and was signigicantly more talented than Smits. So I started trying to figure out what it was about Bradley that made him so bad.

1. He does not go after rebounds, he lets them come to him.

2. When he gets the ball close to the basket he always brings it down around his waist instead of holding it up high around his head. Of course all of the little people get to take jabs at the ball. This more than anything else has always irritated me about Shawn.

3. All Bradley does when he is on the court is complain, complain, complain. Cat and Steve have got nothing on Bradley.

4. Can't stay out of foul trouble. I think that part of this is because of his non stop whinning to the refs. The other problem is that I think at 7'6" he can't hide any type of foul and I also think the refs tend to give the benifit of the doubt to the smaller player.

The more I think about it the more that I don't think Rudy and CD will draft Yao with out some kind of assurances from the Chinese with respect to how the Rockets will get to use him.

Now here are my two question for you:

1. Does Yao show any of the same tendencies that I listed about Shawn Bradley?

2. Are the Rockets allowed to negotiate a contract with the Chinese prior to the draft? I know the NFL allows this for the team holding the number 1 pick.

 

This is the scouting report for Shawn Bradley back when he was drafted.
Name: Shawn Bradley
College: BYU
Height: 7-7
Weight: 230
Position: Center
Other positions: Virtually anywhere in the frontcourt
Strengths: Height, shot-blocking, agility, ballhandling for a forward,
shooting ability, quickness
Weakness: Weight too low, lack of experience, generally an unknown quantity

Poop:
Shawn Bradley is one of those mystery players that can make a draft
so interesting. Highly touted in high school, he put up great numbers
as a freshman at BYU, especially in shot blocking, something he does
with great grace and little exertion. He then took two years off on
his religious mission in Australia, and decided to come out early,
presumably to beat the pending rookie salary cap. Bradley might
either be a franchise player that could dominate the NBA or just
another Manute Bol-like oddity--that's what makes drafting him such a
difficult decision.

What is known about him is that he gained 30 pounds while in
Australia. He still needs at least another 20-30 pounds before he can
legitimately bang around in the NBA, but 230 isn't that much lighter
than a number of post players in the pros. Still, one wonders what
someone huge like Shaq might do to him. His strength and stamina will
also be big factors considering a two-year layoff where he played no
ball at all.

Bradley does a number of things well. He knows how to take full
advantage of his height, knowing that he only needs to get decent
position to block a shot. Having Bradley in the middle will change
entire team's offenses once they see that he'll swat away a lot of
what comes into him. He is a good rebounder, but will need some beef
to be able to muscle out most pros. He is a very good ballhandler for
his size and a good passer. He also is a decent shooter, but will
need to add a consistent hook shot to really be effective.

The other important thing about Bradley is that it make take some
time for him to develop. If a team needs an immediate impact player
on the post, Bradley may not be your man. But if you have someone
semi-decent inside, or perhaps an aging center, take Bradley. He is a
likely top-five pick.

Scout: Rob Clough

 

Yao Ming

Strengths: At 7-5 has very good agility and athleticism. Can knock down jumpshots all the way out to NBA 3 point range with consistency. Very quick reflexes and shows the ability to adapt to plays as they're happening. Has a developing hook shot, that will be indefensible when it becomes more refined. Has very clever offensive game and passes with creativity. Has good timing on blocking shots, will even step out and swat jumpshooters if they challenge him. Runs the floor with fluidity, and good quickness. Has good aggresiveness, loves to dunk (mostly two handed), and does so with authority. Has the motivation to become better, and has expressed a strong interest in playing in the USA against the best in the world.

Weaknesses: The issue of Yao's NBA eligibility seems to be the greatest concern. Will he be able to play right away? and will coming to the US be an issue? (Wang ZhiZhi's play and presence in Dallas could affect his draft position) A deal may need to be made with Yao's team to allow him to play in the NBA. Injury concerns, players his size often have foot and knee problems with the stress their size creates. Must build up his strength. Quickness, though Yao has good quickness at 7-5, he will take time to adjust to the quickness of the NBA.

 

While there are many simalarities there is a huge difference in weight comparing them at the same age. Ming at 280 and Bradley at 230.

I think it's kind of funny that some of Bradley's positives are agility and quickness. What was he smoking????

 

I was really just wanting to know if Yao held the ball down low or up high when he gets it in his hands and if he had any problems with fouls and whinning.

I also wanted to know if the Rockets could start negotiations before the draft.

