I havent seen this mentioned and its not a big deal (BUT IM TERRIBLY BORED AT WORK) but anyone think Yao can learn they hook in a hour practice from kareem who is the SOPH assistant coach?>
I was just watching the Sophomores practice on NBA TV. And Yao hit a fadeaway over Jabbar guarding him. It didn't look like much real coaching was going on. Most of the players were having a good time with the event.
I've always wondered why every big man in the NBA doesn't learn that shot. It seems so unguardable. There must be some difficulty in learning it that prevents most big men from learning how to shoot it.
Damn Yao, why in the hell are you practising fallaway over Jabbar, you should be doing sky hooks and ask for some tips from the master!!
Im surprised more players period dont practice it. Its a real effective move even for smaller players against slightly taller OR for a pg trying to post up another pg. When I used to use it in HS games...people would always gasp and at like it was some amazing shot. For me it was really quite simple...it just reminds me of a layup with slightly different form. Imagine how much easier it would be for someone 7 ft tall who can almost just drop it in. At 5'10", my hook would have to go all the way up and back down
I missed the practice! watching the Rookie practice and it looks boring so I probably didn't miss much. Anything else interesting on the tv lineup before the game?
I agree that this could and should become a evastating weapon for Yao. As to why more centers, and players in particular don't use has a lot to do with height. It is no coincidence that the players who have made the best use of the skyhook have been those who were much taller than the opposition, not because it is vulnerable to the man guarding you, but because it is very vulnerable to other defenders. When using the hook, your gaze is away from the ball, and the shooting arm at some point becomes extended with the ball open to tips, deflections, or even steals. Unlike wehn you're shotting a J, your body is not between the ball and unseen defenders. As such, unless you're so tall that you generally keep it above other players all but most committed reach, it's often easily befuddles by team defenses that know it's coming. In HS or rec ball there aren't a whole lot of scouting reports on other players, nor do coaches sepnd time telling teams how to stop Player A from getting iff his shot. In the NBA, however, if you are exposing the ball a lot, and don't have the height to get away with it, you're gonna be picked clean a lot. But none of this applies to Yao. He could be unstoppable with it. I agree that he should be picking Kareem's brain clean.
I think the problem with the skyhook is it does take a level of skill/finesse plus "soft hands" to be able to use it from a distance with great accuracy like Kareem did, something most seven footers don't possess. NO ONE would be a better candidate to learn it than YAO. (P.S.: Remember when the Lakers got Shaq, Kareem offered to teach Shaq and Shaq told Kareem and anyone who would listen that he didn't need that "old man basketball" to dominate. Don't you think that Kareem would love to see Yao annihilate Shaq with it??? LOL)
He doesn't even need to have the big, sweeping "sky hook" that Kareem used. He just needs to learn Hakeem's little baby hook that he would use when defenders would overplay the fade to the base line. Just a little step, half turn, hook, swish. At Yao's height, it would be pretty unstoppable from 9-10 feet and in.
Sky Hook won't work anymore, teams can zone so you can't isolate one player on one side any longer. Carry on !! DD
haha you guys make it sound like Yao is Luke Skywalker and Kareem is Yoda! Kareem "Yao I will teach you the ways of the force, no more of that crazy fall away J" Yao "Yes teach me I will be unstoppable with this power!" *fast forward [playoffs] Bill Walton "Yao steps launches the sweeping sky hook from the 3 point line! ITS GOOD! ITS GOOD! THE ROX WIN THE ROX WIN! This was HISTORY IN THE MAKING! Yao hit 4 3pt SKy Hooks!" hahhaa who knows? J
Does Yao really need that? His fadeaway jumpers and jump hooks are already unstoppable. He only needs one unstoppable move to be unstoppable if he can master it.
What YAO really needs is a power move, lean forward & shot over the top of his defender. In the old days in China, player were trained to shoot straight up jump shot, then everyone falls in love with fade-away jumpers, you don't see many low-post power moves from players in China. They might try to back down the defender, but always end up shot fadeaway, or straight up. With YAO's height & reach, if he lean forward, the defender will never be able to reach his shot. S. Pippen used to do that very well at the block, Duncan is the master as well. If Yao can mix that move with his fadeaway, he will be unstoppable, and foul out whoever trys to guard him! --daoshi
The hook shot seems to me to be a thing of the past. I've seen footage of George Mikan's old Minnesota Lakers shooting those from all over the court. But I agree that if anyone in the league could now use it to devestating affect it would be Yao. Anythoughts on Yao also adding some of Wilt's stretch finger rolls?
Moves I would like to see Yao add to his arsenal.. 1. Using the backboard properly (TDuncan Style) 2. Hookshots if he can hit these consistently would be unstoppable (who cares about double teams) 3. a few power moves (he needs to mix it up) J what happened to Yao's shot blocking ability lately?
Yao isn't much of a one-legged jumper (or two-legged jumper, for that matter). So I'm not sure if the sky hook is the right go-to move for him.
He wouldnt really have to jump.. just a quick lil baby hook, or skyhook I dont know why he doesnt use that hook more. Flash across the lane *skyhook *SCORE* ! hahaha if he could jump it would make it that much more difficult to guard. Did you notice in that lakers game his hooks have no arc? Thats probably why he gets blocked so often. I like MoT's moves.. smooth.. Yao should try to emulate some of them. J
i dont think ive ever seen his hook being blocked...except mabye from behind...help defense of ak47 or marion.
