Dikembe: Yao should wag the finger.

[TMU]

Don’t count Dikembe Mutombo among those who are applauding Yao Ming’s recent penchant for stepping in front of driving opponents to draw a charge.

“I’m very critical,” Mutombo said. “Those are bull. I told him that. He’s too tall to be taking charges. He needs to learn to play defense without using his chest. You don’t block a shot with you chest. You block it with your hands.

“The man who taught me the game, John Thompson, never said that a 7-footer should take a charge, even in a basketball 1-on-1. There’s no rule or writing in the books that you should take a charge. They teach you how to rebound and block shots. So I’m going to work on that.

“Maybe Yao is listening to Shane (Battier). Maybe he wants to be a guard or something. Man, I’ve got a lot of things to work on. Maybe he’s planning to lead the league charges. So I have to stop him. I have to teach him to lead the league in blocked shots, not charges.”

You're over 7'. Do you take a charge or play defense like Mutombo?

[BaYBaller]

You take charges usually because you have no chance to block the shot so no, it doesn't make sense for Yao to take charges.

[teamny1]

Of course he should be going for blocks. However, I don't blame Yao for taking charges cause in this day and age, refs are more likely to call a foul on blocks than a blocking foul, even if the guy is Shaq or Yao and has a gigantic size advantage. I'd still rather have Yao attempt to block shots because that's more intimidating than taking charges.

Also glad to have Dikembe back into the mix since Yao will finally have a real big man to go up against in practice. It also doesn't hurt to have Dikembe teaching Yao how to play defense better since he seems to have forgotten how to.

[jove9]

Hell, I'm FAR from 7', but there's no way I'm ever taking a charge.

Block or foul. That's all there is to it.

(Of course, the REC league isn't exactly the NBA either)

[HTown_TMac]

Hell, I'm FAR from 7', but there's no way I'm ever taking a charge.

Block or foul. That's all there is to it.

(Of course, the REC league isn't exactly the NBA either)

I would never charge... NBA or YMCA That is just me

[hackle]

for a big guy to take a charge? that certainly takes one big p*ssy to do that.

[MaxRider]

i'm a shooter
if i'm 7'
i'll be like nowitzki shooting 3 and flop

[moofs]

Big panda makes big courtsplash.