He will be better this year. His statistics may not match up, but the impact he has on the Rockets will be far greater than the impact Pau had on the Grizzlies. I guarantee it.
That's what I was thinking as well. He won't get the shots like Gasol does, but he will help vastly improve this team.
Oops. I didn't mean to guantee it either. I was just agreeing that he could be better, but not statistically.
Yeah he will. Look at how successful Pau is. Look how damn skinny Pau is playing power forward. Think about how many dominant power forwards there are. Yao has a better shooting touch. Yao is stronger. Yao is bigger. Now, if Pau can be that successful against so many prime time players at his position, why can't Yao be at his. I mean, after Shaq who's left? Yao has arguably the same talent with a better shot, and way more shot-blocking ability. If you ask me he's like Pau, Rookie of the Year material.
I think he will be just as good if not better than Gasol. Just remember that Gasol had to be the man as a rookie on his team and Yao will not have to carry that burden.
Pau was very good, but didn't make much of an impact. Yao Ming will not be as good as Pau, but will make more of an impact. If that makes any sense at all...
Well, I meant it! I guarantee it! In fact, if I'm wrong, I'll stop posting after the season. ---waiting for Timing to hold me to that---
Yao Ming's impact on defense and offense cannot be overstated. On defense, every player attempting to drive on our guards will all of a sudden be confronted by 14 plus feet of shot-blocking fury. Lay-ups begone!! On offense, he'll be the seond best passing center in the NBA the first time he steps on the court, and he's 7'6" - so he'll have the court vision of an eagle. Some of the things he did with passing the ball last night . . . . I can't even describe them without getting irrepressably giddy.
OK, I have to fess up. I was in favor of trading the Ming pick. But I am really impressed by what I have seen. Considering the need and difficulty of getting a good center, at this point I would not trade Ming for Gassol straight up. Kind of the same way I feel about Griffin. I wouldn't bet the farm on him being great, but I would not let him go (except in a stupid trade) because I just have to see how he turns out.
I agree that Ming may not have the first year numbers of Gasol, but will have a greater "team" impact. Opposing teams will focus on Ming to their peril. If they collapse down to stop him, our guards will go into "playground" mode and seriously "light it up." If they ignore him, he will own the paint. I love this problem!
Pat, 1.Shame on you for ever wanting to trade Yao. 2.Nice post, give your self a "Pat" on the back. Uh. Heh. Heh.
damn!!! is this another comparison relate to yao ming again.... stupid question, watch how he goin to play for the rox first...
Calm down guy. What else do we have to until OCTfrikkinTOBER?!! I think there will be alot more of what I call(in Hank Hill's voice) "Rerun Posting". Enjoy the posts until then, unless we sign Rashard.
That's completely subjective on a board that's all of a sudden not so objective about basketball in Rocketville so you're not exactly going out on a limb there buddy. Pau basically had to carry the worst franchise in the history of sports as a rookie and had a tremendous year. Yao won't be asked to do anything similar to that. If EG had put up Pau's numbers last season you'd be calling him the second coming of Olajuwon.
Just wanted to say that Ming is NOT a better shotblocker than Gasol. Gasol has Griffin-like shotblocking ability, but Ming uses his height. Ming is an excelent shoblocker, but he's no Pau Gasol. Also, Gasol is better in the post. If Ming showed Gasol's toughness and grit in the paint, then he wouldn't need to put on more weight. Gasol's going to be great, but despite all this, ming will be better.
I think Gasol is more of a Raef Lafrentz like shotblocker-he's doesn't strike fear in people and change a game with his shotblocking ability. Gasol may block a higher quantity of shots over EG or Ming, but I don't think his overall effect as someone to fear as shot blocker is anywhere near Ming or Griffin's.
