Here's Yi, Here's Yi

I know I used that headline over the summer - and I probably will again - but it works today because Yi Jianlian went through his first full practice as a Net.

He had gone through shooting and running and five-on-zero work, but when we were let in the gym, Yi was out there, banging bodies and scrimmaging with his team, not thinking about or being hampered by the sprained left ankle that has made him mostly a spectator during this training camp.

Naturally, there was rust, but the impressive thing about this 7-footer is the way he moves. We’ll let some of the Nets describe it.

“He’s very graceful,” Vince Carter said. “He has a nice stroke, runs the floor well, has very good leaping ability.”

Coach Lawrence Frank’s list of positive Yi attributes were:

“A guy who’s at that size, his ability to run the floor, his ability to stretch the defense and make shots, his ability to put it on the floor and get to the rim in one dribble, his quick feet allow him to be a very good pick-and-roll defender, his length allows him to be a very good perimeter defender against shooting fours. So I think he obviously has a huge upside.”

And he showed that all in one practice?

Apparently, so. Now, Yi has to show all of that in a game and the Nets don’t doubt he will.

They traded their leading scorer last year, Richard Jefferson, for Yi and Bobby Simmons. The Nets truly believe Yi is going to be star in this league because of his versatility, athleticism and shooting ability.

Today, everyone was raving about Yi and his basketball IQ. He’s picking up the plays pretty quickly and knows he should get some open shots.

“Yeah,” Yi said, “everybody gets open shots.”

Yes, we made Yi smile.

His English, by the way is very good. He spoke to us today with no translator after his post-practice workout with GM Kiki Vandeweghe.

Another positive is the kid has been putting in the work from a strength-and-conditioning standpoint and working with coaches and the sweet-shooting GM as well.

“He told me that moving and timing make the difference in how you play,” Yi said of what Kiki's teaching him. “How you start, where to go, how you get good position to catch the ball.”

You’ve all heard the comparisons to Dirk Nowitzki and who better to ask about that than Devin Harris, who played with the former MVP.

“There are definitely flashes of it,” Harris said. “When you can shoot the ball the way those two guys can, you’re game can progress so much more. This is only his second year in and I think he’s a little bit further ahead that Dirk was his rookie year. But Dirk was extremely hard working and Yi  has that same mentality so I definitely can see it happen.”

Neither moves like a prototypical 7-footer either, huh?

“No they don’t,” Harris said. “And they don’t shoot like the prototypical 7-footer either.”

***

Here’s a Sean Williams’ update: they still love him.

Frank pointed to his work today and the presence he and Stromile Swift were inside. Sean blocked a bunch of shots that we saw. And Carter, as we told you the other day, expects big things from Sean this season after their conversations over the summer.

“I asked him, ‘What mark you want to make on the league, the legacy you want to leave,’” Carter said. “And I told him you determine your longevity. He went home, came back, and Wow.”

“He’s definitely made strides forward, 100 percent,” Carter added. “I’m happy for him. I try to stay in his ear. We’ve had many talks about just anything, anything he wants to talk about. I just wanted him to know I was in his corner. I was going to help him grow. And you know, it’s stressful. It is. But to see him put the time in on the court, he understands he’s made a mark on this team with his game. His growth is tremendous.”

***
Same injuries: Eduardo Najera (sprained left wrist) did non-contact stuff. Jarvis Hayes’ hamstring still bothered him and no Keyon Dooling because of the sprained left ankle.

***

Frank was asked about the competition at small forward and he mentioned some names including Yi. So later someone asked if he’s considering using Yi at small forward some.

“He’s probably a four but there may be lineups we can throw him out there,” Frank said. “The way we play we’ve got interchangeable parts.”

So you could play three 7-footers?

“It’s a possibility,” he said. “Who are the 7-footers?”

Yi, Brook Lopez and Josh Boone, who’s 6-10, but you get the drift.

"There's nothing out of the realm of possibility," he said.

Comments

[YitheMVP]

Al,how is brook lopez doing?

[Adam.y]

If anyone can get the inner Dirk out of Yi its Kiki, its all just a matter of how much he wants it and how tired he is from his Chinese commitments.
I will say this if Yi does develop into what his full potential Thorn just made yet another brilliant trade in his already perfect and 0 trading career.

[blessen]

i believe !!!! Go NETS

[Johnny T]

Yi at the three would create match up problems for the competition every night...JUST DO IT!!!
This is getting exciting; can't wait for the real thing...

[westcoastfan1]

i think Yi will plays like Dirk and Charles Barkley all together in the future. Charles is a fan of Yi, from his comments in the rookie games last year. Yi will be a beast in the east by 2 years time with Lebron. I cant wait when the regular season starts.

[Jon]

It doesn't take a whole day to recognize sunshine. Yi is special.