Yi Jianlian is for Real!

[Indazone]

Last night against the Rockets was Yi's coming out party. He was defended by T-Mac and Scola. Yi looked silky smooth and he was on fire. He shot with an amazing accuracy 7-12 and displayed a cat-like quickness and atleticism. He pulled down 9 total rebounds and scored 19 points in 34 minutes and was 2-2 from 3 point range. This guy has the potential to become Rookie of the Year and eventually be a Franchise Player. He will be challenged for Rookie of the Year only by Al Horford who has become a rebounding beast.

I already dropped Chuck Hayes off my team to make room for Yi. I think his statistics are only going to go up. He has clearly beaten out C. Villeaneuva. All discussion about guaranteed minutes are out the window because this guy can flat out play.

[Indazone]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ajd0CtciUry02zoHhMQkafK8vLYF?slug=jy-yaoyi110907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
Rookie Yi impresses elder statesman Yao

By Johnny Ludden, Yahoo! Sports
November 10, 2007

HOUSTON – The photographers pressed against each other, two rows deep, nearly 20 in all. The Chinese dignitaries also had taken their places about 30 feet away, flanking the man of the evening, the Houston Rockets' towering center, Yao Ming.

Together, they waited. This was supposed to be the standard NBA photo op: grip, grin, get out. But as a few minutes passed and the group continued to stand at midcourt, it became evident something was missing.

Yao's co-star.

Yi Jianlian, the Milwaukee Bucks' rookie forward and China's second-best basketball player, still was in the locker room. As a Bucks official hurried to fetch Yi, Yao continued to wait patiently.

"A rookie," Yao would later say, a smile beginning to stretch across his face, "should not do that."

Yi understandably still has a few things to learn about the NBA, and remembering to respect his elder statesman should be high on the list. But if Friday night was any indication, the 20-year-old will figure out everything soon enough.

"I hate to say this," Yao said after watching Yi score 19 points and take nine rebounds in the Bucks' 104-88 loss to Houston, "but he may be better than me."

That's certainly not the case yet. After totaling 28 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks on Friday, Yao is looking like a serious MVP candidate, provided he can stay healthy. Yi, however, didn't completely cede the stage in the first meeting between China's top two players, scoring 17 points in a second-half performance that not only should have entertained the estimated 200 million-plus viewers in China but also encouraged them about their national team's chances in the upcoming Beijing Olympics.

"I certainly know all the people in China who were watching have a lot to be proud of," Bucks coach Larry Krystkowiak said.

Despite the loss, the Bucks also should have reason to smile. Yi has looked increasingly comfortable on the court. On Friday, he hoisted an air ball wide left on his first shot, but never lost confidence, coolly setting his feet and drilling a three-pointer to bring Milwaukee within two points midway through the final quarter.

While Bucks officials had few questions about Yi's skills when they drafted him with the sixth overall pick, they didn't know he had as firm a grasp of the English language as he has shown.

"I would be surprised if there are many rookies who have a more cerebral understanding of what's going on and a comfort level there," Krystkowiak said. "In that regard, he's not your typical rookie. I'm pleasantly surprised."

Yi has been overmatched at times when the Bucks occasionally have assigned him to defend smaller forwards, but he has impressed scouts with his quickness and overall athleticism. His hands are soft, and his jump shot is even softer.

"I think he's the most athletic 7-footer in the league," said Del Harris, the Dallas Mavericks' consultant who coached China's national team in the 2004 Olympics. "I don't think any 7-footer can beat him in a race. I don't think anybody can jump higher. It's one thing to jump, but if you're there too early or too late, it's no good."

Yao said he knew Yi was headed to the NBA the first time he saw him play during China's training sessions leading up to the '04 Games. Harris, whose son Larry is the Bucks' general manager, initially envisioned Yi as a future second-round pick but said Yi quickly exceeded those expectations. Harris now predicts Yi and Yao, despite China's questionable guard corps, will lift the national team to a top-10 world ranking.

"There's no better combination of four and five men in the world than those two," Del Harris said. "Nobody has a better four and five in the world, including the U.S. Olympic team."

Amare Stoudemire and Dwight Howard might have something to say about Harris' breathless assessment. Regardless, Yao and Yi have given Chinese officials reason to be optimistic heading into the Olympics.

"We already know what Yao can do," Jonas Kazlauskas, China's current national coach, said earlier this week from Lithuania. "But I've been very happy with how much Yi has improved. I can explain many things to him, and he repeats them immediately."

Though Yao isn't close friends with Yi, he invited him, along with Harris, to his house Thursday night for dinner. Unlike the wisecracking Yao – asked if all the attention he has received from his countrymen has made it difficult to focus on basketball, Yao quipped, "Only when I'm asked questions like that" – Yi hasn't shown much personality. After Friday's game, Yi sat stone-faced on the podium while listening to Yao field questions.

"You don't know what's going to come out of Yao's mouth and make you laugh," said Wang Meng, a reporter who covers Yao for China's Titan Sports publication. "But if you follow Yi for a long time, you'll know what kind of answers he'll give. You don't even have to ask the question. You can just write it down."

While China's first two basketball imports, Wang ZhiZhi and Mengke Bateer, didn't successfully distinguish themselves in the NBA, Yi has been fortunate to follow Yao, whose massive popularity has made him an ambassador. Still, even Yao admitted the atmosphere surrounding Friday's game was "very special."

The game was broadcast live on 19 networks and two web sites in China with a total audience expected to surpass 200 million viewers. In comparison, the Super Bowl is estimated to draw about 150 million watchers worldwide. The average audience during Sunday's much-hyped NFL battle between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts drew an audience of about 33.8 million.

"If you open the book on Chinese basketball history," Wang said, "there will be a page written about all the things tonight."

