Yi Jianlian scores 6 points against Suns

Yi Jianlian getting a feel for the game – ESPN

DALLAS — One side benefit to Dirk Nowitkzi missing the last four games was it provided opportunity at power forward for Brandan Wright and Yi Jianlian.

Wright has displayed some ridiculous skywalking ability, while Yi has shown a soft mid-range jumper. But the 7-footer from China also revealed that he can get up — or at least get up as much as a 7-footer needs to to throw down a slam. Late in the fourth quarter with the Mavs pulling away from Utah in Friday’s 15-point win, Yi faced up Jazz rookie big man Enes Kanter on the baseline, drove by him and finished with a two-hand slam.

Yi then balled his right hand and pounded his fist, American style, over his heart. ”That felt great,” Yi said. “To get a dunk and win the game is exciting.”

He drained a 15-foot jumper soon after to give him eight points for the game on 4-of-9 shooting. He also had four points in the second quarter on a pair of arching jumpers and pulled down five rebounds, two on the offensive glass. The shot that has been most available for Yi is the 18-to-20-foot jumper from the top or side of the circle, the shot that he and the coaching staff work on most, the elbow jumper.

Yi was 4-of-11 from the floor in Wednesday’s game, but many of those shots he missed were clean looks that could have gone down. As the last addition to the team, Yi has had to learn everything on the fly, and that included a brief stop with the D-League Texas Legends before officially joining the big club.

“The first couple weeks I was learning the team and running the plays, offensive and defensive things,” said Yi, whose English is not half bad. “The players and coaches have really been helping me. This season with the schedule you don’t have real practice time, so for me it’s just watching and watching.”

Rick Carlisle said he likes the way Yi is coming along in a short period of time. ”We’re spending a lot of time with him on his shooting and there’s some things I really like about him,” Carlisle said. “I love his size, his aggression. He really understands what we’re doing defensively. He’s physical and puts his body on people and he’s working hard on the midrange shots. Those are the shots that are going to be there for him.”

via Yi Jianlian getting a feel for the game – Dallas Mavericks Blog – ESPN Dallas.

Brandon Yip likely to make Preds debut

Brandon Yip hasn’t had a lot of time to check out Nashville yet. The Predators claimed Yip off waivers Thursday from Colorado. He got dinner with former Boston University teammate on Friday at Bricktops. Tomorrow he and Wilson will cruise the city. For now, it’s all about today’s game against the Blackhawks.

“I don’t know too much about (their rivalry) from not being from here,” Yip said. “I do know they’re a rival and every game is a pretty tight game with these guys. It’s a little bit of hatred there.”

With Yip entering the lineup, the Predators will likely have to sit a forward. Coach Barry Trotz wouldn’t say which forward.  In one day of practice, Trotz has seen enough of Yip to know the Predators got the type of player they expected.

“He’s a bigger body, he can skate really well, he has a pretty good release,” Trotz said. “We’ll see if his two-way game fits in.”

via Brandon Yip likely to make Preds debut | Nashville Predators.

Predators claim F Brandon Yip off waivers from Avalanche

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators have claimed forward Brandon Yip off waivers from the Colorado Avalanche and activated forward Jerred Smithson off injured reserve.

The 26-year-old Yip has 41 points in 113 career NHL games and all with Colorado as an eighth-round draft pick in 2004. The Vancouver, B.C., native has played only 10 games this season with no points due to an arm and groin injuries, and his contract is worth $750,000.

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound right wing played in college at Boston University and won the 2009 national championship. Predators forward Colin Wilson was a teammate of Yip’s in Boston.

via Predators claim F Brandon Yip off waivers from Avalanche, activate F Jerred Smithson off IR – The Washington Post.

 

Nashville Predators ice girls

Avalanche forward Brandon Yip placed on waivers

Brandon Yip has been placed on waivers. After a promising rookie season in which he scored 19 points (11g, 8a) in 32 games, Yip has struggled to provide reliable, solid offense for the Avs ever since. He had a disappointing season last year, only hitting the back of the net 12 times and helping out on 10 others over 71 games. For those who are bad at math, that’s only 3 more points in over twice as many games.

This year has not fared any better for the forward. He has been a healthy scratch in all but 10 games this season, and he has scored no goals and had no assists. The Avalanche are certainly hoping Yip will clear waivers and spend time in Lake Erie, perhaps gaining confidence and finding his scoring touch again. It’s not unreasonable to think another team may pick him up, especially since he only has a cap hit of $725,000 and is a UFA at the end of this season.

via Avalanche forward Brandon Yip placed on waivers – Mile High Hockey.