Nellie Loves Chinese Ballas

by Atma Brother ONE on Mar 6, 2007 9:39 AM PST in NBA Draft

It looks like GSoM's own The Yi Movement is getting some major love from Chad Ford at ESPN.com:

Yi's going nuts in the Chinese Basketball Association:

Last week he scored 38 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Shanghai in the first game of the playoff series. He followed up with a 20-point, 15-rebound performance in Game 2. Then Yi helped Guangdong clinch the series with 32 points and 17 rebounds on an amazing 14-for-19 shooting performance from the field.

But most importantly Don Nelson loves Chinese ballas (all 2 of them who've been in the NBA?):

Lots of teams are interested in him, but watch the Warriors closely. Don Nelson loves Chinese players, and Yi has a game reminiscent of Dirk Nowitzki's. Plus, he'd be a huge draw for the Bay Area's large Asian population. He remains our top-rated international prospect, currently sitting at No. 10 on our Big Board.

With the Warriors finally healthy and touting a starting lineup of Baron Davis, Jason Richardson, Stephen Jackson, Al Harrington, and Andris Biedrins with Monta Ellis, Mickael Pietrus, Matt Barnes, and Kelenna Azubuike the first guys off the bench, it's looking more and more like the Warriors might make a little run and wind up with a late lottery pick a la 2 years back when Boom Dizzle first came to the Bay. It's going to be fun to watch, but it'll kill the team's chances of picking franchise cornerstones Greg Oden and Kevin Durant or even hyped up played like Joakim Noah, Brandon Wright, Julian Wright, and Al Horford. However, if Yi's up for the taking near the end of the lottery the Warriors could end up with an excellent draft pick who's a perfect fit for Nellieball when it's all said and done. I'm predicting one of those behind the scenes deals where Nellie and the Warriors get Yi to refuse to work out with other teams, so they can swoop him up like they did with Andris Biedrins several years ago.

How do you think Yi will do in the NBA?

Props to loyal GSoM community member Dubbadown for putting this up in a diary and TZ from Sactown Royalty for sending us this link.

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Comments

Wow

Can you imagine a frontcourt of Harrington Beans and Yi? I think I just wet my pants!

Protect this house!

by tadams1080 on Mar 6, 2007 10:09 AM PST 0 recs

Somewhere in the

Battier mold at worse. At best, I'd say Gasol.

I've never seen him play other than 2 minute highlights on Youtube. But man, an agile 7 footer than can shoot...that's tuff to pass up. I wouldn't mind the Ws picking him up.

by MANUTEs BOLs on Mar 6, 2007 10:13 AM PST 0 recs

Shane Battier ?

how do you figure that?

by Zig on Mar 6, 2007 10:50 AM PST up 0 recs

or do you mean Mengke Bateer

I think he is even less like this Yi kid from what I can see

That guy was a clod

by Zig on Mar 6, 2007 10:54 AM PST up 0 recs

vs. Team USA

Bateer was scoring w/o too much trouble against Jermaine O'neal a few years back in... the World Games?

by yuletak on Mar 6, 2007 12:36 PM PST up 0 recs

he is over 7'0

and weighed over 300 pounds. Not sure that he shoots outside of the paint. Nothing like Yi but being Asian

by Zig on Mar 6, 2007 12:39 PM PST up 0 recs

We need...

a banger like him down low. : D

by yuletak on Mar 6, 2007 5:59 PM PST up 0 recs

Get younger?

Yi looks like a great prospect, but I think the last thing this team needs is to get younger and bring in another draft pick that'll take 3-4 years to develop. Unless we're getting Oden or Durant, I would much prefer to trade the pick for some experienced help to get us to the playoffs.

by factorjr on Mar 6, 2007 10:33 AM PST 0 recs

Yiiiiiii-eeesss!!!

The guy reminds me of a more speedier Pau Gasol, but that ain't bad. He'd have to fill out some more and get stronger, but would be the point forward Nelson has been looking for. Great floor awareness, passer and can make plays.

by callahan on Mar 6, 2007 10:54 AM PST 0 recs

Trade The Pick!!

