The bottom line is in order to compete for the NBA Championship, a team must have a superior low post presence. Houston, with a healthy Yao, has exactly this. A supremely talented wing player by himself is NEVER enough to win an NBA Championship; otherwise, Phoenix (with Steve Nash) would have won a title in the past 2 seasons. Indiana (with Reggier Miller) suffered the same fate in recent seasons. Sometimes even 2 perimeter stars aren't enough (New Jersey Nets with Jason Kidd and Vince Carter, as well as an underrated Richard Jefferson) Recent NBA Champions and their superior low post presence: 2006 Miami Heat -- Shaq, Alonzo Mourning 2005 San Antonio -- Duncan 2004 Detroit -- Ben Wallace, Rasheed Wallace 2003 San Antonio -- Duncan, Robinson 2002 Los Angeles Lakers -- Shaq 2001 Los Angeles Lakers -- Shaq 2000 Los Angeles Lakers -- Shaq 1999 San Antonio Spurs -- Duncan, Robinson Obviously, these teams had other great players, but they won b/c their big guys were better than their counterparts. Take the Heat in 2006. Dwayne Wade went beserk in the finals but he was able to do so b/c the Mavs had to honor Shaq's/Zo's presence inside. Also, the Mavs didn't have the interior presence of a Ben Wallace or a Tim Duncan to discourage Wade from driving to the hoop. Heck, even I could dunk over Dampier. You have to go all the way back to 1998, when the Chicago Bulls won their 3rd consecutive championship, to find a team that didn't have a dominating low post presence but still won the league title. Those teams, of course, had a couple of guys named Jordan and Pippen, TWO exceptionally talented players on both ends of the court. Both were also skilled playmakers and adept at getting their own shots. And the Bulls also had some stiffs named Rodman and Harper, who were pretty important to their success. If not for the Bulls, the Utah Jazz (led by Stockton & Malone, also 2 exceptionally talented players) would have won at least 1 NBA Championship, possibly 2. Come playoffs, when Yao is drawing double teams and setting up his teammates for open 3s or getting fouled (and making 85% of his FTs), there will be no doubt where Houston has the biggest mismatch.
