First impression of Yi

[jerrywest]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

If Yi's agent could credibly say he projects as a center in the NBA he would because it would dramatically increase Yi's value and draft prospects. Saying he is a SF is a way of devaluing his own prospect - unless it is true and then it builds credibility. A center that can play and chew gum at the same time gets big $$. A SF doesn't get anywhere near the same interest. If Yi could play center his agent would be marketing that with a fury.

---

I think Yi will have an easier life as a forward. If he fulfills his potential its big $ in any position he plays.

---

Agreed. I don't think he has to be a Center to be worthy of the #3 pick. I just don't like all the talk about how Yi must be a center since he is 7' and blocked shots in the CBA.

---

All I am saying is that he shouldn't be pigeon holed. He is a hybrid of all 3 front court positions. He can log in highly productive heavy minutes in all 3 front court positions. He will be a match up nightmare even for the genius Don Nelson.

[exodus]

Quote:

---

So now we are supposed to draft what most are saying is top 5 talent in the draft because 5 guys in his confrence woudl push him around.

---

Huh? this sentence makes no sense.

Frankly i don't see Yi as a pf either and i am not making a judgement that we shouldn't draft him. Actually i have a more positive feeling about drafting him now than i did before i watched him in a game.

[AHF]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

If Yi's agent could credibly say he projects as a center in the NBA he would because it would dramatically increase Yi's value and draft prospects. Saying he is a SF is a way of devaluing his own prospect - unless it is true and then it builds credibility. A center that can play and chew gum at the same time gets big $$. A SF doesn't get anywhere near the same interest. If Yi could play center his agent would be marketing that with a fury.

---

I think Yi will have an easier life as a forward. If he fulfills his potential its big $ in any position he plays.

---

Agreed. I don't think he has to be a Center to be worthy of the #3 pick. I just don't like all the talk about how Yi must be a center since he is 7' and blocked shots in the CBA.

---

All I am saying is that he shouldn't be pigeon holed. He is a hybrid of all 3 front court positions. He can log in highly productive heavy minutes in all 3 front court positions. He will be a match up nightmare even for the genius Don Nelson.

---

He should be a matchup nightmare but when playing with Marvin and Smoove, I don't think we can afford to play someone at Center who gets pushed around by guys who can't make the end of an NBA bench. If the scouting reports are accurate, Yi's mobility was neutralized against CBA centers because he had so much trouble dealing with their strength. At least at PF he would have greater length than his opponents and the weight difference might be in his favor.

I suspect that if we play Yi in the center position that other teams will simply zone us up so that they can protect the middle without giving up one-on-one plays where Yi can abuse a center like Z with his speed.

On the other end, we would have a tremendously hard time with mature frontcourts with a Marvin, Smoove and Yi lineup.

I don't have a problem with labelling Yi a PF/C over the long-term but there is no indication from scouting reports or even his own agent that he can expect to play C anytime next season.

[jerrywest]

Quote:

---

Actually i have a more positive feeling about drafting him now than i did before i watched him in a game.

---

Glad to hear that. That's what I was hoping you would say.

[jerrywest]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

If Yi's agent could credibly say he projects as a center in the NBA he would because it would dramatically increase Yi's value and draft prospects. Saying he is a SF is a way of devaluing his own prospect - unless it is true and then it builds credibility. A center that can play and chew gum at the same time gets big $$. A SF doesn't get anywhere near the same interest. If Yi could play center his agent would be marketing that with a fury.

---

I think Yi will have an easier life as a forward. If he fulfills his potential its big $ in any position he plays.

---

Agreed. I don't think he has to be a Center to be worthy of the #3 pick. I just don't like all the talk about how Yi must be a center since he is 7' and blocked shots in the CBA.

---

All I am saying is that he shouldn't be pigeon holed. He is a hybrid of all 3 front court positions. He can log in highly productive heavy minutes in all 3 front court positions. He will be a match up nightmare even for the genius Don Nelson.

---

He should be a matchup nightmare but when playing with Marvin and Smoove, I don't think we can afford to play someone at Center who gets pushed around by guys who can't make the end of an NBA bench. If the scouting reports are accurate, Yi's mobility was neutralized against CBA centers because he had so much trouble dealing with their strength. At least at PF he would have greater length than his opponents and the weight difference might be in his favor.

