Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

[darkwarrior]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

This is why you see teams with wide open 3's becuase they entire team has to collapse in the middle to stop a strong drive, or Yao will be in foul trouble early as he usually is.

wow that's an insightful post, considering it's common knowledge that a foul usually occurs when there's a strong drive. You can't have guards weaving at free will into the lane, it doesn't matter who it is that's in the center, they're gonna be vulnerable. A Center is the last line of defense; a sort of help defense. Your swingman are supposed to keep the other guards out. Otherwise how come we don't see other teams just putting for guards on the 3 point line and just letting them get into the lane. Yao's averaging 3.6 pfs a game while Shaqs up at 4.1; and you could make the argument that Yao's even slower than Shaq. It's also Jeff Van Gundy's defensive philosophy. No layups. And the team does a good job in rotating out most of the time to contest a 3.

fact of the day: Houston is 8th in opponent 3pt%. That's better than your San Antonios and your Detroits who are both giving up 36% from there.

I had really high hopes for yao but the expectations are kind of lower now. 20 and 10 is pretty much the most ill expect from him if he ever improves his stamina. At 31.2mpg, he's averaging 18.8 8.5 and 1.7. I'll be willing to bet that'll go up by the end of this year, and that if he can squeeze out 5 more minutes, he'd get his 20/10 label. and tell the chinese basketball association to **** off every summer. Long way to go.

[23]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

Yes I know this, but Yao is not a shot blocker, he doesnt really intimidate players from driving inside, and there is no PF to help him, so he has to hold down the middle and rebound alone in that area because Howard and Mo T simply dont do either of those things.

While I agree for the most part they do a good job of contesting the 3, not Bobby Sura, and because of him you will find yourself wondering why Yao is running out trying to block a 3 pointer.

[23]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

Yes I know this, but Yao is not a shot blocker, he doesnt really intimidate players from driving inside, and there is no PF to help him, so he has to hold down the middle and rebound alone in that area because Howard and Mo T simply dont do either of those things.

While I agree for the most part they do a good job of contesting the 3, not Bobby Sura, and because of him you will find yourself wondering why Yao is running out trying to block a 3 pointer.

[TooMuchBollyWan]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

I personally think that Yao Mings biggest asset and his biggest hinderence is his height. If he is facing up with the rim for a jumper his height works to his advantage because he can see over the top. When he is trying to post up shorter players it hurts him because he cant get leverage being that tall. When you are trying to move someone backwards and they are underneath you its almost impossible to move them because you dont have all day to do it (Charles Barkley rule). His lack of rebounding comes from the fact that laterally he doesnt move well. Footwork is just speaking of his post moves, which are slow but he can get over the top. If the ball does not come straight to him on a board he is not quick enought to adjust and get it. Great rebounders are not just tall, but quick off the jump. I dont even think he is Rik Smits because of his lack of aggressiveness. If he plays the game most suited for him which is a lot of jumpshooting then he will have a lot of up and down games because that is the nature of a jumpshooter. You cant be on every night. Right now he is clogging up the lane so the slashers they have cant really get to the rim without having an extra player contesting them. Yao is about as good as he is going to be in my opinion. I dont see room for growth. You cant teach a person to be aggressive, and you cant make him a quick 6'10 center like Hakeem. I say trade him.

[TooMuchBollyWan]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

I personally think that Yao Mings biggest asset and his biggest hinderence is his height. If he is facing up with the rim for a jumper his height works to his advantage because he can see over the top. When he is trying to post up shorter players it hurts him because he cant get leverage being that tall. When you are trying to move someone backwards and they are underneath you its almost impossible to move them because you dont have all day to do it (Charles Barkley rule). His lack of rebounding comes from the fact that laterally he doesnt move well. Footwork is just speaking of his post moves, which are slow but he can get over the top. If the ball does not come straight to him on a board he is not quick enought to adjust and get it. Great rebounders are not just tall, but quick off the jump. I dont even think he is Rik Smits because of his lack of aggressiveness. If he plays the game most suited for him which is a lot of jumpshooting then he will have a lot of up and down games because that is the nature of a jumpshooter. You cant be on every night. Right now he is clogging up the lane so the slashers they have cant really get to the rim without having an extra player contesting them. Yao is about as good as he is going to be in my opinion. I dont see room for growth. You cant teach a person to be aggressive, and you cant make him a quick 6'10 center like Hakeem. I say trade him.

