If Yao has a wingspan of 7'3 3/4, and then another guy that is 6'11" that has a 7'3 winspan but can jump very quickly and has good hands...it could put Yao at a disadvantage. That's one situation....but... There are other guys that are 6'11" that have arm spans of 7'5" - 7'9". These are freak of natures. But those guys have existed. Saying that, wouldn't you see how that 6'11" would have to work less to get rebounds? Also, he would not be as tall as Yao so he wouldn't have to worry about lugging around a large body. But he'd enjoy the arm length. Do you understand how that *helps* a player rebound? Remember Roman (6'8" at 210lbs)? Remeber Moses Malone (6'10")? Remember Hakeem (6'10")? Not only were these guys quick, tenacious. But they had good hands AND long arms (for their bodies and even Yao). Remember, someone above asked they don't think that Yao's arms are short compared to other players. But that wasn't the issue. We're saying that his arms are short compared to Yao's own body. And when you have a tall body but short arms -- that IS NOT PROPORTIONAL -- that lessens his ability to just reach up and grab boards. Especially if your tall body slows you down and limits your leaping ability. It would be fine if Yao could jump quick. But he can't. That's another thing that makes it harder for him to OUT-REBOUND other shorter player that may have proportional arms or shorter height. Plus, those other guys are able to jump quickly. Yao is not. The longer the arms, the easier it is to reach for rebounds. Longer arms alone doesn't make for a great rebounder. All we're saying is that is helps. There are a lot of factors in rebounding; desire, hustle, blocking out, timing...etc...but long arms just help. As far as matchup. It just depends. Sometimes Yao does have avatages over his oppents. But we were not disputing that. We were pointing out how his short arms -- for his body -- actually lessen his rebounding ablity compared to other shorter player that happen to jump quick/high, and have longer arms for their bodies. Also, one more thing. Arm wingspan is also determined by shoulder width too. Yao has narrow sholders. Hand size helps too. Did I say that rebounding is based on arm length alone?
And Kevin Willis at 7'0, averaged between 10 - 18 rebounds during a span from 1991 to 1996. YES, his arms were short for is body, but he made up for it by jumping quickly and his vertical leap. He was also very good at blocking out and he was a monster on the boards. He wanted it. Very, very aggressive. Now, tell me. Are the words, aggressive, jumps quickly, blocks out (w/out losing balance), jumps high, synonymous with Yao? If Yao could do those things, then it's probable that his short arms wouldn't be such an issue. But he doesn't do those things or is not capable. Thus, he's averaging around 8-9. His 7'6" can only help so much. Oh well...we're just going to have to live with it.
so what's put yao at a disavantage in this case? Yao's arms or quick jump or good hands? no. some people say Yao's arm length HURTS his rebounding despite his arms are longer than most NAB rebounders. but if you wanna claim that arm length puts somebody at a disvantage to rebound, you must assume other things being equal.
I don't understand your first question. Yao has short arms (for his body), slow jump, and bad hands! Not sure why you can't understand that. Your second. So, you say that *some people* say that Yao's arm lenth hurts his rebounding? Yeah, and...What? Do these people think that he'll rebound better with T-REX amrs? His shorter arms (for his body) hurt him. Yes. Because he's slower and can't jump as high. And even when others are shorter and have arms that are same (or longer). He still gets beat. You said, that I said, that arm length is the ****only**** factor. That's what I was denying. There are many factors in rebouding. Longer arm length helps. Simple.
so what you're saying whether a particular wingspan for a particular player of particular height is to his advantage or disavantage for reboudning depends on other factors such as quick jump, good hands, etc. by your logic, if a 7'11 wingspan of an 8 feet player can be an disavantage for rebounding if he jumps sufficiently low and slowly or has sufficiently bad hands. sorry, i can't understand. a 7'4 3/4 wingspan is sufficiently good for rebounding. simple. is an 8 feet wingspan better? of course!
I would love for Yao to prove me wrong but I am begining to lean towards Yao not ever becoming a great or even consistently descent rebounder. I would love him to be a 11-13 RPG type of center for us but I only see an 8-9.5 RPG guy. Anyway I will grudging take 8 rebounds per game though compared to some other centers out there give you on a nightly basis. That is why my priority for a PF will be a bruiser and a solid rebounder to make up for Yao deficiencies in that department.
