we're the only team in the L who can withstand a loss to a guy like yao and still play 66% basketball and i think the writer simply praises the team for that. i think rocket fans would salivate if they said the same thing about us when we lose tracy mcgrady (and that could happen next yr when artest beasts on teams if tracy goes out).
Thats not true, Jazz, Hornets, Lakers and Spurs played pretty well without their big guys when they recently got injured. And read the quote under Yao in the article. The guy thinks we play better without Yao (or just as good). Which isn't true. Thats what I'm pissed off about. Saying we play better or just as good without Yao implies that Yao sucks.
Anybody who thinks Yao Ming is overrated is out of there mind, He is not overrated...He might be overhyped, but tons of players are overhyped.
I posted this on another forum in response to those trying to discredit yao's dominance b/c of injuries I can't believe how on the basis of injuries one would discredit Yao's dominance as the best Center in the league. Yao missed only 2 games out 246 games in his first 3 seasons, that is 99.2% games played. For his career he has played 404 games of 492 possible for 82%. So you're going to discredit the dominance in 82% of his games played because of 18% games missed In 2005-2006 Yao played 57 games(or 70%) due largely in part to a big toe infection on his left foot that became a bone infection because he was playing through the mostly annoying pain. After recovering, he had a freak kick to his left foot(unrelated to his toe infection) causing a small fracture requiring him to miss the last 4 games of the season. His final averages in 57 games were 22.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. It was a "20/10" average baby! His averages were as high as 25.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.7% from the field and 87.8% at the free throw line. In 2006-2007, he played 48 games or 59%. Yao,while blocking a shot, had 2 players roll onto his leg causing a small fracture in his knee--nothing more than being at the wrong place at the wrong time--freak injury. Up to that point he had been averaging 26.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and had been mentioned as an NBA MVP candidate and went on to average 25.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in the play offs In 2007-2008,(February 26, 2008) it was reported Yao would miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. This time, there was no specific incident that caused this fracture, though there was several game footage that showed possible specific injuries that could have led to the injury-but still inconclusive. This is the only one of his injuries that begin to look concerning as far as his ability to stay healthy. However, I will not discredit his dominance because of this. Yao underwent a successful operation on March 3, which placed screws in his foot to strengthen the bone, and recovery time was estimated at four months. Yao's final averages in 55 games(66.5% played) were 22.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks a game. Anyone who denies his dominance as the best center in the league is delusional and with hopefully not playing year round ball, decreased low block play, deeper team to allow him to rest during the season as precaution or limit his minutes....coupled with some luck--he will go back to the pattern of his first three years versus the pattern of the last three years
I am surprised that Dirk (former MVP) is not on this list. Talk about over-rated. What about Carmelo Anthony?
I guess I'm just too big of a basketball fan, but I even think players like Vince Carter aren't necessarily overrated. Anyway, who rates these players in public forums with mass audiences? The media, that's who. So, if anything, the writer is indicting his own profession. Unfortunately, how it is translated is that these players aren't as good as opposed to that the media overrates them. Which is unfortunate. Every one of these 5 players is great in his own right. So is Shaq, and AI, and LeBron, and Vince Carter, and Pau Gasol, and anyone else that gets tagged with the "overrated" claim. To be in this league, as even one of the top 100 players, is saying something. But, you know, you can't avoid it. LeBron's team gets more nationally televised games than other teams that are more deserving. LeBron is constantly hyped by the media. LeBron is seen everywhere. That other poster said it best- they are overhyped, not overrated. LeBron is a great, great player- we would kill to have him in Rocket Red- but unfortunately, we get sick of hearing about him and tend to downplay his achievements. To say Yao or Battier is overrated is just preposterous. But, who cares? The fans, the coaches, and the players all know what is what- and that's more important anyway.
the last 50 response to the article was about D-wade..lol they probably came from the same heat forum.
You know who I think is the most overrated player in the NBA, in terms of ability to money ratio? Rashard Lewis. Don't get me wrong, the guy can play, but at the money they are giving him? Golly!
Fox is overrated and just a wannabe espn so maybe they should stfu. Battier and Yao are some of the most respected men in the NBA and they are strictly business on the basketball court. Only reason they put yao on there is because of his injuries and if they would have watched a single Rockets game this season they would see that just because battier doesn't score or rebound doesn't mean he isn't working his ass off on the court. Battier is always moving even when he doesn't have the ball, he is under rated if anything.
Yao is not overrated on the national scene. He is overrated x 2 at times on this board. Best Center in the league sounds like a complete joke.
when healthy, Yao is the best center in the game period. His post game has improved so much from his rookie season. Only Tim Duncun is the better man, but last I checked he still played power forward! Howard & Chandler are not better, you got to be kidding me no gm would pick these guys over yao.
Wow. Just...wow. I'm going to pretend like I didn't read that article, getting dumber in the process. I'm going to pretend I read another article, and the list went something like 5. Marcus Camby 4. Ben Gordon 3. Carlos Boozer 2. Carmelo Anthony 1. Gilbert Arenas and I didn't get dumber, my brain cells remained intact, and in my head I was going, "Yeah... That's cool. I can deal with that. I got a pack of Lifesavers in my pocket and the next color is cherry. Aww, come on. Everyone loves cherry."
So let me get this straight. He harps on Battier for not having an incredibly high PPG when he is known around the league as a defensive specialist and hustle player, not a scorer? That's like calling Olajuwon the worst Center of all time because he had so few assists. Fission Mailed.
