Yao: too slow for offense, awfully slow for defense

Dirk Nowitsky also sucked his first year. In fact he sucked so badly that Don Nelson was getting raked over the coals for "wasting" a draft pick. He definitely got heat for originally drafting him, and had to trick management into getting him, and look at him now.

 

<i>aelliott--I'm just curious, how much do you expect out of Yao. You obviously think he's going to have an immediate impact. What do you predict his stats to be in rookie and 3rd year. I don't think he's as great a shooter as you do, but anyways...if his shot is money as you say... how many points do you expect, how about assists since that'll be his double threat? How about rebounds???</i>

I have no idea what his stats will be. I don't really get into trying to project stats, there's too many variables. How are teams going to defense us? Are they going to leave Yao open in order to shut down Franchise and Mobley? Who's getting most of the minutes at PF? Who's the SF? How fast does Rudy intend to bring him along?

Truthfully, I really don't care that much about what his stats are next year. We've got no shot at a title next year. We need to have Yao ready in 2 to 3 years. At that point he can be very good.

What he will do is make our team better. Will he put up great stats? I really don't know.


I do think that he'll shoot the ball well. Here's a blurb about his shooting at the Chicago workout:

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Other than his size and mobility, Yao's shooting ability was most striking. He showed he can shoot off the dribble, making 9-of-12 from all over the court early in the session. He also showed he can pull-up on the break and knock down a jumper. Mix that with a nice drop step, and a hook shot with either hand, and it's easy to see why everyone is talking about him.

"I think he'll do well," said Layden, the Knicks president and general manager. "I think he'll learn to improve in the areas he really needs to, and he'll get better. What you've seen today is tremendous potential. He has special potential. He really does. And he has the unique quality of having the size and the talent, and good hands, and good touch. Those things are clear."

Yao made nine of his first 11 jump shots from the left baseline and elbow - legitimate 15- to 18-foot jumpers. Later, Yao took his game behind the NBA three-point line. He went 3-for-6 from the left side of the court (although his foot was on the line on many of them), 0-for-2 from straight away, and 2-for-6 from the right side.

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http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?level_3_id=126&page=3421012

Here's some more quotes from NBA people:

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What really sticks out is how fluid and coordinated he is. He can hit NBA range 3-point shots but will someone be running plays for him to get those shots? No. But he can really consistently hit shots in the 18-to-20-foot range
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<b>
He can change games strictly by his presence. He runs well, likes to set screens, has good low post moves, including hooks. But he also has 3-point range. If he were playing against Shaq, Shaq would have to go out and guard him.

"He has a great mid-ranged jump shot. He will be great on pick and rolls because he is so big a defender can't get around him and he can pop outside and hit jump shots."

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http://foxsports.lycos.com/content/view?contentId=469080

 

Aelliot's said most of it very well. I just want to take on one point -- that about Wang's team dominating Yao's. Obviously, as already pointed out, the Red Army team had better players at all the other positions and the team winning doesn't mean Wang dominated Yao. But here's the critical point, even if Wang DID dominate Yao in that 4 year period:

At the beginning of that period, Wang was 21, Yao was 17. 4 years is HUGE at those comparative ages. 4 years of age is huge when you're talking 25 vs. 21. Now when you reach 28 vs 24, it starts becoming less of an issue, but most would agree a basketball player is usually better at 28 than at 24. Now with that in mind, let's examine those same facts.

From the time he was 17 until the time he was 21, Yao grew in skill, stature, and basketball knowledge to the point where he led the Shanghai team to a championship over the New York Yankees of the Chinese basketball establishment. I believe it highly likely that the Red Army team still had superior talent up and down their roster to the Shanghai team. They had the erstwhile God of Chinese Basketball at 25, just coming into his prime. And a 21 year old Yao Ming led his team to the championship? Yes, I want this guy.

I do have to add this factor on the "expectation level" for Wang, however. Part of the reason he wasn't taken until the second round was the lower probability of ever getting him into uniform. Not only was he the first Chinese player, he was also a member of the Army, and not nearly as much effort had been put into getting assurances of his availability as has been put in for Yao. I believe that Wang would have gone a lot higher if his "expected availability" was as high as Yao's is now.

 

Two teams are close, it is still confusing.

Sharks=NBA #1 draft Yao Ming ( with such such skills, speed,physical play,superstar,champion,........) + Two foreign players ( hustle,energitic,big body,...)+ great money and marketing+fenetic home court fans.

Army Rockets= Old,injuried center ( his season total points is No.1)+ several outside 3 pointers+ a coach of natinal team + no money and advertising + no home court.+ no real fans .

But,If Wang ( or add any foreign foward) is still in Army Rockets, Sharks' chance <20%.