OK, I'm gonna get torn to shreds here, but what's up with Yao's rebounding. We all know he has slow reaction and probably can improve him technique, but he always was able to get you 8+ per game. Then he has 2 straight games that he gets 6 and we get outboarded by freakin' Bulls. Is it his stamina or is he just not trying any more? Solutions?
Agreed. He just needs to put forth more effort in that area, if you ask me. When he puts forth the effort, he gets the results.
You're better off using another game in which the opposing center doesn't get 3 rebounds. The only theory is that the amount of energy expended trying to get points doesn't allow for high rebounding numbers. Of course, there are exceptions in the league like Duncan, Shaq, and Garnett.
i think he is getting tired...playing ball for 2 years straight almost now.China needs to lay off of him and give him a rest.
You nailed it. Lacking effort somtimes lacking heart is Yao's biggest problem. JVG need remind him everytime he grab less than 10rebs in a game. If he hustles, he gets rebounds, it is that simple.
ill go for lack of effort as the excuse, it seems to be more of a team affliction than just one particular player. just look at the shooting percentages of our last few games.
As Calvin Murphy says, " Yao would make a good Volleyball player". I think it's just going to take some time. His reaction is slow and other players can out jump his height. Not a good combination, but I think he can over come it.
this observation has some concern, but you can't pin tonites game and say he can't rebound... sometimes, the ball just doesn't bounce your way...shaq only got 7 rebounds last nite...yao only played 28 mins...and curry only got three rebounds...yao will improve 'numbers' every single year he is in the league
When Yao rebounds and defends better it causes the opposing teams to hesitate coming into the paint which helps us out a lot like in the game against the Wolves. He needs to make a stronger effort on defense which will make things easier for us and he will still be able to score. His stamina,technique and willingness to battle hard on both ends every night seems to be the problem.
What's up with the questioning of Yao's heart for poor rebound numbers? It got nothing to do with heart in Yao's case! He is slow, poor timing, bad techniques, and bad rebounding habbits from playing in China. Just just takes time to learn them. Don't expect a foreign player to be ready like Dream, Shaq, Duncan were when entering the league.
the biggest thing tonight seemed to be that he looks for a defender to stay inside of and box out rather than reacting to the ball off the rim and anticipating where the ball's going. his reaction is also very slow when he's under the basket and the ball is ricocheting around.
He indeed needs to improve his rebounding skills. He spends too much time helping boxing out for teammates to get rebounds, or letting teammate steal from his hand, or letting opponent teal the reb, or tipping the reb to a teammate. Solution: 1) Improve timing for the jump. 2) Be selfish and grab the reb and hold it high.
It's unfair to blame him by saying lacking effort or even lacking heart. It's not true that taller means more reboundnig. Furthermore, asia people's muscle structure is not as good as black people in terms of jumping.
Yao just needs to put more effort into rebounding. He's not working hard enough on the boards, period.
I also don't think it's a lack of heart as it is a lack of aggression, Yao hurts as much as anyone after the game, maybe more. One can really tell that he really pains after making a mistake. Many use to say that Duncan lacked emotion, a passion for the game, but its just the way certain players approach the game. He just needs to get a little angry... not the type of NBA anger where they pound their chests and tlk smack, but some quiet confidence plus muted aggresion a la Tim Duncan. Stuart
I am a white guy who can't jump but I outrebound most of the black guys on my team. Rebounding has little do with jumping ability. Great rebounders know how to position themselves and time their jump. I think Yao's primary role in our defense is to provide help defense to shut down any penetration. As a result, he is often out of position to get the rebound. As long as we outrebound the other team, I can live with Yao's below expectation rebounds.
Good point, Dreamweaver, I agree that this is one of the big reasons, along with slower reaction time, lack or aggression and bad positioning. This is a category Yao knows he lacks in... I am willing to put money down that he averages 11+ rebounds in less than two years. Stuart
As poor as Yao's rebounding seems. If you compare his rebounding numbers to the opposign starting centers throughout the games he played so far, He's only been out rebounded a total of 4 games with a grand total of 4 rebounds (1 rebounds more each game). Most of the time it's the opposing forwards having big nights. I think he's doing not as bad as people think, but of course, with his height, he could and should be better.
