WTF!! yeah we know that jackass, why the **** would we read the Chronicle Sports section and not have any clue about how we lost?
during the NBA lockout, teams are not permitted to train the players. so I guess it is a smart move to bypass the policy.
out of curiosity, i wonder if yao is practicing on their practice court for the public to view. If so, can u give us an estimate time dc on when he comes by?
I'm sure the lockout does have something to do with this decision (for Falsone to leave the Rockets to take on Yao fulltime), but there's something to be said for this: From Yao's point of view, it's past time for him to hire a personal trainer. I'm sure Falsone has given him plenty of attention in the past, but it's different when he's supposed to be overseeing a whole team. This way he can give his sole focus to improving Yao. And with their history and the way that Falsone went out of his way last year in going to China, this was a logical match. From Falsone's point of view, besides reasons pertaining to the lockout, I'm guessing that he wants to take on the challenge of training a unique physical specimen like Yao. When Shaq is gone, there really is no reason why Yao shouldn't be the biggest and strongest guy in the NBA. And from Falsone's interview from rockets.com last year, it's obvious that helping Yao reach his potential is a very big professional goal for him.
he works out on the main floor which down most of the time now for Comets games - usually on our way out to lunch (around noonish) - he's usually already soaked in sweat and running around hard, so I'd bet he works out up until lunch.
This is great news! And whoever brought up the mention of the Lockout and the Rockets not being able to train Yao but now Falsone can...that's genius! I wonder if Falsone resigned....OR Yao just made him an offer he couldnt refuse. Either way, great new for Yao. Anything that can help his game like this clearly is a huge plus.
I know Yao said that he was surpised at Amare's improvement in his jump shot last summer so I would think that he will be working on this as well. He is usually wide open when he takes the 15 footer so I don't think he needs to pump fake and drive to the hole, just needs to knock them down. Yao was better in years 1/2 knocking down his jump shot and free throws so maybe it was just an off year.
Well I don't just mean that Yao should improve his jumper to the point where he can make it if he gets an open look off a pick and pop or sagging defense. Any number of guys in the NBA can make an open midrange shot. I mean that when he gets driven out of the box a bit, and receives it a bit too far out for back to the basket moves, he should be able to face up guys and make his move from that position. If you look around the league, very few big guys actually get their points off back to the basket moves. Most of them (Amare, Brand, J.Oneal, Gasol, Randolph, KG to a lesser extent etc.) do it by facing guys up and trying to drive past them for a layup, a short jumper, or running hook shot(Gasol's pet move), or by shooting a fadeaway. Yao's the opposite because he hardly faces guys up and tries to take them off the dribble. Either he gets the ball on the block with his defender on his back, or he doesn't get the ball. Yao doesn't have the repetoire right now to deal with getting pushed out too far out of the lane. What happens when Yao comes out too far and gets the pass 15-17 feet away from the basket with a man on him? Usually nothing, he just passes it back out and tries to reposition. Developing a face up game would mean that he would not only have the skill and confidence to shoot that jumper with the defender right in his face, but also having a counter move where he can get off a better shot if the defender is really tight on him. Yao's got a decided quickness disadvantage in the NBA, but he's so big that if the defender has to respect his jumper, then he can easily fake them out and get a step on them. Now Yao's not going to be able to pump-fake then take it all the way to the rim, help defense will rotate over way before he would make it, so a better bet is to develop a leaner or pullup after two dribbles. Moves and counter moves. That what makes someone a multi-dimensional offensive player. When they let you catch the ball too deep, you punish them. If they push you out of the box, you shoot over the top of them. If they are really tight on you and expecting a shot, then pump fake and drive past them for a shot. Skills like this would give Yao consistency, so that no matter what the defense throws at him, he can still produce.
m_cable: You are right about the moves and counter-moves. However, I don't think Yao is lacking in moves 15-17 feet out. Yao can knock down that jumper any time AND also go to the basket for a layup at that range. The problem is JVG seems to be forcing Yao to take shots closer and closer to the basket as well as play with his back to his basket. How many of Yao's talents have been under-utilized by JVG? Passing? Jumpshot? Rebounding?
Well last summer I might have agreed with you. But this past season it looked like Yao was pretty average on his jumpshot. At the beginning of the season I'm sure he had some discomfort with his arm brace that was throwing off his shot. But even when he took it off, his shot didn't seem that great. No matter what, he could use a thousand jumpers a day along with his other training. Make those looks automatic, instead of just good.
no i am not, i heard the same thing some other poster heard that posted in the other yao thread about this
