that has nothing to do with it. Hakeem has other priorities in life now and basketball is a 2nd thought.
Its not just height. Shawn Bradley, Manute Bol and Geoge Muresan all had height too. They also worked pretty hard too, maybe not as much as Yao but you don't stick around the NBA for a few years without hard work. Yao is more mobile than those other bigs and an innate basketball IQ. His outside shooting ability is an a talent that he has. If it was just hard work then Shaq would also be a great free throw shooter. Yao is much more than height but given JVG system using his height to score close to the basket is much more emphasized than under a different offense. Remember in Yao's first year here while inconsistent he would every now and then do a Dream Shake, an up and under move or a baseline drive.
If the Dream has faith in yao, doesn't that tell you something about Yao's ability? I think it takes a great one to spot another great one.
funny but soooo true. i always tell parents/kids to take up soccer when they are young. their bodies will learn footwork, balance, equilibrium, shifting weight, fluidity, and a host of other non technical skills. it's more about understanding your body and your body understanding what it can do. when a kid grows up and decides to play other sports any and all of those controls will transfer. you always see players and you say man that guy is so smooth. and others more robotic. you can get a jumpshot well into your career but your body dynamism is different. i think olajuwon's and nash's soccer background helped their bball careers. especially in olajuwons case because for a big guy, he was sooo smooth.
Dream needs to teach Yao: if he's double teammed and he sees Rafer open at the 3 point line 1. pass Rafer the ball (WRONG ANSWER) 2. do a tough Dream move to score (CORRECT ANSWER)
That is correct. When they would double Hakeem, Dream would say to Kenny Smith, "Shoot. Make them pay." Dream needs to tell Yao to say this to Rafer, "Dont shoot. Pass the ball back to me or else we will pay"
No offense to Hakeem. Deke also has been a great center in the league. Yao has been around Deke for 3 years. That's not a couple of weeks in a summer, that's day to day together. Can you tell if Yao has learned anything from Deke? This is not flaming Yao. I am really curious...
Mutombo is mainly defense, rebounding and blocking shots. Hakeem was the total package with both offense and defense.
I am sure he did. Also how to stay out of foul troubles. I'll bet he learned quite a bit from Patrick Ewing as well. 3 great centres.
I know that Yao Ming has inproved fron season to season, especially in strength, stamina and NBA confidence but there have also been ways that he has digressed under JVG.
