For Yi and Swat, a Year to Remember

[GMJ]

Bouncing Off the (Rookie) Wall

<small>August 23, 2008, 9:55 am</small> Yi Jianlian and Sean Williams were both picked high in last year’s NBA Draft, Yi at #6, Williams at #17. Blessed with extraordinary gifts, they excited fans in Milwaukee and New Jersey until, like others before them, they hit the rookie wall. How well and how soon they recover from that collision could go a long way toward determining how well and how soon the Nets recover as well. No doubt they have the talent.

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For Yi and Swat, a Year to Remember - Net Income - NetsDaily Blog

It's a good read if you want to remember the praise these guys were getting last year

There were similar comments and assessments about both players early last season from Dave McMenamin of NBA.com and Hugh Packham of Sports Illustrated, the two other reporters who did weekly rookie rankings. Yi was compared to Dirk Nowitzki, Williams to Amare Stoudemire…both more than once. Indeed there is no doubt the two have the most potential of the Nets’ young big men. Brook Lopez may remind people of Brad Daugherty, Ryan Anderson of Keith Van Horn. Josh Boone, at 23 the senior member of the group, has established himself as a solid NBA big man, but Yi and Williams have that “ridiculous upside” GM’s love.

 

[NOMAM]

Yi, he described as “a gifted player, maybe the second-purest talent in this class (after Kevin Durant)” but said “he could really be a rebounding threat right now if he chose to focus on that…” Time, he said, for Yi to look to Marcus Camby as a model, particularly Camby’s attitude.

Williams he called “a special talent and is better offensively than scouts initially thought.” What he needed to learn was how “to beat defenders from the high post by using solid jabs and counters when they take his jump shot away.” That way, he could become Chris Bosh.

Actually, Yi is more like Bosh and Sean is more like Camby.

 

[danxcr]

ya but Yi is closer to dirk then to bosh... and i agree with sean could be the next camby... if he was mentally ready and mentally -in the game... FOCUS !!!

 

[Universe]

Sad that Boone is our veteran big man. Least every big man will be exciting to watch this year.

 

[SportsTicker]

 

[soul driver]

superpowers, unite!

 

[cLokwerk]

ya but Yi is closer to dirk then to bosh... and i agree with sean could be the next camby... if he was mentally ready and mentally -in the game... FOCUS !!!

I personally think Yi is closer to Bosh. Yi is compared to Dirk because of his shooting form, but Yi doesn't have the distance on his shot that Dirk has. Bosh has a nice 15-20ft jumper, and can occasionally step out to 3-point range, much like Yi. Also, both Bosh and Yi are more athletic than Dirk, but not as athletic as KG.

 

[SportsTicker]

I personally think Yi is closer to Bosh. Yi is compared to Dirk because of his shooting form, but Yi doesn't have the distance on his shot that Dirk has. Bosh has a nice 15-20ft jumper, and can occasionally step out to 3-point range, much like Yi. Also, both Bosh and Yi are more athletic than Dirk, but not as athletic as KG.

Remember this: Dirk had a less productive rookie year than Yi. 8.3 and 3.4, 40.5% overall, 20.5% from beyond the arc. He was seen as a bust, then a man named Kiki worked with him. (OK, I am an optimist.)

 

[cLokwerk]

Remember this: Dirk had a less productive rookie year than Yi. 8.3 and 3.4, 40.5% overall, 20.5% from beyond the arc. He was seen as a bust, then a man named Kiki worked with him. (OK, I am an optimist.)

True, Yi could prove to be a good 3pt shooter in the future. In an interview on NBAtv last year they asked Mo Williams to reveal something about Yi's game that viewers didn't know. He said Yi rains threes in practice everyday, but hasn't added that to his in-game performance yet.

I still think Yi will be more of a 20/10 player like Bosh, rather than a 26/9 player like Dirk. Of course, this is all speculation based on the premise that Yi actually fulfills his potential.

Edit: Here's the video I referenced. It's 15min long. They talk about Yi at the 4:12 mark, and then also show a locker room clip at 12:02 of Yi and Mo clownin' around.

 

[danxcr]

yi can shoot the 3... hes just taken so few in the NBA... and in the olympics... he was 4th scoring option... dont ask me why... i cant wait for the nets to hit trainin camp and i wanna see all the comments towards Yi...

I really feel that Yi will make an impact for our team... in a POSITIVE way