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NY Times: Rockets Seek to Uncover Yao's 7-Foot-6 Mean Streak

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by dragon167, Jan 8, 2004.

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  1. dragon167

    dragon167 Member

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    http://www.nytimes.com/2004/01/08/sports/basketball/08YAO.html?pagewanted=1


    Rockets Seek to Uncover Yao's 7-Foot-6 Mean Streak
    By CHRIS BROUSSARD

    Published: January 8, 2004


    When Carroll Dawson, the general manager of the Houston Rockets, met Yao Ming two years ago, one of the first questions he asked him was, "Why don't you dunk the ball?"

    "He told me he had been taught not to embarrass his opponents," Dawson said yesterday, recalling the conversation. "I said, `Well, that's something that's going to have to change, because if you don't dunk in our league, 6-foot-6 guys will block your shot.' Yao said, `I'm ready for the change.' "

    Yao, the Rockets' 7-6 center from China, has kept his word, dunking regularly while establishing himself as a force and an N.B.A. All-Star for years to come.

    But Yao, who will make his first appearance of the season at Madison Square Garden tonight when the Rockets (19-15) and their coach, Jeff Van Gundy, visit the Knicks, has yet to develop the aggression that the game's most powerful play, the slam dunk, has come to symbolize.

    Many observers believe his ability to do so will determine whether he becomes an all-time great center, which was part of the expectation when the Rockets made him the first pick of the 2002 draft, or just a very good player in his era.

    "If he ever gets a mean streak in him, look out," said an Eastern Conference official who spoke on condition of anonymity. "But his culture and his background might not allow that. If he can get that, wow! If he gets that mean streak, he's fighting Shaq in there."

    Though Yao has had some of his stronger performances against Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers' center, he is nowhere near the dominant force that O'Neal is or was during a similar stage in his career. Yao entered last night's game at Detroit with solid but not standout averages: 15.9 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.88 blocks.

    With his size, soft hands, great passing ability and varied arsenal of shots, Yao could do much more. And while Van Gundy and his assistants understand that Yao, 23, is still a work in progress, they are sometimes frustrated by his tender nature on the court.

    One of Patrick Ewing's main responsibilities as a Rockets assistant coach is to work with Yao, and Van Gundy referred all questions about Yao's development to Ewing.

    "He just needs to become more aggressive," said Ewing, who is in his first season with Houston. "Right now, he's too gentle. He's like a gentle giant. He's got to be more physical and aggressive. Instead of waiting, he needs to just take it. Show his dominance. Use his size, and just take it."

    Though Yao needs to incorporate that mentality at both ends of the floor, the Rockets have mainly focused on his view toward offense. Instead of settling for a fadeaway jumper, they want him to pound the ball toward the basket for a layup or a dunk. Instead of submitting meekly to double teams, in which defenders have been getting incredibly physical with Yao, they want him to throw an elbow that will discourage opponents from going at him so hard.

    And despite Van Gundy's desire to feature him more, Yao, a 51 percent shooter, is averaging only 11 shots a game. Part of that is because of Houston's shoot-first guards, Steve Francis (15 shots a game) and Cuttino Mobley (13), but Yao must also be more demanding for the ball.

    "I haven't reached Coach's expectations yet," Yao, through his interpreter Colin Pine, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "I just have to keep working at being more aggressive and being nastier."

    But Yao is somewhat confused. Asked how to go about doing that, he said: "I don't know. If I knew the answer to that, I think I would've already met Coach's expectations."

    Donnie Nelson, the Dallas Mavericks' president of basketball operations and an expert on international basketball, said Yao was being asked to embrace an entirely different way of thinking from what he is accustomed to.

    "If you think of how community-oriented most young people growing up in China are, it's just a different way of being brought up," Nelson, who has been to China several times, said. "There's a lot more unity, and it seems like it's a culture that promotes a more unselfish, `what's best for everyone is what's best for you' mentality.

    "In our culture, it's almost exactly the opposite. To achieve the American dream, you've got to outhustle, outfight, out-think, outeverything your competition. So it's a completely different political/socioeconomic background than we're raised in. I don't know how much that has to play in his approach, but I think that it is somewhat of a factor because in a lot of the team sports in China, you don't see the same kind of one-on-one domination. It's more team-orientated, whereas over here, it's `I'm going to torch my guy, then only when the double team collapses will I look to make the pass.' "

    The agent Bill Duffy, a member of Yao's management team, said Yao was raised not to place himself above anyone else, even on the basketball court. Thus, Duffy and the Rockets have stressed to Yao that taking over on the court does not mean he is being selfish.

    "We talk to him and we use Tim Duncan as an example," Duffy said. "He's a nice, gentle person, but every minute he's on the floor, he's productive and active. Yao needs to pick up that disposition. It will come with time, when he realizes that by being more dominant he is helping the team."

    Yao acknowledged that his culture played a part in his difficult adjustment. "There are cultural reasons," Yao said. "But I don't want to use that as an excuse because basketball is an independent culture."

    Yao's limited exposure to American basketball is also a factor in his approach to the game.