I suspect that if we play Yi in the center position that other teams will simply zone us up so that they can protect the middle without giving up one-on-one plays where Yi can abuse a center like Z with his speed.

On the other end, we would have a tremendously hard time with mature frontcourts with a Marvin, Smoove and Yi lineup.

I don't have a problem with labelling Yi a PF/C over the long-term but there is no indication from scouting reports or even his own agent that he can expect to play C anytime next season.

---

Good post. Don't you think there are plenty of inferior weaker centers in the NBA, against whom Yi can log minutes with his current body/mind? Ofcourse he needs to get his defensive boot camp first.

[exodus]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Actually i have a more positive feeling about drafting him now than i did before i watched him in a game.

---

Glad to hear that. That's what I was hoping you would say.

---

When Yi's name first came up as a possible pick at 3 i was 100% against it. I figured that

1) he would be too weak to guard the interior

2) he would be too slow to guard the 3

I believe i was right on the first point, although in time he can certainly get stronger.

However i think i was wrong on the second point.

Go back and read the scouting reports on Yi. Nowhere will you see "he is too slow, not quick enough to guard the 3. he doesn't have the basketball skills to play the 3 offensively."

[AHF]

Quote:

---

Good post. Don't you think there are plenty of inferior weaker centers in the NBA, against whom Yi can log minutes with his current body/mind? Ofcourse he needs to get his defensive boot camp first.

---

Not defensively with his current body/mind. If the CBA centers were good enough to be rotation guys in the NBA they would be here. I don't think Yi is mature enough yet to log real minutes at the center spot against even skinnier centers like Dalembert, Chandler, etc. and a lot of mediocre centers are decently strong (like Magloire, etc.)

Can you imagine a matchup where Tyson Chandler or Andris Biedrens got abused in the post by Wang Zi Zi? Not me.

That said, I don't think that current ability to play center should be the criteria for whether we draft Yi. The only guy who could possibly start at center for us next year is probably Horford (and that is debatable) so we are either going PG at 3 or taking some kind of forward at 3 and going PG at 11 (if there is no trade). If we are going forward, then you still have to like a 7 footer over a 6'9 guy with equal talent.

[BusBoyIsBack]

Who cares if Yi can play the 5 next year?

Are we making a title run next year regardless?

We need talent for the long haul and the bottomline is that 2 years down the road Yi could not only establish himself as a frontcourt player, but as one of the top guys in what will pan out to be a very strong draft class.

[Johnnybravo4]

So if we don't draft Yi because he isn't a center, then who is the so called center that you want to draft? Hawes. He may be good as a 3rd stringer, but are we going to pass on a top 5 talent to pick someone who may be Doleac at best?

[exodus]

Quote:

---

So if we don't draft Yi because he isn't a center, then who is the so called center that you want to draft? Hawes. He may be good as a 3rd stringer, but are we going to pass on a top 5 talent to pick someone who may be Doleac at best?

---

AHF and i aren't arguing against drafting Yi because he isn't a center.

What i am saying is that if we do draft him I believe (again this is my first impression) that he will be in direct competition with Marvin for minutes. I don't see him and Marvin coexisting long term.

[jerrywest]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Good post. Don't you think there are plenty of inferior weaker centers in the NBA, against whom Yi can log minutes with his current body/mind? Ofcourse he needs to get his defensive boot camp first.

---

Not defensively with his current body/mind. If the CBA centers were good enough to be rotation guys in the NBA they would be here. I don't think Yi is mature enough yet to log real minutes at the center spot against even skinnier centers like Dalembert, Chandler, etc. and a lot of mediocre centers are decently strong (like Magloire, etc.)

Can you imagine a matchup where Tyson Chandler or Andris Biedrens got abused in the post by Wang Zi Zi? Not me.

That said, I don't think that current ability to play center should be the criteria for whether we draft Yi. The only guy who could possibly start at center for us next year is probably Horford (and that is debatable) so we are either going PG at 3 or taking some kind of forward at 3 and going PG at 11 (if there is no trade). If we are going forward, then you still have to like a 7 footer over a 6'9 guy with equal talent.