We don't need this project. We have a 7 footer who can run the floor, handle the ball, and has an outside shot....Zarko!! Im telling you Zarko was BUILT for this system. But we need a big, thick body that we can dump it down low to...someone who plays like Foyle should be playing. So package the pick with players like LL Cool P and Cabbages and lets grab a Collins or even a Fortson. Well, maybe not Danny, but you get the idea. We don't need a 20-10 guy down low, just a big body with good hands that can catch the ball in the post and put it up. And one that can box out a little and grab some boards. Biedrins is the 5 of the future but he will never have the mass to play against guys like Shaq down low. So we need a brain / hands / feet transplant for our boy Governor Adonal "Aluminum" Foyle so he can help Andris out from time to time.

by GreyMurphy on Mar 6, 2007 11:47 AM PST 0 recs

Zarko...

I don't wanna diss the guy, but I don't think Zarko will ever have the confidence to be consistent in the NBA. I'm not saying we should pick Yi either though...Don't know enough about him to make a call right now.

by wander7 on Mar 6, 2007 2:24 PM PST up 0 recs

I think you hit the nail on the head

He's got the tools, but may lack the confidence to ever put it all together on a consistant basis.

by GreyMurphy on Mar 6, 2007 3:08 PM PST up 0 recs

I don't think you could get much

for the pick that will change this team

Usually in the NBA you are looking for superstars and the players to go around them

Thinking this team is one middling post player away is short sided. One player away from what? Maybe a first round exit form the playoffs while Baron plays out his last year or two

I am not saying I know enough about Yi but if they thinkhe could be a star they have to go with that and take the chance. In the NBA you build around that. Guys like Baron and J-Rich may not even be part of it just like in Dallas how Finley was bought out with Dirk

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 9:02 AM PST up 0 recs

my inclination

is to NOT go after any perimeter players (which is what i would consider Yi from everything i've read) in the draft and SPECIFICALLY target rugged defender rebounders. It is literally the only missing piece on the team. Do you really think the W's lack any talent on the perimeter? C'mon now.

Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.

by OaktownFunk on Mar 6, 2007 12:31 PM PST 0 recs

Look at his rebounding numbers though

I honestly don't know how it would translate to the NBA, but Yi does look like he can help control the boards at least in the Chinese league.

Yi + Andris on the glass? Makes you think.

by Atma Brother ONE on Mar 6, 2007 1:03 PM PST up 0 recs

yeah it does make me think....

makes me think we need to invest in an All-You-Can-Eat joint!Q Just kidding Atma. I'm not too sure grabbing boards in the Chinese pro league would be equivalent to NBA or even NCAA for that matter. His 11 boards probably works out to 4-6 in NBA. My stance is NO more perimeter players, the W's badly need a rebounder. How many times have we all seen it happen??

Let's Go Oakland! Gas, Brake, Dip.

by OaktownFunk on Mar 6, 2007 4:42 PM PST up 0 recs

I am not sure you can do the math

like this with a young player (though his age is in question)

He apparently hasn't been playing ball that long. He should get stronger and might respond to the NBA and NBA coaching

Not saying I know enough about him to say he will. Just saying

I wonder what Andres Biedrens stats where in his league before he came here

On the other hand there is some guy named Brandon Crump averaging 27.4/15.4 in that league so I see your point

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 8:59 AM PST up 0 recs

you're right

but does that player exist at the 8-14 spots? is a trade a realistic option? this guy could be a fat bust, but after years of going the safe route w/ guys like fuller, foyle, dun, & murphy, i wouldnt mind seeing the dubs take a risk. dubs have perimeter players, but none of which that can really shoot. basically, they're a team full of slasher-types. hopefully, they can pick up a veteran big w/ the MLE.

by the evil monkey on Mar 6, 2007 5:53 PM PST up 0 recs

We don't need another skinny soft 7 footer

We need a thug to go in there and bang for us.
A Ben Wallace in his prime, a Zach Randolph type? or maybe okafor or tyson chandler?

by Skeptic con Urquell on Mar 6, 2007 2:09 PM PST 0 recs

I've said it before

And I'll say it again: Bring out Arvydas Sabonis! He may be past his prime, but he's exactly what we need right now. Imagine running Sabas and Andris at the same time. That, would be truely "Unstoppable, baby!" Time machine? Youth spring? Anyone?....Bueller?

by GreyMurphy on Mar 6, 2007 3:13 PM PST up 0 recs

I watvhed the CBA finals last year....

