I was thinking about how Mutombo is regarded as one of the great defensive players of all time. And I was wondering why Yao can't be that effective. What does Mutombo have that Yao doesn't? Mutombo isn't particularly quick. He doesn't jump that high. He does have a huge wingspan, but I don't think it's much longer than Yao's, if at all. And Yao should make up for some of that by being 4 inches taller. There could be something in the fact Mutombo isn't much of an offensive player, so he can put more effort on the defensive side, whereas Yao is expected to dominate on both ends of the floor. Maybe it's just a timing and positioning thing that Yao can improve on, but Mutombo was averaging 3.5 bpg by his second year. Or maybe it's just that I'm fixating too much on stats and Yao is in fact a great defensive force because he changes a lot of shots that go up.
Attitude and the fact that Deke was never really the focus of an offense so he could save all of his energy for one end of the court. As I was typing I had to chuckle when this crept into my mind...a vision of Yao wagging his finger with a "not in my house" expression on his face.
Actually . .. i think Deke also has A REP once u get A REP your get away with alot of little things Like RODMAN and rebounding Could Yao's timing be better yea . . . Also . . i think they calling Fouls a little too quickly not not like back in the day were the paint was a moshpit Rocket River
I agree that playing both sides of the floor aggressively tends to wear people out. I remember when McGrady was in Toronto he was average something like 1.9 blocks per game in only 25 minutes of action. Whereas once he got to Orlando he averages around 1.5 blocks in over 37, 38 minutes per game. Yao changes alot of shots and I think that's what matters. If the ball doesn't go in because of his intimidating presence, it counts as a block for me, even though it doesn't show up on the scoreboard. Mutombo, similar to the likes of Manute Bol, Mark Eaton and Shawn Bradley were good at timing their blocks as well. They usually won't jump and fall for pump fakes either. Although the 4 mentioned were never offensive oriented players at all. However, Shaq, Admiral, Dream and even Ewing were able to do put up great stats offensively and defensively. I don't think Yao's progress should be compared to the likes of Shaq, Olajuwon etc. It should be compared to that of KG, Kobe, JO, TMac and a lot of highschoolers because he's never had good competition to improve his skills overseas. However, I really like what I'm seeing and from what I've seen in his first few NBA games compared to his 2nd year, you can definitely see his learning curve is a steep one. I remember watching his first few NBA games, he was posting out 18 feet from the basket and getting burnt repeatedly on defense. Labelled a bust, compared to Bradley etc. A few games later, the 20 on 9/9 against LA then the 30 & 16 against the Mavs and he was in the same books as Olajuwon, Moses, Sampson and Elvin Hayes as the only Rockets rookies ever to have a 30 & 15 game. Let's see how Yao compares this season.
when i saw the thread i was thinking "offensive game" but as it pertains to shot blocking... --i think motumbo may be longer than yao... as in he's shorter but he has really long arms. --mutumbo now is slow and moves around kind of like yao does... but when he was in his prime he could jump much better than yao
Possibly Yao doesnt know how to! Possibly he is hoping to be taught the American way of playing while he is over here.
The biggest difference are Mutombo's instincts and attitude defensively. He's more disciplined and uses his length to his advantage more than Yao. He never reaches in and go for pump fakes as much. I've seen many times there he gets pumped faked like 2 or 3 times and doesn't budge, and when the opponent tries to shoot it finally, he jumps up and swats it away. Yao will never have the instinct that Mutombo had...the only thing he can really improve on is not to reach in and put his arms straight up to make defenders shoot over the top to try to use his height to his advantage.
Shot blocking isn't really about size, it is about instinct/attitude, and quick leaping/reacting. That's why many of the great natural shot blockers (Russell, Hakeem, and today Ben Wallace) are under 7 feet. Yao doesn't seem to exhibit those qualitites in abundance. The first one he can possibly develop to a limited extent, the second I don't know if he'll be able to remedy.
Sam, I'll have to disagree. One of the all-time shot blocker is Mark Eaton. He was strictly size and no quickness. Eaton probably had a worst vertical & lateral than Yao. The thing is Mark didn't go for fakes (or some might say he was too slow to go for fakes). I think Yao can become a good defender/shot-blocker, he just need to not go for fakes and let the shooters come to him instead of going after them (on most occasions).
If you have the requisite physical skills and a baseline understanding of interior play, then shotblocking and rebounding are both about attitude and hustle. You have to take any penetration personally, and deny the basket. Mutombo brought that attitude on defense 100% of the time.
Eaton and Bol were good shotblockers too, no question, but if you look you're going to find as many sub-7 foot shotblockers among the league leaders from year to year as you are going to find 7-2 and over players. Part of t hat is a function of math, but part of that is something else. .
Well, Yao is more similar to EAton and Bol than Hakeem and Wallace. As big as Yao, he don't need to be an atheletic freak to be a defensive force. He has the size and should use it to his advantage.
Mutombo is 7'2 with long arms. Yao is 7'5 with short arms. Mutombo had quick leaping ability and good shotblocking instincts. Yao has neither. Mutombo had good coaching at Georgetown and worked out with P-Ew every summer before coming to the NBA. Yao didn't. Also, Yao has a really bad habit of picking up silly fouls. That was one of his biggest problems this season, and it prevented us from fully directing all penetration to him on D. I'd be satisfied if Yao just developed Deke's rebounding instincts, though it'd be nice to see him block 2-3 shots a game. I think he'd benefit from a Cliff Robinson-esque post defender who would let him roam a little more on defense. Then again, how many guys like that are their anymor? Maybe Dampier and 'Sheed. Oh, and P.J. Brown. That's about it.
I won't make a fuss over wingspan. Yao is 7'6 with 7'5 wingspan. Mutombo is 7'2 with ? wingspan. Physically I think it's equivalent unless Mutombo's wingspan > 7'8
Good post. I agree with most of it except for the last little bit about roaming. I don't think he's quick enough to roam and would rather have him stay at home rather than to suffer the death of 1000 backdoor cuts from the weakside. Plus, Yao staying at home magnifies his greatest contribution as a shot blocker: the deterrent effect of having a 7-6 guy in the middle. Even though Hakeem or even Ben Wallace are much better natural shotblockers than Yao, it is subconsciously not as intimidating to get a shot off over them than it is to try to get one off over Yao.
Good observation. We've consistently got twice more point in paint than our opponent. And opponent always shoots like crap aginst us. Yao may never become the DPOY, but he's definitely more intimidating than Ben Wallace.
I think BWallace and Deke are the type that sneak up on people block their shots. However, you are always conscious of where Yao is. J