Sigh.... A 7'4 3/4 wingspan on Yao is NOT sufficient because he's a slow jumper, low jumper, with bad hands (Yao). But a 7'4" 3/4 wingspan IS sufficient on a fast jumper, heigh jumper, with good hands (not Yao). This is why his short arms HURT Yao. If his arms were a little longer, AT LEAST he'd have THAT to help him overcome his other weaknesses (slow/bad hands). You get it? If you are talking about a 8ft player, you really aren't talking about the NBA. At some point, the player is soooo tall, that it really doesn't matter that the 8ft player is slower/bad hands. Come one use your brain. At that point, he's soooooo much taller than even a 7'6 player. All he'd have to do is just reach for the ball. But Yao can't do that even at 7'6". What? Are you trying to say that Yao's is a good rebounder? And that he'd be worse rebounder with longer arms? Come on! You said, that "a 7'4 3/4 wingspan is sufficiently good for rebounding." Ok, then why does Yao get only 8.5 rebounds? Is that sufficent? He's slow, w/bad hands. He will never be a great rebounder. Thus, the 7'4 3/4 wingspan is NOT sufficient. He's a bad rebounder for a 7'6 player that is slow w/bad hands. Again, I repeat.
it's like saying your straight A GPA hurts you landing a job because you don't have relevant work experiences. ridiculous! i give up on u. you should take that to your logic 101 leturer and see if he can get it. he'd tell u the problem is his arm length but his atheleticism.
DUH! That's what I was trying to say!!!! I never said it was ONE factor. I said that it was dependent on many factors. But the fact that he IS SLOW, DOES have BAD HANDS, and DOES LACK ATHLETICISM HURTS his overall ability to rebound! If Yao could do all those things, then yes, his arms would be sufficient. But he DOES NOT DO those things. End in the end, he just says the same. What difference does it make? He's always going lack ATHLETICISM. And he's not going to grow his ARMS. So, he'll never be a great rebounder.
Manul Bol probably has 8 feet wingspan. by your logic, that 8 feet wingspan hurts him as a rebouder too because he's even slower and has lower vertical than Yao. to compenstate that, he needs a 9 feet wingspan in order not to hurt his rebounding. ridiculous! why is it so hard is it for u to see the problem is not arm length but his poor atheleticism??
No, Bol's 8ft wingspan doesn't hurt him. Him being a stickfigure is what hurt him... Manute Bol suffered from similar athleticism problems like Yao. But, Bol was 200lbs and 7'7". Mike James could push him around. Just push on his knees! Timber! Also note that Bol's wingspan was much greater than his height. Having a shorter wingspan certainly would't help him -- albeit already crappy rebounding. But very good shot-blocking. So, it was good that he *at least* had a wingspan greater than his height. Now... Yes, Manul Bol suffered from similar problems that Yao does. But Yao is not as weak or light as Bol. Yao is 310lbs, not 200lbs. And it's true that Yao suffers from poor atheleticism...but... If Yao's wingspan was around maybe 7'6" or 7'7" that would NOT make him worse. It would help his rebounding and blocks! And that would be good enough to get Yao an extra 2 or 3 rebounds (maybe 11.0rpg) today; even with his current athletic ability. And NO, it would NOT be necessary for Yao to have 8ft arms. 7'6" - 7'7" would be decent! It's not extra ordinary. But it's at least proportional, as opposed to under. It's not like those extra inches on his arm would make Yao jump slower. Bol had a problem with his knees and lack of mass. And he was soooo weak and too light for his height; it was painful to watch him walk. Yao is not the same as Bol. One can be also too light for ones height too. It's called a beanpoll. MANUTE BOL - 200Lbs and 7'7" CHRIS MULLIN - 200Lbs and 6'6"
hahahahaha, i love you guys... lol this is funny seeing y'all talk about arm spans lol. maybe you'd think i'm just crazy or something but i just think it's funny. BTW DavidS, who's 6'11 and have a arm span of 7'9"?!?!? That's just freaking SCARY!
www.nbadraft.net when it used to be free had draft reports for all new rookies. They listed the physical attributes for all players. They had some real freaky dimensions on there. 6'4" guys with 6'10 wingspan (Dwayne Wade!)! 6'6" guys with 7'2" wingspans (Josh Howard)! And I remember one rookie two years ago that was 6'11 with 7'9" wingspan. Yes, freaky! I can't remember what KG was, but he was 6'11" tall when he first came in. His wingspan is well over 7ft. And Hakeem was well over 7ft wingspan at 6'10 height.