so hopefully I can give perspective. The Guangdong Tigers at the team that Yi is on (I regret I didn't really analyse him at the time.) Its basically a bunch of short, identical looking Asian men shooting 3s, with Yi splitting rebounds with Jason Dixon (a big black guy, hilarious to see). They are probobly the best PF/C tandem in the league, with the only team that can really compete being Bayi, which is the CBAs equivalent of the Lakers/Celtics. It looks like its full steam ahead for a Guangdong/Bayi Final again. Here are the standings:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBA_2006-07

As you can see, they are out in front. Although Bayi got beat 4-1 last year in the finals, this year they have Wang Zhi Zhi back from the NBA. If you really want an NBA comparison of stats, Wang, as the end of the season, is 5th in the the CBA in scoring with 26.6 points per game, and averages 9.5 rebounds per game. Yi is averaging 24.8 points and 11.4 rebounds. Don't freak though, because Wang is a lone wolf, and doesn't have to share stats with Jason Dixon, as Yi does.
But in other words, rebounding is hella easy. if Shaq was there, he'd average 30.

Here's the current playoff standings:
http://sports.sina.com.cn/cba/2007-03-04/21182780698.shtml

(If someone can tell me how those series are going since I can't read Chinese characters, it would be greatly appreciated!)
The team that says Guangdong is Yis team, while the team that says Rockets is Wangs team. The Dragons are supposedly good too, but I've never seen them play, and they got swept by Guangdong last year.

So if the Finals come on in April, be sure to watch the game on NBATV with a bunch of short Asians guys running around with the one black guy!

(Okay, it was just a joke. Please don't take it as rascism. If you saw the game, you'd see why.)

by Zorgon on Mar 6, 2007 3:08 PM PST 0 recs

More general stats here:

http://www.asia-basket.com/chn/d1.asp

by Zorgon on Mar 6, 2007 3:09 PM PST up 0 recs

The CBA Playoffs...

is in its semifinal stage, where Guangdong Tigers (Yi's team) has a 1-0 lead over Jiangsu Dragons (led by Tang Zhengtong), and Bayi Rockets (led by Wang Zhizhi, who just had a near-perfect shooting game) has the first game down over Liaoning Panpan (a very balance team).

By the way, Chinese players like to wear those long shorts that make them look shorter than imagine. The shortest player on Guangdong's SL is Wang Shipeng, who is at least 6'3. Non of their other starters are less than 6'7 with Yi being the tallest at full 7-feet tall.

by MightyReds2020 on Mar 7, 2007 11:45 AM PST up 0 recs

Ah

sorry, man. I guess it was the camera angle too, it was pretty far away. But they did dhoot a lot of 3s. I can't wait till the finals again, thats a fun series to watch.

(Bayi is my fav. team.)

How'd you know that, do you understand Mandarin?

by Zorgon on Mar 7, 2007 8:01 PM PST up 0 recs

No worries man...

because I also think they all look 'short' on TV so that's just my own theory.

They do shoot a lot of 3s because many of them are actually pretty good at it - makes you wonder why the Chinese guards couldn't reproduce their 3P prowess in world-stage games. Though to be fair many of their better 3P shooters are actually forwards who don't do anything else particularly well, except that Guangdong forward Zhu Fangyi who can D up a little.

And yes I understand Chinese. ('Mandarin' is actually the language, so does 'Cantonese'. Everything written is in 'Chinese')

by MightyReds2020 on Mar 8, 2007 10:38 AM PST up 0 recs

trade the pick?

that would be the WORST thing the warriors could do. This team has proven over the last 2.5 years that it cannot consistently win. Baron Davis was supposed to be our savior. However he hasn't had the impact you'd expect from a premier point guard. This warriors team just isn't built to contend in the NBA. You need talent and depth in the frontcourt, not the backcourt as the warriors do. I would not consider Baron a franchise player anymore because his fg% is too low and has not played a full year in recent seasons.

Now if Baron would take less shots, and average more assists, then we would be having another story. Same goes with Jrich, highly talented, but not a superstar.

With no free agent candidates and no money to spend, the only way for the warriors to rebuild is through the draft. With a draft like this, don't expect as many draft day deals like last summer. Teams will be salivating to get the guys coming out this year.

