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Titan Sports: Del Harris on his 2 Favorite Sons: Yao & Yi

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by pryuen, Nov 12, 2007.

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pryuen Contributing Member

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I know the first Chinese derby between Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian was history now.

But I read 2 to 3 very good articles from Titan Sports that I want to share with you guys.

The following is an interview of Del Harris in which he talked extensively about his 2 favorite sons.......Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian.

ENJOY !!!

http://titan.sports.tom.com/2007-11-12/0F2A/10369469.html

Reporter Wang Meng reports from Houston.

As far as Del Harris is concerned, the China Derby is of most profound significance to him. He had once been the head coach of the Chinese men national team; in 2004, he led Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian to defeat Serbia & Montenegro in Athens in a fierce, down-to-the-last-breath and nail-biting battle. Not only that, he used to be the head coach of Houston Rockets, as well as for Milwaukee Bucks. Now his 2 beloved Chinese disciples, each representing the 2 teams that he once coached, confronted each other on the court. For such competition, Del Harris just did not want to miss.

Titan: Can you share with us your memory and recollection concerning Yi Jianlian?

Harris: Well, Yi Jianlian was like a risky move I made in chess when I was the head coach for the China team back in 2004. At that time he was very young; he had not even started in CBA, but I already started him on the national team in Athens, because at that time, I already saw the infinite gifted talents and body conditions of him; moreover, I thought, if he will be able to grow and develop fast, then it will be of great help to the China national team in the 2008 Olympics. He and Yao Ming together on the same team will give China higher prospects to proceed further in basketball.

Titan: You mean you were already planning for 2008 back in 2004?

Harris: Yup, it was really so. At that time, Mo Ke was playing very well in the national team. But then I thought to develop more talents and young players for China was also part of my responsibility as the head coach. So while we strived hard for results in the Athens Olympics, why should we not give more opportunity to Yi Jianlian?

Titan: So, was it you that took him into the national team, or did the Chinese Basketball Association recommend him?

Harris: Jonas Kazlauskas should be the one credited for scouting/spotting Yi Jianlian. At that time , CBA recommended a list of young players for audition in the national team. At that time, after seeing Yi Jianlian’s game, Jonas Kazlauskas came to me and told me that Yi is very very good. So I said since he was so good, then why not we let him join the national team? I still remembered at that time we included a couple of young players, and Yi Jianlian was the one that remained (in the final roster). I thanked them for giving me Yi Jianlian.

Titan: So in China’s younger generation of basketball players, Yi Jianlian is the most unforgettable one to you ?

Harris: You may say so. When I saw Yi Jianlian in the beginning, I thought the kid has infinite potential, and his performance would shock many people.

Titan: So what left the deepest impression to you when you saw Yi Jianlian for the first time?

Harris: That eager-to-learn look in his eyes. When I was the head coach for the Chinese national team, regardless of what I was saying, when I looked around on the players, every time I could see Yi Jianlian looking at me earnestly and attentively; I can feel that he was so eager and yearning to learn more.

Titan: So did it ever occur to you that like today, he could stand side-by-side with Yao Ming in NBA as the #6 draft pick?

Harris: When I saw Yi Jianlian for the first time, I knew he will have a bright future and will be able to be listed a high draft pick in NBA. But in my mind, I thought perhaps this kid has the opportunity to be picked as a 2nd rounder. But he was picked as a #6 draft, and indeed that was different to my original prediction.

Titan: So were you not a bit surprised that he now gets his starting position so fast?

Harris: Well actually not at all. After Yi Jianlian was drafted by Milwaukee Bucks, I had received many interviews; I always said I thought highly of Yi Jianlian, and he will have a great rookie season and he could easily obtain his starting position.

Titan: But from the start, there were a lot of skeptics in the American media about Yi Jianlian.

Harris: I knew that. When the Chinese national team played in the NBA summer league in Las Vegas, a lot of the media saw the performance of Yi Jianlian, and thought the performance was very unsatisfactory and had bashed and criticized him badly. At that time, I already told them, it was all due to that Yao Ming was not with the national team, and he had to stand in as the centre, but his natural position is power forward; therefore if he is put back into his favorite and comfortable position, his performance will be eye-popping.

Titan: Actually, how good is Yi Jianlian’s body condition?