[ArgSpursFan.]

I don't know why Adelman ain´t playing Scola at least 20 mins.
yesterday He only played 8 mins.
If I'm not mistaken(not sure coze I don't follow the rockets)the games that Scola played the more minutes,Houston actually won.
correct me if I'm wrong.

[Indazone]

Rockets are 5-1 now. Doesn't matter whether Scola plays or not. Adleman sticks Bonzi and Hayes in now instead of Scola. Scola has come in instead of Mutumbo to relieve Yao. So it's confusing to me too.

[ArgSpursFan.]

Scola is too small to play center,even in a small ball type of line up.
Hopefully Luis can see more playing time as a PF where he is more effective.

[dirk4mvp]

or maybe Scola just sucks?

[ArgSpursFan.]

or maybe Scola just sucks?

too soon to judge a roockie on his 6th NBA game.
But coming from a homer Mavs fan, I guess It's all right.

[Tippecanoe]

I don't know why Adelman ain´t playing Scola at least 20 mins.
yesterday He only played 8 mins.
If I'm not mistaken(not sure coze I don't follow the rockets)the games that Scola played the more minutes,Houston actually won.
correct me if I'm wrong.

08:57 = Win by 2
28:48 = Win by 11
19:29 = Win by 9
24:59 = Loss by 9
08:09 = Win by 8
09:22 = Win by 16

it doesnt look like Scola's MP and Rocket's win/loss has anything to do w/ each other

EDIT: and how the hell did this just turn into a scola thread

[SAtown]

EDIT: and how the hell did this just turn into a scola thread

:lmao

[OldDirtMcGirt]

I love Yi's game and have been a big supporter of him since the beginning. People should've gotten off his nuts about the whole trade demands, that was his handlers, not him. Good to see him proving the doubters wrong.

[mookie2001]

Kevin Durant is better

[mookie2001]

too soon to judge a roockie on his 6th NBA game.
But coming from a homer Mavs fan, I guess It's all right.really?????????is that why he hasnt gotten cut yet?

[itzsoweezee]

told you haters.

[sa_kid20]

I'm really looking foward to seeing Yi play in person tomorrow night. I predict a Spurs win and Yi going for 14 and 8

[mavs>spurs2]

I'm really looking foward to seeing Yi play in person tomorrow night. I predict a Spurs win and Yi going for 14 and 8
Are you forgetting what team Yi plays for? :stirpot:

[sa_kid20]

Alright Spurs win by 16. Is that better?

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

A rookie," Yao would later say, a smile beginning to stretch across his face, "should not do that."

Yi understandably still has a few things to learn about the NBA, and remembering to respect his elder statesman should be high on the list. But if Friday night was any indication, the 20-year-old will figure out everything soon enough.

"I hate to say this," Yao said after watching Yi score 19 points and take nine rebounds in the Bucks' 104-88 loss to Houston, "but he may be better than me."

Yao's got a pretty cool attitude.

I guess we'll get to see this Yi guy play against us on Sunday. Hope we get a win for once.

[ArgSpursFan.]

really?????????is that why he hasnt gotten cut yet?

Not really.Since Bonner is still part of the spurs roster,I guess Scola is just about right where he is as a roockie.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Alright Spurs win by 16. Is that better?
Guess you don't know about the curse Milwaukee has over us.

[sa_kid20]

Guess you don't know about the curse Milwaukee has over us.
Come on man don't use that as any kind of an excuse. Spurs have no business losing to Milwaukee at home bottom line.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

Come on man don't use that as any kind of an excuse. Spurs have no business losing to Milwaukee at home bottom line.
It's not an excuse and I'm not saying they are going to lose. But if we do lose there's something up. The whole team is like Bonzi. They own us for some reason but suck ass against the rest of the league.

[sa_kid20]

But if we do lose there's something up. The whole team is like Bonzi. They own us for some reason but suck ass against the rest of the league.
True but I think we'll take care of business tomorrow. The Big three are playing awsome right now

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

True but I think we'll take care of business tomorrow. The Big three are playing awsome right now
Indeed. :tu

[ShoogarBear]

The Chinese national team should be a bear, with two 7-footers who can play together.

[Indazone]

China's national team sucks at the guard position. They got nobody. Sun Yue maybe who got drafted by the Lakers. They got some kid named Chen that coach K said he'd love on his Duke squad. I dunno, they might be sorta good but not anywhere near the USA, Argentinian, Greek or Russian squads. I predict a flameout of the CNT placing about 8th in the Olympics.

[peskypesky]

Yi is definitely starting to look like a player. I don't think Durant will have to worry about Yi taking the ROY award, but who knows? Only time will tell.

[mffl89]

Yi for ROY.
People say look at what team Yi is on. His team has many scorers yet he still puts up pretty good numbers.
Durant is on a team that has him at the #1 weapon so he can chunk up all the shots he wants and increase his ppg.

[TDMVPDPOY]

front runners for ROY

YI = talented roster, underperforms will ruin his chances...seriously
durant = his team not winning is going to harm his chances
horford = if he continues to have big reb games

ps. about team china being a force in the future, there backcourt fuckn sucks

[SpursIndonesia]

Don't get overboard after just 5-6 games played, please. Yi's a good talent, and so far has shown quite a satisfactory effort & result on the floor -just compares that with Yao's first 7 games as a Rookie. But he still has A LOT of glaring deficiencies in his game, and rookie wall is still looming. He's still swinging beetween SF & PF spots, really needs to get stronger and better as a post defender.

[SpursIndonesia]

It's not an excuse and I'm not saying they are going to lose. But if we do lose there's something up. The whole team is like Bonzi. They own us for some reason but suck ass against the rest of the league.

Yep, remember Bogut's last second shot -or i must say prayer- over TD ? FUCK !!