The warriors need a big, any big that is projected in the top 7. I don't know if i'd take Ti, but i'd definitely take Brandon Wright, Julian Wright, Al Horford or even Joakim Noah. These guys fill a need the warriors have lacked since Chris Webber left. And surprise! no playoffs since his departure. We haven't had a talented big in 13 years.

Trading this pick would be nuts.

Therefore the warriors will hopefully lose all of their remaining games and get a better pick than #9, which i honestly think would be no help to the team at all. 3-7 now were talking.

I hope the warriors let MP and Barnes walk in the summer. We can keep Azuibuke or draft a guy if we don't have a top pick for much much cheaper.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league. Purgatory is thy home.

by kenntoe on Mar 6, 2007 3:23 PM PST 0 recs

I agree

IF and only if the pick is 1-7ish. If we're 9-11 like ALWAYS then I say trade the pick. No top front court talent will last that long in the draft. Its a phenominally promising draft class, but not 10 guaranteed deep. Especially with big men (the only thing we need)

by GreyMurphy on Mar 6, 2007 4:01 PM PST up 0 recs

That would be the safe way to go

but what could they realistically get? Best case they make themselves good enough to exit in the first round

Better to role the dice and let Nelly find his next Dirk

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 9:05 AM PST up 0 recs

Exactly

If there's one thing that's been the absolute death of this team the last 13 years it's shortsighted "drafting for need." If the FO thinks Yi is has the best chance to be a star of the guys available they should pick him. Heck, if they think that guy is a hotshot PG -- say, Acie Law or DJ Augustin -- they should pick him. As you wrote earlier, 2-3 years down the road who even knows where Baron and his creaky knees will be?

by Sleepy Freud on Mar 7, 2007 9:18 AM PST up 0 recs

exactly

i totally agree with you on all parts kenntoe

by jmorales on Mar 6, 2007 4:02 PM PST up 0 recs

go for the

most talented or the most potential... one thing ive learned is that you cant pass on talent and potential, though it maybe hit or miss i'd rather go sorry then safe, i.e. Todd Fuller, Adonal Foyle, Dumbleavy... but the draft is here for a reason.. use the offseason for FA's or make trades but use the draft for the teams future not for immediate production..

gdubb

by gogomaplata on Mar 6, 2007 5:16 PM PST 0 recs

this guy seems a lot like biedrins

as in hes too light. evrywhere i read ppl say he needs to get bigger and tougher. that scares me. any1 else have opinions on this?

by twelve years on Mar 6, 2007 6:21 PM PST 0 recs

And yet everyone wants Durant who

is 190

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 9:06 AM PST up 0 recs

jason maxiell

was tough against the Warriors last nite. not THAT tall, but dude is strong, athletic, can shoot, can board, and hustles non stop (everything Diogu was not--not that he was given a chance). he's every reason Warriors should look for something bigger and stronger.

by dj fuzzylogic on Mar 6, 2007 7:50 PM PST 0 recs

Or maybe it won't matter....

by Athletix Man on Mar 6, 2007 8:12 PM PST 0 recs

Love It!

Though if we pick first and take Oden, I'll actually be a little bummed. I really want Durant. Actually, if we're clever, we'll make everyone think we want Oden, then extort something out of the second team to flip picks with them, and end up with Durant, who really wanted all along...

/ ...wakes from dream /

by Sleepy Freud on Mar 6, 2007 9:56 PM PST up 0 recs

I would rather have

Durant to. Especially with Nelson as coach

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 9:06 AM PST up 0 recs

hahahha

how many times did you have to do the trade checker thing to get number 1. that'd be awesome.

Warriors, Stupidest franchise in the league. Purgatory is thy home.

by kenntoe on Mar 6, 2007 8:53 PM PST 0 recs

I think..

it only took me between 10 and 20 trys and they said our chances were 1.7 percent, what did they know. haha

by Athletix Man on Mar 6, 2007 10:38 PM PST up 0 recs

seriously

i was playing with it again, lord knows why, and after 4 tries i got the warriors at #2 for Oden (#1 bucks drafted durant) lol

by The City Warjorz on Mar 6, 2007 10:39 PM PST up 0 recs

I say...