---

Wang Zhi Zhi has a much better offensive game than people give him credit for. He is missing other things that made him leave NBA. He also has NBA experience where he has learnt a trick or two to dazzle kids like Yi.

Undoubtedly, Yi has to develop a lot to be in Biedrin or Chandler's league. After watching part of the final, I think, he can play regular center someday. He can certainly log in some minutes there once he gets some coaching. Its not like every center in the NBA defends like Chandler. There are a Zaza in almost every team.

[AHF]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

So if we don't draft Yi because he isn't a center, then who is the so called center that you want to draft? Hawes. He may be good as a 3rd stringer, but are we going to pass on a top 5 talent to pick someone who may be Doleac at best?

---

AHF and i aren't arguing against drafting Yi because he isn't a center.

What i am saying is that if we do draft him I believe (again this is my first impression) that he will be in direct competition with Marvin for minutes. I don't see him and Marvin coexisting long term.

---

Yep. I don't think Yi has to be a center to be our pick.

I am saying that in all likelihood we are going to be taking a forward again this year and that people don't need to try to fluff Yi into someone who is ready to start at center next year simply because they like him as a prospect. He is in competition in my mind with Wright, Conley and Horford - none of whom are expected to be starting centers next season.

[AHF]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Good post. Don't you think there are plenty of inferior weaker centers in the NBA, against whom Yi can log minutes with his current body/mind? Ofcourse he needs to get his defensive boot camp first.

---

Not defensively with his current body/mind. If the CBA centers were good enough to be rotation guys in the NBA they would be here. I don't think Yi is mature enough yet to log real minutes at the center spot against even skinnier centers like Dalembert, Chandler, etc. and a lot of mediocre centers are decently strong (like Magloire, etc.)

Can you imagine a matchup where Tyson Chandler or Andris Biedrens got abused in the post by Wang Zi Zi? Not me.

That said, I don't think that current ability to play center should be the criteria for whether we draft Yi. The only guy who could possibly start at center for us next year is probably Horford (and that is debatable) so we are either going PG at 3 or taking some kind of forward at 3 and going PG at 11 (if there is no trade). If we are going forward, then you still have to like a 7 footer over a 6'9 guy with equal talent.

---

Wang Zhi Zhi has a much better offensive game than people give him credit for. He is missing other things that made him leave NBA. He also has NBA experience where he has learnt a trick or two to dazzle kids like Yi.

Undoubtedly, Yi has to develop a lot to be in Biedrin or Chandler's league. After watching part of the final, I think, he can play regular center someday. He can certainly log in some minutes there once he gets some coaching. Its not like every center in the NBA defends like Chandler. There are a Zaza in almost every team.

---

Zhi Zhi's offensive game isn't what worries me. It is the fact that Zhi Zhi and other centers in the CBA (according to scouting reports) were too strong for Yi to handle in the post. I expect him to be rope-a-doped by a more senior vet. I don't expect someone who is planning to play center next season for the Hawks to have trouble handling Zhi Zhi's strength (and that of several other CBA centers) in the post.

[jerrywest]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

So if we don't draft Yi because he isn't a center, then who is the so called center that you want to draft? Hawes. He may be good as a 3rd stringer, but are we going to pass on a top 5 talent to pick someone who may be Doleac at best?

---

AHF and i aren't arguing against drafting Yi because he isn't a center.

What i am saying is that if we do draft him I believe (again this is my first impression) that he will be in direct competition with Marvin for minutes. I don't see him and Marvin coexisting long term.

---

I agree about Marvin. He'll also be in dirct competition with Smoove's minutes, with Shelden's minutes, with Chillz's minutes, with Zaza's minutes, with Lo's minutes and with Solomon's minutes. Not many players have the versatility to do that. JJ is the only one who is rejoicing because of the millions of extra all star votes he'll get.

[jerrywest]

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

Good post. Don't you think there are plenty of inferior weaker centers in the NBA, against whom Yi can log minutes with his current body/mind? Ofcourse he needs to get his defensive boot camp first.

