I find it's laughable when people say Yao has short arm and then claim someone has long arm that's shorter than Yao's. I remember a bulls fan said he wouldn't trade Chandler for Yao because Tyson Chanler had a wingspan of 7'4.
What's your point? (1) This thread is about Mutombo and Yao. (2) Everyone knows Hakeem at his prime is much better than a 23 years old Yao Ming.
I think 7’4+ players are generally expected to have super long arms to make up for the quickness, leaping ability, and speed they lose for being so tall. Whereas for a player like Tyson Chandler that already has quickness, speed, and athletic ability, the long arms are just a bonus.
Biggest difference is that Yao has thirty fewer syllables and ten fewer words in his name than Deke. theSAGE
Mark Eaton was a better on the ball shot blocker against opposing centers than an off the ball shot blocker like Hakeem and Ben Wallace. When you have the height advantage like Yao and Mark it's more geared to blocking the man's shot you are guarding because leaping ability really isn't involved. Mark Eaton used to just hold his hands above Hakeem to try to prevent him from getting his shot off, sort of like what Yao does to Shaq. Yao will never be the controller of the paint that Hakeem was and Ben is because he doesn't have the quickness to get to most shots but when he is covering the main post player of the other team, he is very effective at frustrating that player.
A 7'5" wingspan for Deke would still be an advantage. Wingspan helps greatly on shot-blocking and rebounding. Wingspan helps players "reach above and over" their opponents when they are just standing on the ground. What if you are a qucker jumper than someone that is taller than you? What if you have a higher vertical than a player that is taller? Well, height can only help you so much...then other factors come into play... Think about this. Most of the time your center is NOT in mid air when in the paint. They are on the ground looking for rebounds or guarding the paint. Sure, height helps. But not when you have to reach over/above other players. That's where the long arms (wingspan) helps snatching rebounds and blocking shots. That long armed player can actually just stand on the ground and *reach over others* just by sticking out their arms. A tall player with short arms still wont be able to reach over/above players as easily as someone with longer arms. Even if that player is shorter. If that player happens to have other advantage like instincts, reaction, quick leap, hight, and a high vertical (like Deke)...well, those just help you rebound and block shots that much more. Yao has to be a lot better in blocking out, timing and desire if he's going to out rebound or out block guys like Deke. Yao already has the disadvantage of being slow jumper and short arms. He needs to make up for it other ways.
I think Deke's wingspan was 7'6" There was one player that had 7'8" wingspan in last years draft. Nene Hilario has a 7'4 1/2 wingspan (same as Yao's), and he's "only" 6'11".
I mean, in terms of length, Deke's long arm == Yao's short arm. Yao also has height advantage. So phyicaly Yao is still better. You can't say Deke has an advantage over Yao in arm length when they have the same wingspan.
Huh? I was using 7'5" wingspan as an example. I think Deke's wingspan is 7'6" really. Speaking in term of shot-blocking and rebounding... The production numbers prove it. That's why Deke is such a good shot blocker and rebounder. A lot better at a height of 7'2" compared to 7'6". As I said above, even if arm length was the same, Deke has the advantage of hustle, timing, reach, quick leaping, and vertical. Those factors make Deke a better shot blocker and rebounding. Remember, we're still talking about blocks and rebounds. Not offensive ability. That's another story. Yao's a great shooter. And Yao is already a better offensive player than Deke. That's obvious! But as far as blocking ability and rebounding....Yao has to improve in those other areas (hustle, timing, quick leaping, and vertical) in order to make his height an advantage over Deke. He has not yet. Thus, "physically Yao is NOT better at blocks and rebounds" if he can't improve in factors of hustle, timing, leaping, and vertical.
Yao seems to be poorly coached in the defensive end. After two seasons, he is still making similar mistakes as he was making in the rookie season. His timing is still off. He still go for pump fakes easily. His positioning for rebounding is not very good.