    "International basketball is a noncontact sport," Dawson said. "We play a more physical, rougher game over here. The N.B.A. is a combination of rugby and basketball put together. So Yao's got to find out what's legal and what's illegal. He's got to learn how to be aggressive within the rules."

    Yao has tried to be more aggressive lately, but it has backfired and gotten him into early foul trouble. As a result, his minutes and production have dropped significantly. After averaging 17.2 points, 10 rebounds and 35 minutes over the first 20 games, he has averaged 13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 30 minutes over his next 13.

    "It's not just about being more aggressive and being meaner out there on the court," Yao said. "You have to be able to temper that with being smart. When I try to go out and just be more aggressive, the result is not too good. Now, I have to find a way to balance the two out ¡X be aggressive and maintain my basketball smarts."

    Yao's ability to find that balance could be the difference between a career that is immortal and one that is merely exceptional, between championships for the Rockets and mere playoff appearances.

    "He's All-Star caliber, but going beyond that is where personality takes over," Portland General Manager John Nash said. "Does he want to be or does he have the determination to be Hakeem Olajuwon or Patrick Ewing? I don't know. Certainly, he's good enough to win with. Is he good enough to win championships with? We'll see. He's got the physical tools and the talent to be as dominant as any player in the game. He can be as dominating or as successful as he wants to be."
     
    #1 dragon167, Jan 8, 2004
  2. canoner2002

    canoner2002 Contributing Member

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    Ewing should tell Yao: "don't worry about foul troubles. I want you to throw fists and elbows, put a couple of guys down for weeks, and even get ejected. Then they will stop pushing you and you will get a chance to move under the basket."
     
    #2 canoner2002, Jan 8, 2004
  3. AroundTheWorld

    AroundTheWorld Member

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    Looks like JVG's mean streak has already been found.
     
    #3 AroundTheWorld, Jan 8, 2004
  4. Thanos

    Thanos Member

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    If you ask me, it looks like JVG's handling of Yao is already working as well as it should. It seems more a matter of actually doing it than not wanting to. Given time, it will produce results. We just have to be patient and don't rush Yao. We can't forget that we are dealing with a unique player, and while that may be his greatest strenght, sometimes it's his greatest weakness too.
     
    #4 Thanos, Jan 8, 2004
  5. Deuce

    Deuce Context & Nuance

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    Great article! I think the two paragraphs above say it all. Yao started out the season well but for the last 13 games (where his production has gone down) he has tried to use the JVG agressive style of play and as a result Yao's play has dropped. I think it is more about Yao just learning to play that way. And the refs have to ALLOW Yao to play that way. Shaq is WAY agressive and never gets called for many offensive fouls and here we have Yao, someone that in the PAST didn't play aggressive, and not IS playing aggressive and thus they are calling offensive fouls on him, putting him on the bench and making his production go down.

    So it is 2 parts. 1) Yao has to adjust and play and 2) the refs have to adjust to SEEING Yao play that way and not call those silly fouls.
     
    #5 Deuce, Jan 8, 2004
  6. GATER

    GATER Member

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    Deuce,
    You are 100% on the mark. I've been saying it for a good while now. Yao needs to continuosly (consistently) be aggressive and the officiating will adjust. Two cases in point.

    * Sloan's Jazz get away with grabbing jerseys, flopping, swiping at the ball, etc because that style of play from them has already been established long ago.

    * Shaq gets away with a charge as his pet move. I've heard NBA Chief of Officiating Ronnie Nunn say that Shaq's move is one of the hardest in basketball to call. IOW, at what point is it dislodging?

    If you followed it very closely, you would have noticed that Shaq's offensive dominance (aided by the way the officials "called" him) apexed in the season prior to Yao. After seeing Shaq clear out a person nearly his weight (Yao), the officials whistled Shaq for many more charges starting in the 2002-03 season.
     
    #6 GATER, Jan 8, 2004
  7. Toast

    Toast Member

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    Yeah, you know I think his first year really raised our expectations. We all think Yao should be able to start his 2nd NBA season as some sort of immovable, dominant big man inside. But when I saw Darko w/ Detroit last night, it humbled me a bit. Fans have relatively low expectations of that guy. He plays, what, less than a minute per game? Larry Brown's bringing him along slowly, while Yao has to go through trial by fire.

    I've been a little disappointed with Yao this season, but I need to give him a break. He's only in his 2nd year and he's still learning the ropes. Teams are throwing HARD doubles at him every night, and it's gonna be difficult for him to dominate until he just learns (through experience) how to deal with it.
     
    #7 Toast, Jan 8, 2004
  8. Lionheart

    Lionheart Member

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    I just cant wait for tonights game! This is by far the most exciting game of season for fans around the New England area. Everyone around here is just Spazzed OUT about this GAME!

    Fans are torn between YAO and the KNICKS. Just about every knick fan adores YAO because they know he wanted to play for the KNICKS prior to the 2002 draft. They dont know whether to BOO or Cheer when YAO scores. I was at a bar in downtown Manhattan when rockets played the Knicks @ the Garden. Basically all eyes were staring at the big screen monitor for the entire game. Everyone cheered when Yao scored and didnt really cheer when the Knicks scored. Its just weird because KNICKS fans are infamous for showing animosity towards the opposition.