Harris: He is lightning quick; in the Chinese national team, he could be even quicker than the guards. Even in NBA, I also believe he is one of the quickest big men. I can’t think of any big men above 2.10M as quick as Yi is. His explosiveness is extremely astonishing, and he can really jump. Moreover not only he can jump; a lot of players can also jump very well, but actually not with very good timing. Yi Jianlian can jump really well and with great timing. I can only call it gifted talents.

Titan: Do you think Yi Jianlian is a bit introvert and too quiet? Will his disposition affect his meshing and gelling into the NBA life style?

Harris: I have gone to Milwaukee to visit him; when he was with his team mates, Yi Jianlian always smiled and laughed. Moreover his English is very good, probably much better than Yao Ming when he first came to America. Well, adaptation into NBA really needs time. I don’t think it will be a big problem for him.

Titan: Can you predict Yi Jianlian’s future?

Harris: In Yi Jianlian, I can see a NBA All Star.

Titan: Hey, Coach, that’s not too difficult. We have sufficient Chinese fans to vote him in.

Harris: HA HA HA, you’re probably right. But now, nobody will say Yao Ming’s selection as a NBA All Star is only because of the Chinese fans’ voting. Yi Jianlian will become deservedly an All Star one day.

Titan: Yi Jianlian is 20 years old, and Yao Ming is 27 years old. So do you have this feeling that Yi Jianlian is still a growing young man, but Yao Ming already turned into a sophisticated adult that is able to handle everything on his own?

Harris: Yeah, I have this kind of feeling. Just like what you said, I thought Yao Ming is indeed so. Just put aside his basketball skills. Just as an ordinary person, I respect Yao Ming very much; he has such rare moral character and strong will. I extremely appreciate the charisma in his personality. As for Yi Jianlian, do not under-estimate him; I think he is much more mature than his age suggests.

Titan: As a coach, what is your appraisal of Yao Ming as a basketball player?

Harris: He is a player of perfection. I have never been able to find anything with Yao Ming that I can be dissatisfied or nitpick him with. He is always so diligent working towards perfection. In Athens, I knew there was this tremendous pressure on his shoulder. I could sense it clearly in my heart; he ran and competed on the court with a very painful expression, but he just persisted in the game. And when we returned to the players’ changing room, and when he took off his shoes, I saw blood stain all over his socks. Yao Ming just moved me.

Titan: You and Yao Ming are continuously keeping in touch?

Harris: Correct. Yao is very important in my heart, and he also shows me great respect. We frequently phone each other; and whenever the Rockets compete with the Mavericks, we sometimes go out dinner together.

Titan: Yao Ming always said that the win over Serbia & Montenegro in 2004 will always remain one of his most gratifying and happiest memories about basketball. So as far as you’re concerned, what did that game mean to you?

Harris: As for me, I felt very similar to what Yao Ming felt. You see, I have worked as head coaches and assistant coaches for so many teams (and for so many years). But that experience of leading the Chinese national team in Athens was so unique. There is this photo album I kept at home, containing all the photos I took when I was the head coach of the Chinese national team. But in that album, the very first picture was the one showing me and Yao Ming embracing each other. Right after our win (over the Serbia & Montenegro), Yao Ming and I were hugging each other emphatically. I later saw this photo on a Chinese newspaper. I just kept it as sort of an eternal commemoration of that event.

Titan: So what is the prospect of the China men basketball national team getting better result in Beijing? (i.e. the 2008 Olympics)

Harris: China currently has the world’s best interior combo. Give one year to Yi Jianlian to grow and develop in NBA. And then next year in the Olympics, you will find he can be of big impact and help. Regardless whether it is Greece, Spain, Argentina or USA, if you only consider the interior combination, all of them are inferior to China. But China needs to work and improve on its back-court players. They must learn how to control the tempo of the game, improve their ball-handling and how to counter full-court man-to-man press.

Titan: For all these years that you know Yao, what is the deepest impression he gave you?

Harris: The deepest impression he gave me is he is still making progress year on year.

Titan: Now, Rick Adelman has come (to become the head coach of the Houston Rockets). What do you think his motion offense will mean to Yao Ming?

Harris: In that system (of Rick Adelman), it requires a centre, who can shoot mid-range jumpers, with good passing skills and can lead offense and attack in the low post. Is that not Yao Ming?

Titan: As far as you memory carries you, what do you think about Wang Zhizhi?

Harris: He is an outstanding scorer/shooter. Although both Yi Jianlian and Yao Ming have great shooting touches and feel, Wang Zhizhi shoots much better; moreover he has much better and longer range than Yao and Yi. He had had a most comfortable time in Dallas.

