Yi Jianlian

[skinsfanevan]

http://nbadraft.net/draftbuzz054.asp

http://www.china.org.cn/english/2003/Sep/75681.htm

the next dirk or the next darko?

and would you take the risk?

[CrazyZeb]

http://media.cbaworld.com/gd/images/yjl-fk-1.gif

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5733820517329789196&q=Yi+Jianlian&pl=truee

[PapaDRoc]

The first song on that video just annoyed the hell out of me, and then i fast forwarded to the end and it was playing Bon Jovi. :laugh:

The guy looks like a great inside presence.

He looks very lanky, but my main question is whether he is more of a project, or more of a guy who can contribute his first couple of yrs in the NBA.

I dont want anymore Kwame's!

[Warhead36]

With the way our team is set up, I'd rather get someone who is a guaranteed contributor/role player but not much chance to break out into a Superstar as opposed to taking a guy who's going to be a project but MAY break out in 3 years.

The perfect fit for our team would be Sheldon Williams but he'll be a lottery pick.

[skinsfanevan]

...or jermaine

[mojobo]

This guy will be amazing in the nba being seen as the chinese Kevin Garnett. I think if possible we should trade Hayes, Haywood, and this and next years first to trade up and get him. I know a lot of people will think he will be a bust and is not worth that trade (unless you will take any trade that gets rid of Haywood) but I feel that this guy is in the same class as Oden and Durant as far as potential and talent. Any other thoughts?

[LiveStrongSkins]

I dont look at him as a project at all. He has great fundamentals to go with his athleticism. He isnt the average 19 year old american who practices his dunks and cross over. This guy has a mid range game and post moves. A young frontcourt of OP, Blatche, and YI looks alot better then the trash weve seen over the last 2 years. I doubt we get him t hough. If we dont trade up into the top 10.. then we can kiss this idea bye bye.

[LiveStrongSkins]

Wow... forgot that Phoenix has a really high pick. NBAdraft.net has them picking 4th. He could very possibly go to Phoenix. Can you imagine this guy coming in and giving Stoudamire a rest? I wonder how good Nash could make this guy...:doh:

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Wow... forgot that Phoenix has a really high pick. NBAdraft.net has them picking 4th. He could very possibly go to Phoenix. Can you imagine this guy coming in and giving Stoudamire a rest? I wonder how good Nash could make this guy...:doh:
Rumor that the Suns might be shopping Stoudamire this summer. Emphasis on rumor and might.

[mojobo]

Rumor that the Suns might be shopping Stoudamire this summer. Emphasis on rumor and might.
where did you hear that?

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

where did you hear that?


http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_21826.shtml

Phoenix Suns

If the Hawks don’t nail a top-three pick this summer, Phoenix will have a draft selection somewhere in the 4-to-7 range. This, in all likelihood, will turn into a power forward like Al Horford, Joakim Noah, or Brandan Wright, meaning that Amare Stoudemire could find himself on the trade market by June.

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

Please note that I did add emphasis to rumor and might so don't blast me.

[ACW]

Please note that I did add emphasis to rumor and might so don't blast me. Still, damn that'd be awesome. Who do we have that the Suns would take for him though (and no, not Jamison :doh: )?

[skinsfanno9]

Still, damn that'd be awesome. Who do we have that the Suns would take for him though (and no, not Jamison :doh: )?

Nobody, unless we're trading Caron or Arenas, so nobody.

[ACW]

http://nbadraft.net/draftbuzz054.asp

http://www.china.org.cn/english/2003/Sep/75681.htm

the next dirk or the next darko?

and would you take the risk? If tonight's any indication, I'd rather have the next Darko! :laugh: :laugh:

[Winslowalrob]

The guy is the next Stromile Swift (Can we PLEASE compare foreign players to domestic players, or white players to black players? Does every white guy have to be the next Larry Bird, or every foreign big have to be the next Dirk?). He has the body, can put up some good games, but is inconsistent as hell. He has more of a mean streak than Yao had INITIALLY (Yao is a lot less passive than when he came into the league) and Yi can make some high-flying dunks, but the dude is not all that good, he plays no defense and not very clutch. He relies on his body and his attitude against usually shorter and wayyy more passive players to get some ridiculously easy points (He is a prick on the court) that he will NEVER get in the NBA. He likes to jack up threes (Stromile Swift combined with Antoine Walker I guess) and is not a good low post player against guys who are about as good as him. Even then, he did not dominate the CBA like Yao did back in the day. He is valuable for marketing purposes (Washington has a decent Chinatown and Chinese peeps would be buying Wizards gear in droves) but nothing else besides that. Think about it this way: the Chinese national team is garbage despite having Yao and Yi. Even with Yao (Who I consider legit) Yi is not good enough to elevate the team to respectability. Just what the Wizards need: a jump shooting big with no low post moves, bad defense, and will take years to develop. I'll take a pass :).

