What changed Hakeem's career, and could it change Yao's?

I couldn't agree more about this

It will never ever happen on JVG which already show a little confident on Yao, and on Tmac Who is turely selfish player.

That's what exactly they did which really screw up themselves.

it's not gona happen, Yao isn't happy right now, i believe TEAM YAO could do something about it, let him get out of the miserible land.

 

I think the answer to the question is at least partly "eight years."

I'll never forget Hakeem destroying Rockets assistant coach Patrick Ewing during a day game during Ramadan. I think over time, he mastered the mental part of the game, completing his physical dominance.

Yao will never be Hakeem. Hakeem was (and probably still is) more athletic, and he adjusted to the NBA much faster. But if you look at his stats and the Rockets' success, he took "the step" in 1992.

No one likes waiting as an answer, but time, experience, better coaching, more time with his teammates...we have to be patient.

 

True dat, Yo.

 

I think when people say "what changed Hakeem" they are not talking about his dominance but his being able to make his teammates better, sort of like Michael Jordan before his championship runs.

 

Two Words; Tunnel Vision. You just have to have it sometimes.

 

I think people have to start making up your minds.

First, there are those complaining that the role players all suck and therefore Yao has to keep facing double and triple teams.

Now Yao needs a bunch of scrubs so he can succeed.

 

Then Yao have the motivation to step up. simple as that.

 

I think thats it too. Its going to take time and experience. He's going to have to age a little. As he gets older, I think we'll see a a much different Yao Ming.

I think really thats pretty much our only hope. what else is there.. I think everything that can be done has been done to help him.

he certainly is not lacking in teachers or equipment.

the only teachers left now are experience and time.

with that, a change of perception will take place, and I think we'll gradually see a different Yao Ming. I think thats what happened with Hakeem.

 

When Yao first entered the league, my first impression of him was that NBA basketball to him is just a job. With all the player movements in the subsequent 2 years, I'm afraid this has been cemented in his head, at least when it comes to the Rockets. And just when he was beginning to see the then-composition of the Rockets team as a second family.

You can't just trade the entire team, mollify Yao by telling him "it's just a business" and expect him to play for "just a business" with the same passion as when he plays for his country. Too many people on this board want to have it both ways.

 

So Yao is not motivated to step up because he's playing with another star. If that is Yao's problem then he is not very smart.


or did I just completely misunderstand what you're saying?

 

Thats a good question Will. The only thing I can think of is that Hakeem was more physically gifted than yao in terms of quickness and #2, he had no real superstar playing with him which forced him to be the man even if he didn't want to be the man. This is the only way I can see Yao evolving. If TMac went down with an extended injury (knock on wood), it probably would help Yao a lot more in stepping up his game.

Maybe the best thing that happened to Hakeem was the downfall of Sampson

 

Good point-

I think that outside of one guy (TMac) he pretty much is playing with a bunch of scrubs.

If he's not getting any passes, I hope he could focus more of his energy on rebounding. This way, he can still contribute on those 8 shot attempt-type of nights (and maybe get some easy putback/tip-ins). A consistent 11 boards and 2 blocks a night would be a decent contribution no matter what.

He did pretty good on the boards last night though - 10 rebounds in 26(?) minutes - and good D on Amare.

 

He does use T-Mac as a crutch but he feels more comfortable in Asia because the competition there is very weak and here he is playing at the highest level of basketball in the world. He isn't fast and strong enough and still needs to learn a lot about the NBA game.
His progress is gradual but when things go wrong he gets down on himself and fails to bring out his skills.
His problems are both mental and physical.
I think he will get better slowly but he will always struggle against faster and stronger players. Having a better cast around him will make us stronger but if he didn't have Steve,Cat and now T-Mac around him he would have completely broken down by now IMO.

 

first off i'll say that hakeem was so amazing he'd find away to dominate with or without illegal defense but anyone else think yao would be unstoppable if the league put the defensive rules back in place? the game now just isn't suited to the big post player like it was and alot of problems that hurt yao are the fronting and trapping that you can't execute as effectively with illegal defense in place. yao would put up 25 easy i think.

since i don't see the rules changing again his biggest problem is his mindset that he can't dominate. we've all seen what he can do when he gets angry and throws his will on a game he just doesn't do it enough. he is physically strong enough and certainly talented enough to do whatever he wants which is why i still stay positive about his future as a superstar.

 

There is a lot to this. Surround Yao with the right cast and he will shine yet brighter. BTW - where are those great passes from his rookie season? What is the difference with his on court demeanor? (Or SF's. Or TMac's???)

The Dream was all but a lost cause until Rudy came in, reorganized the team, created spacing, and offered a philosophy that Dream, and all his teammates, bought in its entirety.

 

Yao has great coordination and skill, but he is very slow - this is the difference between him and other elite centers (past and present) ~ unfortunately you can't teach quickness...

 

When you talk about Yao, you have to look at where he was from. Yao did not dominate in CBA until the time Wang left for NBA, he was very timid during his early CBA days, was gradually forced into that leading role for the Sharks when the team made it clear that every play had to run around him.

You might argue that the CBA competition wasn't as good as in NBA, but there were many faster, more athletic players in CBA, but he was still able to dominating as no other has ever done. It wasn't like he started dominating from the get-to, he was a poor player early in his career even with his height advantage. It was not until the time he was made the focus of the team, then he became dominating. People here keep mentioning that "all great players have that desire to demand the ball, blah, blah", but that's not neccessary true in Yao's case. He has proved that he can be dominating, all he needs is just the right environment to do that.

 

What was Dream's signature move, and when did it really become THE move for him?

Now... what is Yao's move? Does he have one? Do you think his lack of speed and propensity to turn the ball over will keep him from developing one?

I think that's the big question. If Yao doesn't get a bread-and-butter move, then he'll never get the resulting confidence from both himself and teammates which will result in him being the silent leader on the team (in the way Hakeem was).

 

I think Dream's later signature move is fadeaway, which happens
to be Yao's major move too. But many posters here call him a
pansy even he shoots the same FG% as Dream. It seems that
Shaq has "redefined" the dominance of centers: Dunk.

 

Don't try to compare Yao and Dream

They are way different players.

Yao will not become as dominant as Dream, he will be a better player as he develops and he gives us a good starting center for years to come.

Yao will never be quick and freakishly athletic like Dream, KG, Armare or Shaq.

TMac said it best on the Jim Rome show- "he's more like Rik Smitts" I am no longer offended by this comparison because Yao will be a better scorer and defender than Smitts once he matures.

Yao is still learning and adjusting.

Most players do not learn alot during the season. They need the offseason to work on making changes and improvements.

Dream needed all those battles at Fonde with Moses to learn to get the dream shake and the jump hook down.

Yao has never had an offseason to work on his game. His time with the Chinese national team is a hindrance for him.

When Yao has at least 2 off seasons to work on his NBA game he will begin to take steps.

Watch for the Rockets to push for him to stay in the offseason once he resigns. Then he will develop more and produce more consistently.