---

Not defensively with his current body/mind. If the CBA centers were good enough to be rotation guys in the NBA they would be here. I don't think Yi is mature enough yet to log real minutes at the center spot against even skinnier centers like Dalembert, Chandler, etc. and a lot of mediocre centers are decently strong (like Magloire, etc.)

Can you imagine a matchup where Tyson Chandler or Andris Biedrens got abused in the post by Wang Zi Zi? Not me.

That said, I don't think that current ability to play center should be the criteria for whether we draft Yi. The only guy who could possibly start at center for us next year is probably Horford (and that is debatable) so we are either going PG at 3 or taking some kind of forward at 3 and going PG at 11 (if there is no trade). If we are going forward, then you still have to like a 7 footer over a 6'9 guy with equal talent.

---

Wang Zhi Zhi has a much better offensive game than people give him credit for. He is missing other things that made him leave NBA. He also has NBA experience where he has learnt a trick or two to dazzle kids like Yi.

Undoubtedly, Yi has to develop a lot to be in Biedrin or Chandler's league. After watching part of the final, I think, he can play regular center someday. He can certainly log in some minutes there once he gets some coaching. Its not like every center in the NBA defends like Chandler. There are a Zaza in almost every team.

---

Zhi Zhi's offensive game isn't what worries me. It is the fact that Zhi Zhi and other centers in the CBA (according to scouting reports) were too strong for Yi to handle in the post. I expect him to be rope-a-doped by a more senior vet. I don't expect someone who is planning to play center next season for the Hawks to have trouble handling Zhi Zhi's strength (and that of several other CBA centers) in the post.

---

Yes. Yi needs to develop into his body to put in significant minutes at center. Zaza can Solomon can't defend Wang Zhi Zhi very well though.

[Johnnybravo4]

Yeah like Tmac and Yao, we would be guaranteed the starting PF and SG positions in the ASG for the next 10 years. They would have to change the rules.

[GoDawgs21]

first of all did anyone actually watch the Zhi Zhi game?????????

This is what I have been trying to find out. Wang was a 3 point specialist, he was China's best shooter. I haven't seen the game, and I have no clue how he scored, but just because Wang scored 30 something doesnt mean he was posting Yi up. No doubt he could, and I am not saying Yi is by no means ready for 48 minutes as an NBA C, but if Wang went 8-12 from 3 then whats the point of even brining it up???

[GoDawgs21]

Here's my question if the ping pong balls bounced the other way and we had the 2nd pick,

A) would everyone on this thread that is claiming Yi is not a need since he will cut into Smith, Marvin, minutes

B) would you be bringing up he cant bench 185 and will assuredly be posted up by and 2,3, or 4 that he guards.

My point is they are all rookies and young, they all have stuff they need to work on. But Hofford is Shelden, Conely is not worth a 3 pick when many have him falling to us at 11 or law will be there. So I am making these lineups and discussing what should happen when we take Yi at 3.

[Johnnybravo4]

And here is our big man alternative. From NBAdraft.net

16. Spencer Hawes 7-0 244 C Wash. Fr.

What he did well: Hawes measured a hair away from 7’1’’ and 244 lbs. That’ about it.

What he struggled with: You know you hurt your stock when the assistant coaches running the combine have a higher vertical than you do. Hawes’ 29’’ vertical did not compare to the big men he was competing against. So even though he can’t jump, he’s really strong, right? Not quite. Hawes performed a disappointing 9 bench reps and compounded it by running the slowest sprint time (3.51) and one of the most pedestrian lane drills (11.88).

I shall dub him.. Spencer Stiff

[exodus]

The thing is you have to look at Yi's strengths and weakesses.

Strengths

speed

ball handling

shooting

weaknesses

strength

So why put him in a position where strength is a major issue?

I say let him and Marvin fight it out for the 3 spot and let the best man win. Maybe years from now Yi can log significant minutes in the interior but i don't see it happening now unless the other team goes small (Bosh at C, Dirk at C, Harrington at C etc.).

i think Yi can effectively guard guys like Dirk and Bosh, but any bangers with have their way with him.