I am sorry, but Yao doesn't impress me...

[faster]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

Right now the kid can play about 1 solid quarter and he's worthless until he rests for another. Until he gets his conditioning and we can see what he can do for a full game, it's too hard to tell.

He looks likes the kind of guy that doesn't have a lot of room to grow. He's slow, not that quick, but has a decent jumper. Reminds me of Smits.

I think he'll look similar in 5-10 years as he does now. I just don't see he growth potential. Quickness and speed just don't happen usually.

It's too hard to tell where he'll go, but those are my early impressions. I have to agree with the thread starter on this one.

[faster]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

Right now the kid can play about 1 solid quarter and he's worthless until he rests for another. Until he gets his conditioning and we can see what he can do for a full game, it's too hard to tell.

He looks likes the kind of guy that doesn't have a lot of room to grow. He's slow, not that quick, but has a decent jumper. Reminds me of Smits.

I think he'll look similar in 5-10 years as he does now. I just don't see he growth potential. Quickness and speed just don't happen usually.

It's too hard to tell where he'll go, but those are my early impressions. I have to agree with the thread starter on this one.

[nba_critic2003]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

Again, I have to agree with penguit. Yao has good footwork and skill, but the MAIN element he lacks is quickness and the ability to get up and down quickly, not leaping ability. That is what defines Dirk from Van Horn. You CANNOT teach that. It must be god-given. You can't be a man 7'5 and get block 6 times straight up without lacking the recovery agility that Yao needs. A number of times on the break Yao had easy dunks and layups; however, since he lacks the ability to get up and down quicky, it's either a missed dunk or stripped for taking TOO long. This is the main element that will keep Yao from ever dominating. Duncan, Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq, etc. etc. ...they all have it. That's just my two cents.

[nba_critic2003]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

Again, I have to agree with penguit. Yao has good footwork and skill, but the MAIN element he lacks is quickness and the ability to get up and down quickly, not leaping ability. That is what defines Dirk from Van Horn. You CANNOT teach that. It must be god-given. You can't be a man 7'5 and get block 6 times straight up without lacking the recovery agility that Yao needs. A number of times on the break Yao had easy dunks and layups; however, since he lacks the ability to get up and down quicky, it's either a missed dunk or stripped for taking TOO long. This is the main element that will keep Yao from ever dominating. Duncan, Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq, etc. etc. ...they all have it. That's just my two cents.

[Sheets]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Will Yao be able to get a good weight training program going? If I remember correctly, China basically owns him and is going to make him come to China and play for them.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Thanks to a bodybuilding regimen the Rockets have him on, Yao is noticeably more muscular than he was at the beginning of the season. I think he's put on about 10 pounds of muscle so far. I don't think building up that upper body strength and conditioning will be a problem for Yao.

[Sheets]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Will Yao be able to get a good weight training program going? If I remember correctly, China basically owns him and is going to make him come to China and play for them.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Thanks to a bodybuilding regimen the Rockets have him on, Yao is noticeably more muscular than he was at the beginning of the season. I think he's put on about 10 pounds of muscle so far. I don't think building up that upper body strength and conditioning will be a problem for Yao.

[Sheets]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Again, I have to agree with penguit. Yao has good footwork and skill, but the MAIN element he lacks is quickness and the ability to get up and down quickly, not leaping ability. That is what defines Dirk from Van Horn. You CANNOT teach that. It must be god-given. You can't be a man 7'5 and get block 6 times straight up without lacking the recovery agility that Yao needs. A number of times on the break Yao had easy dunks and layups; however, since he lacks the ability to get up and down quicky, it's either a missed dunk or stripped for taking TOO long. This is the main element that will keep Yao from ever dominating. Duncan, Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq, etc. etc. ...they all have it. That's just my two cents.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I disagree. I think what you're seeing is a combination of tentativeness in how he attacks the basket along with the fact that Yao is still getting used to the fact that players in the NBA are bigger than they are in the CBA. The reason he gets blocked and stripped so much isn't because of a lack of agility or quickness, which Yao actually has in spades. It's because he's "playing small". Once the Rockets drill into his head that, yes, he's bigger than everyone else, and I don't think that'll be a long-term problem considering how frighteningly quick he learns, Yao will be more consistent about powering the ball through defenders' instead of trying to juke them like he's still doing (and obviously the need for more upper body development will factor into this too. He still needs strength and conditioning work).