    THE KNICKS(fans) would LOVE to have YAO here in NYC. I woudnt be surprise if the KNICKS ends up signing Yao after this contract expires.
     
    #8 Lionheart, Jan 8, 2004
  9. Elie#17

    Elie#17 Member

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    I don't know if anyone else bothered to watch the last 3 minutes of yesterday's game vs. the Pistons since it was such a blowout... But anyhow-- Did you see Darko Milicic do his thing? He showed the hustle and aggressiveness that Yao needs to Incorporate.

    Yao should have seen that and realized this guy's a rookie and is just out there playing hard, and being decisive and the ref's were letting him play.

    Yao may not have the quickness that Darko possesses,..but he can definitely take something from the attitude that was shown from a rookie in the league.

    Too often, Yao is waiting at the top of the key while a man like cuttino is on the baseline going one on one with his man and then a second defender comes over to help D on Cuttino. I don't think a 6"4 guard backing up his man is the strength of this team.
     
    #9 Elie#17, Jan 8, 2004
  10. ricerocket

    ricerocket Member

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    Talk to the great disciplinarian JVG about that..... :mad:
     
    #10 ricerocket, Jan 8, 2004
  11. sun12

    sun12 Member

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    This is all WRONG!! Aggressiveness is about techniques. People are all wrong thinking it is mental. It is about the right technique.

    You can foul out in 1 minute by elbowing people in the wrong way, or you can play your career by elbowing people, breaking people's rib, knocking people out and get into the HOF by using the right techniques as Karl Malone.
     
    #11 sun12, Jan 8, 2004
  12. GATER

    GATER Member

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    Speaking of things noticed...did you notice that Darko was defended by Weatherspoon and Padgett? Or that Darko plays like 2 minutes per game?
     
    #12 GATER, Jan 8, 2004
  13. GATER

    GATER Member

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    If I have world class technique and no mental drive to be aggressive, what is the end result? IMO, worse than poor technique with a lot of mental drive.
     
    #13 GATER, Jan 8, 2004
  14. spydermex

    spydermex Member

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    Good article
     
    #14 spydermex, Jan 8, 2004
  15. sun12

    sun12 Member

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    Enough said, the coach has to teach him how to literally break someone's rib without being suspended or fined by the league.

    It is about the technique.

    Professional kickboxers always beat street fighters no matter how aggressive a street figher is.
     
    #15 sun12, Jan 8, 2004
  16. sun12

    sun12 Member

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    Your scenario does not exist. If you have the world class techniques as a fighter, you will know what to do under any situations, it becomes automatic.

    At that time, the aggressive fighter with poor technique will be killed.
     
    #16 sun12, Jan 8, 2004
  17. Compgeek

    Compgeek Member

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    If Darko is still not hungry after being locked up for so long, then they should send him back where he came from. However, can we afford to lock up Yao to make him a hungry lion?
     
    #17 Compgeek, Jan 8, 2004
  18. GATER

    GATER Member

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    I fail to see the connection between kick boxers who have an overabundance of testosterone driving at them and a shy, tall Chinese center. Yours is the scenario that does not exist.
     
    #18 GATER, Jan 8, 2004
  19. room4rentsf

    room4rentsf Member

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    This was a great post Toast.. hehe

    Reading this humbled me too.. I guess I have too high of expectations for Yao. He is in his 2nd year but we rip into him like hes a 5 year veteran or something. We call for his trade like he is bringing this team down. Honestly if Yao wasnt the focus of this teams offense and opposing teams defense he would probably be doing better. There was alot of pressure on him this year to become the Rox savior which is unreasonable to ask of a 2nd year.

    If you look at his stats he is doing slighty better than last year with more ticky tack calls against him and becoming the focus of the opposing teams defense. If other teams didnt consider him a threat why would they bother double teaming him.

    The NBA and its fans have a right now right away mentality and Yao is coming along slower than we hoped.

    I hope Yao gets sick and tired of Houston Fans, Sick and irritated by his no passing teammates, Pissed off by JVG attitude! Angry of the Refs ticky tacky calls! Enraged by the articles wrote about him.

    And I hope he goes POSTAL in NYC! Maybe JVG and the Rox are doing this on purpose. To make Yao Mad!

    J
     
    #19 room4rentsf, Jan 8, 2004
  20. sun12

    sun12 Member

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    With modern technology, every move on the basketball court can be analyzed. Suppose as a center, you are 6 feet away from the basket with the ball and the defender behind you, you have many options with the ball: jump shot, move the defender away and dunk the ball. The problem is you don't know how to move the defender away without a foul and dunk the ball, thus you end up with the jump shot.

    In the video room, Ewing can analyze the sequence step by step and teach the center exactly how to do it. That's called technique.

    If Ewing just says, be aggressive and dunk it. It is not coaching, it is plain talk. As it is today, I don't see our center has much post moves. Do you really think it is because he is timid not using it or he is not taught the right way?


    Shaq has great low post moves, if he just moves people away with his weight, he won't be what he is today.
     
    #20 sun12, Jan 8, 2004
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