Yao should use his elbow. But I guess he won't. This has a lot to do with where he grew up (the city, I mean). People from that city tends shy away from physical fighting. Had he grown from the northeast of China, he won't be afraid for physical fighting and throwing his elbows!
I dont think he's strong. I know he's stronger than he was when he first came into the league, but he's not strong enough. Although his legs are big, he's not strong in the lower body either. There is a reason he gets pushed off the block. If he were stronger in the lower body, his lift would be better. If his upper body and hands were stronger he would grab the ball more on rebounds and wouldn't get stripped as often.I dont like to comapre him to shaq, but shaq never got the ball stripped once he got his hands on the ball. Hakeem,Ewing and none of those guys either. Yao need to get stronger. Period.
Yao has great hands..example: catching passes on a dead run from McGrady and then dunking it home. What he DOESN'T have are particularly quick reflexes, nor is he quick off the floor...thus he doesn't rebound all that well at times. Also some players just have a "nose for the ball," like Deke. Yao doesn't really have that.
I nicknamed him Butterfingers Ming, and it still holds up... I don't think he can even palm the ball.
Looks like he palms the ball there to me. <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XjRYm21QyJ0&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XjRYm21QyJ0&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
If he can palm it, its probably just barely. I'm talking about just holding the ball up high with just one hand while standing still, this way he can use his offhand to ward off the defender or any midget guards roaming around him.
Getting pushed off the block is about technique, aggressiveness, the refs and a little known thing called center of gravity.