[Yosemite Dan]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

There's just something with Yao that is hard to quantify. It's almost like he has no instinct for the game and has trouble getting into a rhythm and as a result seems to lose his confidence very easily if things don't go his way early. The games I've seen him play this year he still seems to look like a deer in the headlights at some points in the game. After 3 years you should be seasoned by then. It's just something that makes you think there isn't much of an upside left with him.

[Yosemite Dan]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

There's just something with Yao that is hard to quantify. It's almost like he has no instinct for the game and has trouble getting into a rhythm and as a result seems to lose his confidence very easily if things don't go his way early. The games I've seen him play this year he still seems to look like a deer in the headlights at some points in the game. After 3 years you should be seasoned by then. It's just something that makes you think there isn't much of an upside left with him.

[Court_vision]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

Hmmmm...didn't I say two years ago that Yao was a Rik Smits type player?


And as I said at the time...there's nothing wrong with that. Smits was a top 3 C most of his career.

People expected Shaq meets Wilt type stuff from Yao. If they'd seen him play, they'd have known that wasn't coming.

Facts are, he'll give you 20 and 10 most of his career. When he peaks, he'll give you 25 and 11.

Nothing wrong with that.

He just won't be a 30 / 20 type guy who'll knock down 3 guys getting rebounds.

[Court_vision]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

Hmmmm...didn't I say two years ago that Yao was a Rik Smits type player?


And as I said at the time...there's nothing wrong with that. Smits was a top 3 C most of his career.

People expected Shaq meets Wilt type stuff from Yao. If they'd seen him play, they'd have known that wasn't coming.

Facts are, he'll give you 20 and 10 most of his career. When he peaks, he'll give you 25 and 11.

Nothing wrong with that.

He just won't be a 30 / 20 type guy who'll knock down 3 guys getting rebounds.

[timid]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

I'm honestly not sure if he'll even be a consistent 20-10 guy throughout his entire career.

[timid]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

I'm honestly not sure if he'll even be a consistent 20-10 guy throughout his entire career.

[Court_vision]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

I am sure he will.

People need to factor in that he's been playing pretty much non stop since 17, which is when I first saw him. He has developed physically a lot since then, but mentally he looks very tired imo.

He needs 2 months on a nice beach away from basketball. Waking up late every day and making love to his woman. Swim all morning, sleep all afternoon. Wake up and drink cold one's on a balcony as the sun sets...

Man, my jobs not even stressful and I prescribe myself that 'medication' each and every year

Seriously, the guy desperately needs time off from basketball.

[Court_vision]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

I am sure he will.

People need to factor in that he's been playing pretty much non stop since 17, which is when I first saw him. He has developed physically a lot since then, but mentally he looks very tired imo.

He needs 2 months on a nice beach away from basketball. Waking up late every day and making love to his woman. Swim all morning, sleep all afternoon. Wake up and drink cold one's on a balcony as the sun sets...

Man, my jobs not even stressful and I prescribe myself that 'medication' each and every year

Seriously, the guy desperately needs time off from basketball.

[rbruns]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

Dang Monkey, that's great stuff. I agree completely, Yao just needs a looonng break. China is ruining Yao by using him as THEIR mercenary. IF yao could get rest and be used properly, he'd be amazing, 25-11 on a nightly basis. By the way, Rik Smits sucked. Shaq chewed him up for what? 41 and 17 per game in the Finals, and Rik had big bangers Dale Davis and Antonio Davis in their prime to help double.

[rbruns]

Re: Yao Ming is a Rik Smits type player

Dang Monkey, that's great stuff. I agree completely, Yao just needs a looonng break. China is ruining Yao by using him as THEIR mercenary. IF yao could get rest and be used properly, he'd be amazing, 25-11 on a nightly basis. By the way, Rik Smits sucked. Shaq chewed him up for what? 41 and 17 per game in the Finals, and Rik had big bangers Dale Davis and Antonio Davis in their prime to help double.