[Sheets]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Again, I have to agree with penguit. Yao has good footwork and skill, but the MAIN element he lacks is quickness and the ability to get up and down quickly, not leaping ability. That is what defines Dirk from Van Horn. You CANNOT teach that. It must be god-given. You can't be a man 7'5 and get block 6 times straight up without lacking the recovery agility that Yao needs. A number of times on the break Yao had easy dunks and layups; however, since he lacks the ability to get up and down quicky, it's either a missed dunk or stripped for taking TOO long. This is the main element that will keep Yao from ever dominating. Duncan, Ewing, Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq, etc. etc. ...they all have it. That's just my two cents.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

I disagree. I think what you're seeing is a combination of tentativeness in how he attacks the basket along with the fact that Yao is still getting used to the fact that players in the NBA are bigger than they are in the CBA. The reason he gets blocked and stripped so much isn't because of a lack of agility or quickness, which Yao actually has in spades. It's because he's "playing small". Once the Rockets drill into his head that, yes, he's bigger than everyone else, and I don't think that'll be a long-term problem considering how frighteningly quick he learns, Yao will be more consistent about powering the ball through defenders' instead of trying to juke them like he's still doing (and obviously the need for more upper body development will factor into this too. He still needs strength and conditioning work).

[faster]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

I disagree. I think what you're seeing is a combination of tentativeness in how he attacks the basket along with the fact that Yao is still getting used to the fact that players in the NBA are bigger than they are in the CBA. The reason he gets blocked and stripped so much isn't because of a lack of agility or quickness, which Yao actually has in spades. It's because he's "playing small". Once the Rockets drill into his head that, yes, he's bigger than everyone else, and I don't think that'll be a long-term problem considering how frighteningly quick he learns, Yao will be more consistent about powering the ball through defenders' instead of trying to juke them like he's still doing (and obviously the need for more upper body development will factor into this too. He still needs strength and conditioning work).

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

And that honestly could be true. I see a ton of hesitation in his game. He reminds me of a 12 year old playing with 16 year olds. He's tentative, not sure of himself yet. Maybe gaining confidence will give him that... sometimes players don't play at 100 percent and when they do, they play at full speed too... I don't know.

Regardless, he needs to find some 1) endurance 2)quickness 3)speed 4) killer instinct.

But again, he's a rookie trying to figure out the NBA game, in a different country. So it's going to be hard on the cat. At least he's a nice guy. So I wish him the best... however good that may be.

[faster]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

I disagree. I think what you're seeing is a combination of tentativeness in how he attacks the basket along with the fact that Yao is still getting used to the fact that players in the NBA are bigger than they are in the CBA. The reason he gets blocked and stripped so much isn't because of a lack of agility or quickness, which Yao actually has in spades. It's because he's "playing small". Once the Rockets drill into his head that, yes, he's bigger than everyone else, and I don't think that'll be a long-term problem considering how frighteningly quick he learns, Yao will be more consistent about powering the ball through defenders' instead of trying to juke them like he's still doing (and obviously the need for more upper body development will factor into this too. He still needs strength and conditioning work).

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

And that honestly could be true. I see a ton of hesitation in his game. He reminds me of a 12 year old playing with 16 year olds. He's tentative, not sure of himself yet. Maybe gaining confidence will give him that... sometimes players don't play at 100 percent and when they do, they play at full speed too... I don't know.

Regardless, he needs to find some 1) endurance 2)quickness 3)speed 4) killer instinct.

But again, he's a rookie trying to figure out the NBA game, in a different country. So it's going to be hard on the cat. At least he's a nice guy. So I wish him the best... however good that may be.

[Bird006]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Not impressive? What more do you want him to do, hes only a rookie. I think hes very impressive for a 7-5 footer.He got all the necessary skills...he just need to improve upon them and get stronger. Just b/c he had some bad games(at Wizard) don't mean hes unimpressive. Rookies makes mistake and learn from them and thats what makes player great.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Exactly what I think.

[Bird006]

Re: I am sorry, but Yao doesn\'t impress me...

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Not impressive? What more do you want him to do, hes only a rookie. I think hes very impressive for a 7-5 footer.He got all the necessary skills...he just need to improve upon them and get stronger. Just b/c he had some bad games(at Wizard) don't mean hes unimpressive. Rookies makes mistake and learn from them and thats what makes player great.

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post"> Exactly what I think.