I would love to take the time to teach you how to watch basketball, but if all you want to do is to mock or whatever, i can be just as ignorant as you say.
Yao vs shaq has been pretty entertaining. I wouldn't say either has had an overwhelming edge they go back and forth
Try to put him on your "Ignore" list so you don't have to see his comments. I believe many people here already done that. Leebigez does not sound like a Yao hater but really has some logical problems.
As I said before, I actually believe Yao Ming did a good job on Al Jefferson in the 2nd half, I just think in the 1st half Yao was too focused offensively and was still trying to get himself back to rhythm since he didn't practice the day before. If Yao was more focused defensively yesterday, Al would not have scored over 30. Al had to take 30 shots to get 36 points, while it took Yao 18 shots to get 30. Tell me who's night is more efficient again?
That comparison makes no sense. You cant compare Yao guarding Jefferson to a left tackle guarding a smaller fast defensive end. Yes there is the concept of balance, but in football you can use your hands to jam the guy. You think Yao couldnt stop Jefferson if he was allowed to use both of his hands and shove Al if he went by him. You give me Pace, Ogden or Boselli and have them try to stop Freeney without being able to use their arms against him and I bet they fail every time. The problem with your balance theory is the lower Yao gets the slower he is going to be. Im sure its not easy for a 7'6 guy to squat down and still have lateral movement.
Again that was one game. Look at the season stats. Al gets about 1.5 more rebounds per game then Yao but plays almost four more minutes. So basically they are about even in rebounds per 48 min.
Yao is not going to suddenly get better at guarding these types of players. You know going in that against these kinds of players, Yao is going to struggle. I dont understand why Adelman is so reluctant to give Yao help with the double team. I get that double teaming can lead to open shots but when a player has it going like that you have to do it. Look at what the wolves did with Yao. They were double teaming him even before he got it going. Then when he was rolling they often sent triple teams. Yet there was Yao, more often then not guarding Al one on one and getting burned. People who keep saying Yao just needs to get faster, get more balanced or work on his footspeed dont understand pro sports. Yao works his ass off to be what he is. Dwight Howard would be more effective if he could jump two feet higher then he already does, but you know what its not gonna happen. At some point, you max out your physical ability and you work with what you got.
Ok Mr Miyagi, wax on wax off! But seriously, you made a good point about Yao's balance. That explains why Yao falls down a lot too.
I also don't understand why Yao also holds Amare to his own as well. I just noticed this while I am watching the Pistons-Suns game. I just remember that Amare usually has really poor performances against Yao. Well recently. It's probably because he has no back to basket game, but he does have a jumper. Both Booz and Al Jeff have back to basket and face to basket game. That's quite dangerous.
Yao Ming is one of the strongest and best conditioned players in the game. Due to his size and unathletic abilities and poor balance he has difficulty contesting the jump shooters and staying out of Foul trouble. With several years of experience behind him he does everything to avoid fouling the jump shooter. Simply that!
I think Scola is not as quick as those guys. In last year playoff, Scola can't even stop Okur's dribble penetration. He doesn't shot from mid-range as well as those guys neither
How about playing some zone? You know, to use the strength of your players instead of their weakness. I know zone is vulnerable against good 3-point shooting teams. But last time I checked, FG% is just higher for 2 pointers. Unlike JVG's Rockets, we have enough offensive weapons to offset some opponents' 3 pointers. Before everyone jumps out to claim it's not going to work, can we at least try it a few games, with, you know, a certain tall and slow player on our team?
Your football analogy is ridiculous. Those football players you mentioned have wider bodies and are shorter then Yao. Meaning, they will have better center of gravity then Yao and will have better reaction time with their arms and legs. They also work out of a football stance which is different from a basketball stance. Name me a 7'5 and over NBA player that had great balance or had great body coordination. (Ralph Sampson was 7'4, if you wanted to use him) What's next? Comparing the hand-eye coordination of Lance Berkman's to Yao's?
In a way, i should not respond to this, but on a educational point i will. I will also repsond back to Yao#1, but i dont know why either. Yao can be a whole lot better regardless of what people think about him being unathletic. I dont believe Yao is strong enough in his core. I've been saying this for yrs now. The core which is the torso, through the hips and quads down to your legs is essential in maintaining great balance and stamina. This lack of core power is the reason why Yao is fatigued early in games and for the most part later in games also. I would be willing to bet $100 in the tip jar that Yao cant bench nor squat his weight. I would actually like to see his power clean numbers as well which is another sign of core stregnth. Back to the balance issue, yao is very coordinated for a man of his size. His feet are good and his hand eye coordination is good also. Yao's balance and leverage are not as good as they need to be. I used the offensive lineman as example of it doesnt matter how big you are, balance and leverage is what counts. I used oversized o-linemen vs smaller,faster d-linemen. Guys like freeney,Harrison,dumervill always play with leverage because they are 5-11 to 6'1. When those guys come off the corner, theyre already under the pads of the guys, but the really special big guys always keep great balance and never get their head over their toes. When they make the mistake and these edge rushers turn speed to power and come across the face of the lineman, we see the qb getting blown up and the lineman on the ground. When and if Yao plays with the proper foot spacing, the proper arc in his back, and keeps his arms bent and up, he can be a very,very good defender. That normal happens when he plays against Howard because Howard isnt that good in "space". Jefferson types get Yao "in space" and they can take advantage of his legs too close, ass too high, and arms down. When those guys jap or triple threat, yao kinda loses his stance, now they get into his body, knock him off balance and score. Also yao's stance is affected because of the lack of stregnth in his core. Its hard to do if you're not really, strong. If you just try standing at a great body position and sliding and moving around your house you will see how difficult it is. Its all technique with yao and it ties to his conditioning. Thats why you see him on the ground so much. Balance.
