Yao's lack of passion for Rebounding

I noticed his lack of rebounding instinct at the practice also. He seems to not know where to position himself to have a good chance at the rebound. I think with some coaching and learning to fight for boards during real games Yao Ming will pick it up quickly (I hope!).

B

 

In the CBA Yao Ming is used to having the ball come to him. He is used to being bigger and more athletic than others. In the NBA, he is still big but the competition is much more athletic and they "go after" the rebounds. Ming has to be tought to box out and his size alone with help him get boards. But until he learns the techniques and puts them to use he won't be as effective on the boards as he could be.

Chris

 

I agree. I think Yao is used to playing shorter, less athletic big men, so he's accustomed to being able to grab rebounds, without breaking a sweat.

It's imperative that he hits the glass hard. There are no good rebounders in the NBA who are passive on the glass.

 

anyone else think it might be a center of gravity issue, where he is gets shoved more easily, because he is not squatting like he does when fighting for offensive/defensive position.

He seems to understand the need to squat and get his butt lower for more stable positioning, but not when rebounding. Looks like he stands up for rebounds and then just gets pushed like Bradley.

 

I agree somewhat, but he definitely does know how to bock out. I've seen him do it in the games, so if he is out of position because he's getting pushed from behind, it should be a foul. The fundamentals of rebounding (ala getting pushed to far under teh basket, etc) don't seem to be the problem, it's just the lack of explosion to the ball. He is in position on some of the rebounds he missed, just someone else got to the ball first.

 

First off, YAO is going to be GREAT!!!! And already is on many levels. I did notice a propensity for constantly being worried about his man. In fact, I don't think he sees a lot of shots until the rebound has already passed him.

From what I've seen. Yao moves to the middle of the lane while their guard is out on the wing, he turns to his right (a lot of times he looks completely over his shoulder) to check his man, meanwhile the guard has let the shot fly, bounces off the rim, etc....Yao turns back around to see the status and ball is in someone else's hand (luckily Griffin on many instances...Geez GRIFFIN is great). I think it makes Yao look a bit slow, but it is something that can be taught, I imagine. I am not being hard on the guy, he hadn't worked with the team and definitely is not used to the NBA pace. In the CBA he probably had time to keep tabs on his man, but in the NBA it's got to be more natural than he's accustomed to.

Has anyone else noticed the same? This is in my mind a reason that he hasn't pulled down a lot of defensive boards.

Of course there are so many people gunning for him, it it were me, I'd probably be looking over my shoulder as well. But then again, me looking over my should at Yao would put me about eye level with his...naval I guess.

 

I am not sure that he has less passion for rebounding. I think that he is aware that rebounding is much harder in NBA. The question for the short term will be can he do better than what he did in the last two games.

For those who have watched the games, can you tell me for those broads he grabbed, were those easy ones or difficult ones?

 

My wife was with me at open practice. She doesn't know much about basketball, but she kept asking, "how come Yao doesn't jump for the balls?" So if my wife sees it, I'm sure everyone sees it. He doesn't seem to understand yet about the importance of blocking out and positioning. And with his height, some added vertical would make him #1 in the league in rebounds, but he just hasn't learned to go after the ball yet. There was a play in open practice where Moochie pulled an offensive rebound over Yao because of those things mentioned. Hopefully with time and good coaching, he'll overcome those things.

 

The ones I remember pretty much fell to him. He also missed some that weren't too tough for him to get, but reading about how he is worried about his man most of the time it makes sense why he might have missed some of those rebounds. Given time I'm sure he'll get much better. I can't wait to see how he does once it's for real!

B

 

Van Chancellor made an interesting point during one of the preseason games.

He stated, to paraphrase, that the biggest difference between the International game and the American game is that the American game (NBA in particular) is uniquely played above the rim, and is all about power and explosion. The International game is much more position and floor oriented.

His point was, as with every Int'l player (with a few exceptions), Yao will learn to explode to the ball as well as finishing with force as he becomes more accustomed to the speed of the NBA. Its all about adjusting his attitude, just a natural part of the adjustment process. Nowitzski (sp?) is a clear example, it took him a couple of years to 'figure out' NBA rebounding, now he's one of the better rebounders in the league.

I mean, this may sound like a broken record, but the guy's barely broken in his brand new pair of navy blue Nikes. He hasn't even gotten a game check, yet. Let's reserve judgment.


P.S. Kenny 'Raging Bull' Thomas could be Yao's rebounder, as long as Yao keeps hitting those turnarounds!

 

Personally, I vote for grabbing all the easy broads..

Problem is, quite often we grab what we THINK are the easy
broads, only to find out too late that they were actually difficult
broads all along.





ciao

 

Open practice does not really count. Yao Ming has said that he did not really play hard at all for this. I am more concerned about his rebounding performance at the preseason games. He admitted that he missed a few rebounds during the 4th quarter - that is something he has to improve upon.

 

,,,ALSO...Foul management will be a prime factor in Yao Mings first year....A big factor on how agressively he will be able to rebound and stay on the floor for maximum minutes..

 

I don't think it's a lack of passion as much as it is:

Yao doesn't know how to rebound.

Rebounding at this level requires you to bang your body into defenders, muscle and push and get them off balance. You have to punish someone for trying to take position away from you on defense, and on offense you have to anticipate enough to punish a player for not working hard enough to get that board.

In any case, it requires a whole lot of massive throwing your body into other bodies in order to PUNISH and wear them down.

Once you have position, it's easy to get a rebound (assuming of coure you're going to jump for it and snare it out of the air).

Yao isn't used to this kind of physical game. He may never be. But this is what it takes to be a good rebounder.

 

There you go again NEW YORK!! Basketball is not RUGBY and under the new Rules it is becoming less physical in the sence of banging, but rather of positioning. I agree that Rudy T. needs to help Yao Ming concentrate on getting a good position for rebounding. Yao Ming will never be a Larry Smith or Maurice Lucas and we should not expect it! His game as it develops will be one of finesse, towards Hakeem but his own style, which should set a new definition of what a finesse Center should be.

 

You do have an unique perspective in Yao's role. This should be something to be explored in this BBS. Play with the strength but not with the weakness!! Yao is going to be an untraditional center.

 

I always liked Barkley's quote on this:

"What's my rebounding technique? Go get the damn ball, that's my technique!"

The quote might not be spot on, but it was very much like that.

 

this is worth reposting. Gotta be one of the most hilarious typos I've seen on this BBS. When I read it, I had this image of Yao walking off the court with a girl on each arm. I was like, WTF?

Live, very nice post. I looked at Dirk's rebounding numbers and he went from 3.4 rebounds in 20 mpg his rookie year to 9.9 rebounds last year (his 4th) in 38 mpg. Almost all on the defensive end. I don't see any reason why Yao can't duplicate that. One point I keep hearing about Yao is he's a professional; he loves the game and is passionate about bettering his game. No reason he can't be at least a fairly good rebounder in time.

 

methinx we may be a wee premature in assessing Yao the rebounding monster or what he is practicing...

I, for one, pledge to be patient with the lad.