 

you guys are way off topic.

This thread needs to be dedicated to finding out if this "Shanghi Doesn't like the Rox" article is bunch of horsesh1t or not?

 

crash,

The thing about Bradley is that he doesn't work in the offseason. Offseason is family season for Bradley (it's his right, he's not on my team).

I don't see why we have to always talk about Bradley whenever we talk about Ming. Bradley is only a doofus because he doesn't try. It is not like he doesn't have the core gifts to be a force in the league. Ming, on the other hand, was raised by parents that were professional basketball players. He's sound. Empirically, he's already a good player. Empirically, he's been working on basketball since he was a child. He's not a farm boy that decided to milk an abnormality.

The height is about where the comparisons appear to end. So don't believe the HYPE when others mention Bradley and Ming in the same sentence.

Now this hoax thing sounds very interesting. It's particularly compelling since we've of course haven't seen a link (which espn would have provided by now) in which the 'Shanghai Sharks don't like the Rox'. It appears no different than any of the other crappy lurkers trying to bring their fellow internet dorks, opponent internet dorks that is, to bring them down.

The Rockets are going to draft Ming in late June. There'll be issues in which he has to work for his current team this summer. Wake me up when the regular season starts. When we can sink the pink and get this party started.

 

Agility, athleticism, shooting range, and the ability to handle the ball like a forward are not traits that come to mind when describing Bradley.

 

Here's a link to the Shanghai Morning Post:

http://www.jfdaily.com.cn/epublish/gb/paper28/

And as 'netdummy' posted in the other thread, there are indeed only two articles from May 21st, and neither say what the nbadraft.net article suggests he said.

http://www.jfdaily.com.cn/epublish/gb/paper28/1237/class002800011/index.htm

For the Sports section of the newspaper.

Oh! And the May 22nd articles were *just* posted. None of them discuss Yao Ming in any way (World Cup soccer is bigger news in China at the moment). Looks to me like the nbadraft.net article is a fake... spread the word.

The May 22nd article is issue 1238, so just change the '1237' in the URL above into 1238:

http://www.jfdaily.com.cn/epublish/gb/paper28/1238/class002800011/index.htm

For those of you interested, you can use http://babelfish.altavista.com to provide an automated (but really bad) translation of Chinese pages. Just paste in the URL of the link you want to read, choose 'Chinese->English', and try really hard to guess what is being said.

Yao Ming's name in Chinese is: Ò¦Ã÷

... and babelfish usually translates this into: "Yao is bright." So, if you see a link with that title on the sports page, you know it's discussing Yao Ming.

Or just trust the hordes of Chinese fans taking over this board to translate it for you every morning.

 

thanks for the info heyparty and et al.

I've read quite a few things on Ming recently(hehe). Some things true, some false. Gotta take things with a grain of salt and not believe everything you read.

I knew some of those demands sounded fishy. And I don't believe outrageous negative assertions of Ming that are posted on the board without links. Just too much misinformation out there now.

I mean, the govt thing IS an issue ... but it IS overhyped imo. It is being used as a crutch not to take a risk on Ming in many people's minds imo.

 

What is "the government issue"? That Yao has to give half his salary to the government? That is called tax, and though the taxes in China may be substantually higher than in capitalist america they´re still taxes, something quite normal.


So what if he has to give the sharks money too, and only keeps a third of his pay. He´d still make more money than everybody on this bord put together (unless Kelvin Cato is here in disguise), and if he goes back to China after his career he could live like a King for a thousand years (unless he spends it all). BTW he´s making 80000$ a year now playing for the Sharks.

The issue of importance though is his obligations to the chineese national team. There a deal would have to be worked out. So that he at least would not miss any post season games. But that deal would have to be worked out with the Chineese basketball authoroties, not the government (I believe they have more important things to do).

I hate to sound like an ass, but thats what I am

 

IMHO, Bradley, like Cato, just isn't a basketball player, he's just a tall guy using his size and athleticism to earn a living.

I'm quite sure that they are both nice, decent guys, but the instincts and passion just isn't there for either, which is bad news when you're playing among the elite of the world.

 

Assuming the Rocks draft Yao, I'm just looking forward to seeing him shoot his first jump hook, or better yet, A SKY HOOK!

TALK ABOUT UNBLOCKABLE!!

I think I'll either fall off the couch in amazement, or die laughing at the Cs pitiful facial expression! 'You want me to challenge THAT SHOT!'