I agree. I know Yao's vertical is more than a few inches. Last year he had some dunks that showed his vertical. He jumped from one step within the free-throw line and jammed over Chris Kaman last year. But he had a running start. I would make a safe bet that Yao's running vertical off one leg is two and half feet. But most of the time Yao jumps off both feet with little momentum, so he can't jump at all. Does anyone know Yao's reach? I know he can touch the rim without jumping, but I forgot if that was on flat feet or on his tip-toes. Shaq, on the other hand, had a standing vertical of 35 inches when he first got to LA. ( I saw that somewhere on TV). But now......
I found translation of another article of Yao talking about his injury, the inconvenience of his brace etc, along with his games. This is from yaomingxxxxx.com, of course, translated again by pryuen: The brace supporter was not just one of these elastic rubber bands. It has 2 steel plates in it, protecting his elbow, but at the same time, limiting the way that he could lift his left arm; he could not lift his left arm above his head. Yao Ming had to always adjust his brace supporter during the game as it kept slipping downward as it started to be soaked with Yao Ming's sweat. The brace supporter weighed > 2kg (when soaked with the sweat) He was mad with himself and the brace supporter and threw it heavily onto the gound during his 5th foul in the Memphis Grizzlies match, and JVG told him not to use his brace supporter as his excuse for a poor shooting game. In the King's match, he was determined to prove himself that his injured left arm and the clumsy brace supporter would not hinder the Rockets for snatching a win for the first home game in their own Toyota Centre. He told himself that in order to win, it is important to have the mentality to win He was full of fighting spirit right at the beginning of the match as he chest-bumped with Bostjan Nachbar during the player introduction. Yao Ming said his arm ligament is recovering well, but per medical advice from the team doctor, he had to continue wearing the brace supporter for another 9 days i.e. during the next 3 matches with Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves and LA Lakers. Now he starts to worry that after this 9 days, he would need to readjust to losing this extra 2Kg weight on his left arm.
Wearing steels on the elbow, it sure would intimidate the opponent defender if Yao knows how to use it correctly