Titan: So why has he not been successful in NBA?

Harris: I thought probably 2 major reasons. Probably he was not too willing to change his game to adapt to NBA; he found it difficult to adapt to the tough and physical NBA game. Moreover, (I thought) at the critical juncture of his professional career, he made a couple of wrong decisions, which had severely impacted his NBA career. If he had chosen to stay with the Dallas Mavericks, he might end up having a much more successful NBA career.

Titan: So did Dallas choose to dump Wang Zhizhi, or Da Zhi chose to leave the Mavericks?

Harris: We very much wanted him to stay, but our premise was that he had to return to China first to play for his country; we deemed this very important. If Wang had chosen to comply with our request, I thought the Mavericks could have given him a contract extension. I did not know who were the people at his side that gave him ill advice.

Titan: So the three of them had come and joined NBA. Do you consider those were signs that proved that Chinese basketball is making some progress?

Harris: I did not know whether this is an appropriate proof or illustration; but one thing I am certain and that is Chinese basketball is developing rapidly. Even though I can no longer continue to be the head coach of the national team, as there is no way that I can spend the majority of my time in a year to be there in China, but my heart always cares about Chinese basketball.

Titan: So you still have good contact and relationships with your Chinese friends?

Harris: Of course. A lot of your basketball coaches are coming to University of Memphis to study; and when the time comes, I’ll be their tutor. And I also start making some inroads into China, and plan to make some investments. I and a friend of mine are discussing about some possible business ventures with a Hangzhou enterprise. But they are not responding well; the speed and the way they are handling business is much slower than the speed of how Yi Jianlian can run, and definitely not as impressive and fantastic as this Chinese derby that belong to the Chinese . I need to talk to them about this. HA HA HA.
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#1 pryuen, Nov 12, 2007

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good read. thanks pryuen

#2 hxy7086, Nov 12, 2007
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great read.

cheers pryuen

#3 zerhoe, Nov 12, 2007
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Del Harris was thr Rocket's coach before I was even born... was he any good?

#4 Blue Brick, Nov 12, 2007
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it's really r****ded that all these articles are comparing Yi to Yao. in the long run it'd be kinder to Yi if they'd just let him play and weren't overpromising so much. they're already anointing him a future top 10 player in the NBA... after 6-7 games. let's say he develops into a solid occasional all-star like Pau Gasol or Toni Kukoc (ROY or 6th man caliber player, or borderline franchise player but not top 10) he'd probably be considered a bust after all this hype

Blue Brick said:

Del Harris was thr Rocket's coach before I was even born... was he any good?
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he's about as good as JVG. took Houston to the finals once but he's always getting promoted and demoted... been head coach and assistant to like 4 clubs. Del Harris is best known for being very publically de-balled by shaq and kobe which was very damaging to his rep. probably wont ever be a head coach again

#5 bloop, Nov 12, 2007
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Excellent read. Much appreciated, pryuen.

#6 wnes, Nov 12, 2007
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Thank you py. Never disappointed with your translated posts.

#7 benum, Nov 12, 2007

pryuen Contributing Member

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Another one from Wang Meng on Titan Sports....Still on Del Harris and the China Derby.

http://titan.sports.tom.com/2007-11-12/0F2A/10655714.html

Reporter Wang Meng reports from Houston.

The night before the game (i.e. with Milwaukee Bucks), during the dinner banquet (he held at home), Yao Ming said to Del Harris: “Coach, during the game tomorrow, you have to sit in the middle of the spectator stands, and you must not show any bias or favoritism towards any one of us.”

This game (the China derby) is very important to David Stern; it is also very important to the Houston Rockets; Also it is very important to both Yao Ming and Yi Jianlian. And as far as Del Harris is concerned, it sort of carries some sentiment of father versus sons, teacher versus students, as well as the sentiment between him and the Houston Rockets and the Milwaukee Bucks. So in this kind of situation, what is actually the mood of Old Harris?

"I’m really not sure what this game means to me. This kind of feeling is sort of very complex. I have been their coach; I have witnessed their gradual progress as a basketball player; Yao has now become one of the best centres in the NBA; and Yi has also arrived into NBA and joined my son’s team and now a starter. Moreover, I had been the head coach for Houston Rockets and for Milwaukee Bucks as well; even the current head coach of Milwaukee Bucks (Larry Krystkowiak) used to play under me when he was a player. To watch two Chinese players that I have taught, and representing two teams that I once coached, this kind of feeling is truly inexpressible in words.”