We trade the draft pick, POB, and MP2 or Shane Battier.

by bradyk2 on Mar 6, 2007 10:42 PM PST 0 recs

Ouch.

Can you imagine the bucks with durant? They were underachievers this year, but Bogut + Redd + Durant = MONEY!!!

by bradyk2 on Mar 6, 2007 10:42 PM PST 0 recs

Don't know much about Yi

but he plays more like a 7 foot guard than anything...can we really develop him to be effective at center? according to nbadraft.net he has trouble when getting muscled in the post

by The City Warjorz on Mar 6, 2007 10:45 PM PST 0 recs

forgot to add

from the youtube clips i saw

by The City Warjorz on Mar 6, 2007 10:46 PM PST up 0 recs

I don't think anyone

projects him as a center ever

He is a tweener between the forward spots

AB is our center

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 9:09 AM PST up 0 recs

One more thing to consider

I'd like to add that, with the high school eligibility changes, this draft is absolutely loaded compared to recent years (at least it's supposed to be), so I think trading our 7-11 pick would be good only if it was a great deal. Otherwise, I think we'll get a very good player in the draft regardless. But knowing the W's ...

Simply put, this team has no direction. Look at the other lottery teams. With the possible exceptions of the Sonics (who could lose Lewis/Allen soon), just about every other lottery team seems to have a rebuilding plan around a centerpiece or two. (Philly has AI2, Orlando has Howard, Joe Johnson in ATL, Pierce/Jeff/Green in Boston, Pau/Gay in Memphis, Aldridge/Roy/Zach in POR, Redd/Bogut in MIL, Okafor/Felton/etc in Charlotte). We're in no-man's land. We've got the good vets in Baron and JRich (both who are oft injured and MAY have peaked in their careers... MAY) and the up and comers in Monta and Beans.

But compared to those on the aformentioned list, it just isn't comparable. Sure, Monta and Beans are nice, but I doubt any GMs would place the W's pieces higher than those mentioned. They are good players, but not team-changers. This team needs to someone to build around. Right now, we don't have that.

by TastesLikeBurning on Mar 7, 2007 8:13 AM PST 0 recs

I think you are overvaluing other teams pieces

To me the only piece on that list to build around is Howard and I like the Redd/Bogut combo a lot too

Pierce, Pau? These guys are the Barons and J_richs of their respective teams. They already have been built around it it has failied

I think Monta and AB are more promising than the other young guys on your list without a doubt

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 9:13 AM PST up 0 recs

well

I'll concede that I may over over/undervalued to prove my point, but I still stand by my point--we have no direction.

I have to disagree vehemently about your Pierce/Pau argument though. Pierce and, to a lesser degree, Pau are both legit superstars in the league. As much as we like Baron and JRich, they are still a tier below.

Pau's undeniably one of the best low post scorers in the league, a commodity that all Warriors fans can attest to being quite rare. See: Fuller, Todd and Murphy, Troy.

Pierce is a proven playoff stud. He defends, shoots consistently, is durable (except for this year of course) and is the heart of that C's team. He's easily a top 5 swingman.

In a lot of ways, Pierce is what JRich should aspire to. They are similar players with similar builds. But compare the stats. It's not even close. And I love JRich. But Pierce does everything.

by TastesLikeBurning on Mar 7, 2007 11:53 AM PST up 0 recs

I agree that Baron and J_rich

aren't quite in the same class

But I think the new direction you will see for the Warriors is builidng around Monta and AB

Baron only has a few years left before he is done with the Warriors and I wouldn't be surprised to see J-rich traded

After this next draft we will know a lot about what the front office is thinking

If they keep all of their players and try to get a servicable power forward in a trade then I have to agree with you that they are only playing to make the playoffs and have no direction

by Zig on Mar 7, 2007 1:51 PM PST up 0 recs

If we draft btw 9-14...

then here's my list:

Corey Brewer (Yes we need a rugged rebounder badly, but we can't pass on a real starting caliber SF who has multi-skills)
Herbert Hill (Like a Chris Taft without the injuries, which is perfect on Nellie's system)
Al Thornton (Undersized but produces stats. However might be too similar to Al Harrington for our own good)
Yi (A perfect Nellie-type combo forward, but need to bulk up and still raw)

by MightyReds2020 on Mar 7, 2007 10:53 AM PST 0 recs