[mojobo]

The guy is the next Stromile Swift (Can we PLEASE compare foreign players to domestic players, or white players to black players? Does every white guy have to be the next Larry Bird, or every foreign big have to be the next Dirk?). He has the body, can put up some good games, but is inconsistent as hell. He has more of a mean streak than Yao had INITIALLY (Yao is a lot less passive than when he came into the league) and Yi can make some high-flying dunks, but the dude is not all that good, he plays no defense and not very clutch. He relies on his body and his attitude against usually shorter and wayyy more passive players to get some ridiculously easy points (He is a prick on the court) that he will NEVER get in the NBA. He likes to jack up threes (Stromile Swift combined with Antoine Walker I guess) and is not a good low post player against guys who are about as good as him. Even then, he did not dominate the CBA like Yao did back in the day. He is valuable for marketing purposes (Washington has a decent Chinatown and Chinese peeps would be buying Wizards gear in droves) but nothing else besides that. Think about it this way: the Chinese national team is garbage despite having Yao and Yi. Even with Yao (Who I consider legit) Yi is not good enough to elevate the team to respectability. Just what the Wizards need: a jump shooting big with no low post moves, bad defense, and will take years to develop. I'll take a pass :).

Well people already have been comparing him to KG so that answers your first question. I also dont understand you saying he will never get in the nba since he is being projected as a lottery pick. Also your point that a 20 year old isn't carrying a national team isn't that great. There is very little doubt to me that this guy wont be great in the nba and will be one of the top 3 players to come out of this draft

[Diesel70ChipOnWhite]

Well people already have been comparing him to KG so that answers your first question. I also dont understand you saying he will never get in the nba since he is being projected as a lottery pick. Also your point that a 20 year old isn't carrying a national team isn't that great. There is very little doubt to me that this guy wont be great in the nba and will be one of the top 3 players to come out of this draft

KG?

I haven't read any comparisons to KG, but i have read......

Yi Jinlian
Birthday:10/27/1984
NBA Postion:Power Forward
Class:N/A
Ht:7-0
Wt:230
Int Team:Guangdong Tigers
Hometown:Shenzhen, China
High School:Shen Zhen City

Overall
94 (Just for reference this site has Oden and Durant @ 106-104)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6plJTvMW04


NBA Comparison: Pau Gasol

Strengths: Good ball handler who has no problem taking opposing defenders off the dribble … Great finisher around the basket as he is capable of making some impressive dunks on the break … Fundamentally sound player with a decent basketball IQ and court awareness … Rarely does Jianlian force the issue, instead he let’s the game come to him … Unlike many players his size, he is a great free throw shooter …Runs the floor especially well considering his size ... His perimeter shooting is very impressive as he can stretch the defense out to 18-20 feet comfortably … While he doesn’t own many back to the basket moves, Jianlian possesses a consistent turnaround jumper in the post … Does a great job of using his long body and athleticism to make an impact on the boards … Passes out of double teams well due to his court vision and awareness … Excels in an open court offense that promotes fast breaks thanks to his mobility and leaping ability … Rarely gets intimidated when physical play occurs … Although he has been on the NBA draft radar for quite some time, and may be a few years older than his listed age, he appears to still have considerable upside … Defensively he is a solid help defender due to his lateral quickness and wingspan … Possesses quick hands that can disrupt passing lanes …

Weaknesses: There is some concern as to what position he will play in the NBA: He lacks the upper body strength and the back to the basket moves at power forward and is a bit long and rangy for the three … Needs to improve his three point shooting to play minutes to be effective at SF … Despite his vast improvement, Jianlian needs to continue to develop his upper body strength … At this point of his career, he’s more comfortable facing the basket than with his back to the basket … Although he doesn’t shy away from physical contact he can get disrupted with rough post play … Struggles to maintain his position in the low post as opposing defenders tend to push him out … Defensively he will not be the huge shot blocking presence that he is in the China, due to his timing and the speed of the NBA game … Has a habit of putting the ball on the floor to achieve rhythm instead of keeping the ball high away from opposing guards …. Confidence can wavier in games when he’s struggling to score … Although listed as being born in 1987 many within China place him between 1985-1986 … Doesn’t always play defensive with great intensity, he won’t be able to get away with it in the NBA …

[Diesel70ChipOnWhite]

http://www.hoopsworld.com/article_21826.shtml

Amare and Gil's baby's momma are good friends, so maybe we can talk him into negotiating a trade to DC for Brenda, Navarro and some draft picks.

