In this Chinese interview, he said he feels some improvement in the months of training. http://sports.sohu.com/91/21/news213602191.shtml Basically, there were 2 things that he noticed: 1, Get better with 'early offense', whatever it is. Like better anticipate during offense and make better preparation before get the ball. 2, He felt that he gained some more wrist strength. So his hand movement on shotting is smaller than before. Therefore more confident on shoting (with better control?) OK, maybe it just because he is suddenly facing some scrub in asian game or he really improved. Whatever... He just played like 20 mins per game on low intense games. Should not wear him out at all. Expect 2nd round into playoff the coming season. 25 ppg 12 rb.
Yao has obviously learned how to play physical. He repeatedly bumped opponents away near the basket to gain position or seperation in the Asian games. Not sure if he can do the same to NBAers, but he wasn't doing it before against guys at the same level.
China VS Iran is on CCTV 5 right now. Yao has grown a thicker mustache and looks more menacing than before. The psycological warfare is on! LOL.
This is essential. You need lots of wrist strength to dunk over the defenders! Expect to see more dunks from Yao this season! It's a good thing the audience are cheering every dunk Yao made.
I disagree. Yao has proven to be very humble and honest, or at least it has seemed so to me. I think if he had not felt much improvement, he would say that no matter the cost. I think Yao works hard enough that he is going to improve anyway, and I find it heartening that it is so marked that he notices it himself. I saw the video of him bumping off the Australian center, Bradke, who is something like 7' and 260 or 280. Awesome.
No disrespect man, but obviously you have no idea how things work out in China. Don't get me wrong. I love my country. It's just a matter of face (not fact).
I fail to see how anyone could feel that way, Ming went through more pressure then any rookie in the NBA ever has and handled it with class. He played with going entire quarters never seeing the ball, did you ever hear him complain? He was humble to a fault last year and wore it well, never bragging and always a good word for the other player. Now the man finally says something positive about himself, and you want to think he is lieing??
The point here is, the Chinese NT, as well as other NTs, aren't set up for improving personal skills. They are not big man training camps but put together to win games. Their members are all all stars in their respective countries, and the NT training is for improving their team game. If Duncan says he doesn't feel his personal skills are improved on the Dream Team 6, the USA Basketball wouldn't feel it's a slap on their face because - Dream Team 6 isn't a big man training camp. If Yao is reluctantly lying to be politically correct, he wouldn't need to elaborate on it, which he did. If Yao is lying to kiss the NT's a$$, that's not the Yao we know. By "early offense" Yao means making early decisions before getting the ball in the post as to how to attack and where is the best position. Yao said he wasn't very pleased with that aspect before, through games and NT training the feeling just suddenly came to him. Preparation before attack got better for him. Now he feels confident and more decisive than before, resulting in better scoring.
Man you totally misunderstood me...There were tons of debates about how inefficient the Chinese NT training program. Obviously the coaches were aware of that. There are alot of pressure on them. If being in the same situation in United States, a player could just say nothing and do his work. But in China, you have to step up and say positive things about the coach even you don't feel the way. Otherwise, the coach would put you on the 'blacklist' right the way. Yao has very nice personality, but he is also a tool of the Chinese national team. Did you hear him talking about his improvement through last year's NBA experience? He didn't say nothing. He kept saying it was the same game and he just needs to get stronger. So he went back to China and suddenly improved his game? I believe he did, but he won't say that if being himself. that's my point.
The Chinese NT is performing better this time, that is consistent with Yao's claim that the training paid out. Why do you believe everytime someone says something positive in China, it is due to political or public pressure? Don't be so narrow minded.
If you are not political, you don't survive there. Look at Wang ZhiZhi my friend. I'm not saying "everytime someone says something positive in China, it is due to political or public pressure", I just felt wierd when hearing Yao talked about his improvement. The man seldom does that.
Not so obvious unless you think the Chinese NT coaches can read English and frequent this site. The only public criticism on Chinese NT training. we encountered so far is written by Rik Bucher. The record of the Chinese NT so far, dominating the American team, the Austrailian pro team, the Asian teams, speaks for itself. See my post above. Whether Yao improves his personal skills or not in the NT training has nothing to do with the coach's job rating, unless Yao's skills declined in his way of training. Yao could say that he doesn't feel personal improvement without hurting anyone. Besides, what do you mean by fearing the headcoach's blacklist? Why should Yao fear being on the NT headcoach's blacklist? What harm can it bring? Why should Yao talking about improvement in the NBA if there's not any? Yao didn't have the time nor energy to train himself enough due to the busy schedule. Yao got stronger in the summer. That's an improvement. Oh wait, that wasn't done in the NBA but in China???So those added muscles must be fake, must be silicones surgically inserted by the NT headcoach to make himself look good, and Yao has to comply for fearing being on the headcoach's blacklist. Yao has a past record of realistically breaking down his and opponents' game. What he said is in tune of his behavior pattern.
So the result of Wang couldn't survive in China without being "political" is being kicked out of NT, living in the U.S. making millions, and now being asked to go back to the NT? Geez what a frightening blacklist.
Why did Wang choose to stay in US last summer? Yes he needs publicity to attract GM's eyeballs. And he also knew the NT trainning sucks. Then what harm? out of NT team, out of the army, out of everything ... was he big in China? Of course he was. But was he big enough to talk back to the NT or CBA? nothing is bigger than politicians in China, even a 7'6 center.
No doubt, Wang doesn't want to be kicked out of NT. For him, it's probably the worst thing could happen. But for me, frankly speaking, I'd rather use "released" rather than "kicked out". I hope YaoMing could do the same thing as Wang did, and Bateer, Xue, Jianlian Yi... Players are not slaves. They themselves are the biggest reason why they succeed. Steve Nash played an exhibition game for Canada before quitting the NT and fans gave him a standing ovation. Wang said he wanted to go back to NT. That's enough for me to give him due.
Still, there's nothing to fear. Yes Wang's got some media blockade, but Wang's nowhere as big as Yao. Their statures are different. If Yao criticizes the NT coach, his games won't be blocked in China. It's the NT headcoach fearing Yao to say negative things about him. Let's see, China has numerous coaches but only one international basketball star. What Wang did to the NT was exponentially worse than Yao saying "I'm still the same Yao Ming after NT training." Wang abandoned the NT when people needed him, what he got is media blockade and now, offer for reconcilation. Not a very bad deal if you ask me.
Let's see if I get it right, you hate the Chinese NT in the first place because you think the players are slaves? That's just enough for me. Thanks and good night.