The silver-gray haired Del Harris gazed at the two big and young men, and then looked at his son, Larry Harris sitting at his side, smiled leisurely, and right there in Yao Ming’s mansion, he suddenly felt the feeling of a family. “Honestly speaking, of course I wish my son will win; after all, he is the General Manager of Milwaukee Bucks. In addition, Yi now plays for the Bucks; so in my heart, I hope that the Bucks will defeat the Rockets.” So after all the pressing questions from the reporter, Old Harris finally yielded explicitly his position.

Although Houston Rockets was his first team as a head coach, although he once led the Rockets to the Final, his final choice was to support Milwaukee Bucks. As far back as three years ago, when he was the head coach of the Chinese men national basketball team, at Jonas Kazlauskas’ recommendation, he boldly picked Yi Jianlian, and started him in some important games. Now three years later, his son, the young Larry Harris, overcame a lot of hurdles and difficulties to sign Yi Jianlian. So the father and son really have set their eyes on and have high hopes on Yi Jianlian. And this probably could explain his obvious bias and favoritism of the Milwaukee Bucks over the Houston Rockets.

Old Harris is now a senior consultant of the Dallas Mavericks. He had purposely made a special trip from Dallas to Houston just that he could see this China derby. “A couple days earlier, when the Rockets came to Dallas to play against the Mavericks, Yao specifically placed me an invitation to come to Houston to see this game, as well as to dine at his home with his family. I could but gleefully accept his invitation. It is really exciting and thrilling to be able to watch such a game. I knew by now China must be already overflowed with ebullition for this game."

For the family oriented and sentimental Old Harris, the dinner with Yao and Yi and the China Derby were not the sole reasons for his visit to Houston. “I have 8 grand sons and grand daughters, and 4 of my sons live and work here in Houston. Therefore other than watching the China Derby, I can also find time to see my grand sons and grand daughters. Originally, I plan to do so when the Dallas Mavericks come to play in Houston. Thanks to Yao and Yi that I am now able to see them well ahead of time.”

At the end of the previous season, Del Harris had resigned and stepped down as the Head Assistant Coach of the Dallas Mavericks. Now he is only a senior consultant for the Mavericks. And as he gets older, Old Harris has already shifted more priorities of his family over his work.
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#8 pryuen, Nov 12, 2007
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thanks

#9 Blake, Nov 12, 2007
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Nice articles and good job pryuen.

#10 pirc1, Nov 12, 2007
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Very good article, Thanks

#11 islander, Nov 12, 2007
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Damn! Yao Ming played his heart out in Athens until he bled?? Was this during his big toe problems? That's some baller right there..

Thanks for the nice read.

#12 Yaozer, Nov 12, 2007
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thank you for the read

#13 Royals Ego, Nov 12, 2007

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Anybody seen Yao's mansion that he bought last season?

#14 Murph23, Nov 12, 2007
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bloop said:

he's about as good as JVG. took Houston to the finals once but he's always getting promoted and demoted... been head coach and assistant to like 4 clubs. Del Harris is best known for being very publically de-balled by shaq and kobe which was very damaging to his rep. probably wont ever be a head coach again
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Wow, you know all that and you're still a rookie?! where is justice?

#15 Blue Brick, Nov 12, 2007
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pryuen,

Were these actual quotes from Del or were they translated to chinese then back to english?

Thanks!

#16 Bandwagoner, Nov 12, 2007
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Blue Brick said:

Del Harris was thr Rocket's coach before I was even born... was he any good?
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We went to the finals with a losing record in the regular season.

#17 rockbox, Nov 12, 2007
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CaseyH said:

pryuen,

Were these actual quotes from Del or were they translated to chinese then back to english?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

The logical guess is that what Del Harris has said was translated from English to Chinese and then posted on Titan Sports (the website is all in Chinese after all). And then it translated by Pryuen from Chinese back to English again. Please correct me if I am wrong.

#18 DaRock1, Nov 12, 2007

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How can Del Harris is not part of Dallas's coaching team anymore? Was he fired? Thanks.

#19 rayyan, Nov 12, 2007
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DaRock1 said:

The logical guess is that what Del Harris has said was translated from English to Chinese and then posted on Titan Sports (the website is all in Chinese after all). And then it translated by Pryuen from Chinese back to English again. Please correct me if I am wrong.
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you are right

#20 LIN, Nov 12, 2007

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