[NavyDave]

What we need is for Arenas and the rest of the big three to look at how golden state played defense at their positions which would help out the Center next year.

[Winslowalrob]

Well people already have been comparing him to KG so that answers your first question. I also dont understand you saying he will never get in the nba since he is being projected as a lottery pick. Also your point that a 20 year old isn't carrying a national team isn't that great. There is very little doubt to me that this guy wont be great in the nba and will be one of the top 3 players to come out of this draft

I have not heard any of the KG comparisons, but the Pau Gasol comparison in a later post (excellent find Diesel) kind of proves my point. I did not say he will never get into the NBA, I am saying he will not be that good in the NBA. He is 22 years old by the way (China will not let their players bounce outta the CBA unless they are at least 22 years old) and national team play is a pretty good indicator of how good you will be when facing quality competition (not the only indicator mind you). I have seen Yi play, he is not that good.

[Leonard Washington]

he looks like ando from heroes. he might not be good but he'll be a perennial all-star.

[Winslowalrob]

10 more reasons why I love sports
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/070525&sportCat=mlb

By Bill Simmons
Page 2

Editor's note: This column appears in the May 28 issue of ESPN The Magazine.

Reason No. 921: My dad
Recently, Dad and I were discussing plans for the apocalypse. Not nuclear war, but a world in which the Celtics don't get Greg Oden or Kevin Durant. As we rehashed the depressing alternatives, Dad confessed he knew nothing about "the Chinese guy," prompting me to hunt down Yi Jianlain clips on YouTube. We crammed in front of my laptop and watched Yi dominate various Chinese league games, decimating his competition like the werewolf in "Teen Wolf."


For about 50 seconds, Dad was impressed. ("Wow, he can really move!") At the 90-second mark, he became concerned. ("We haven't seen anything besides a layup or a dunk.") At the three-minute mark, he was ripping the poor kid. ("If he had a jump shot, they would have shown it by now.") And at the four-minute mark, he made me turn it off. ("All this guy does is run and jump. Congratulations, he's an Asian Stromile Swift!") Only my dad can write off a prize prospect after watching a couple of minutes of grainy video. He's the best.


Just call me Nostradamus. I nailed the Stromile Swift comparison weeks ago!

[IChiefLikeCP26]

whoever gets him is going to be pissed if they get him in the top 10. He will be a wasted pick, much like yao at 1 was. He will be a "average" NBA player, but not the "franchise savior" some are saying, and I wil feel bad for boston fans if they draft him, which it looks like they might.

[skinsfanno9]

whoever gets him is going to be pissed if they get him in the top 10. He will be a wasted pick, much like yao at 1 was. He will be a "average" NBA player, but not the "franchise savior" some are saying, and I wil feel bad for boston fans if they draft him, which it looks like they might.

Much like Yao at #1 was?? Don't you mean much like Kwame Brown at #1 was? Sorry but Yao is a monster when healthy. 25 points, 10+ rebounds and 2+ blocks a game is hardly a wasted pick.

[IChiefLikeCP26]

I'll respond when I get a moment, I also have some more quotes from that Amare article (I have the article in print at home, not online ;-/). I personally like Yao, but i'll explain why I put that in a moment.

[ACW]

About Yao: there was an article a week or so ago in the Wash. Post about how Yao is now working w/ Olajuwon. Learning from one of the best can't hurt. Too bad he's been plagues by injuries.

[Warhead36]

Yao averaged 25 and 10 last year. I'd love to waste a #1 pick on that...

[mojobo]

whoever gets him is going to be pissed if they get him in the top 10. He will be a wasted pick, much like yao at 1 was. He will be a "average" NBA player, but not the "franchise savior" some are saying, and I wil feel bad for boston fans if they draft him, which it looks like they might.

I'm sure they are kicking themselves for not drafting jay williams.