the answer is obvious, at this particular time. the only way you can spin yao's better than dirk is probably you only compare both players best games, not seasons, not careers.
Why even bring this back up? This was when Yao showed flashes of dominating the game before all his injuries. Poll is now moot
Dirk at his best, will never dominate on both sides of the court. Yao at his best can. Not saying Yao is better than Dirk (it's not fair to say that in general anyways since they play different positions), but Dirk will never be the best powerforward ever because he only dominates one side of the court.
What do you mean an argument for either player? Both are making max money, the other one is always injured in the playoffs while the German dude is always healthy and going strong even after 13 years. Not only that, he also has several all nba first teams, an MVP and has carried a crap team to the playoffs again and again. Love the guy, but anybody who chooses Yao has his Rockets/Yao Ming homer glasses on.
Yao can only dominate because he played in the era of weak ass Cs, while Dirk has played against the best pfs in history in KG and TD. Can he really match up with Hakeem, Shaq, David Robinson etc? I dunno, even in their prime I think Dirk is closer to Duncan/KG than Yao is to Hakeem/Shaq.
LOL at the blind homerism in this thread. Make this a national poll and it's 93-7 in Dirk's favor. It's sad to say, but Yao's legacy is going to go down right in line with Sabonis and Smits.
i have no problem with that since Hakeem isnt considered an import. He went to UH and then the NBA. Cant think of another import who was better than Dirk.
Its funny... I actually the most resemblence of Hakeem (on the offensive end of course) in Dirk this playoff series. Although I hate to make this comparison, and Dirk still isn't ever going to be the player that Hakeem was. However he is close. Think about it. -Offensively, at around the same length and size, they have found a way to create a shot that is virtually un-guardable. -They both are around the same age at their peak. Not relying on athleticism as much as their length, shot making abilities, and smarts to close out big games. -They both have been all-stars in their twenties, with mix results in the playoffs. Now in their thirties, finally figuring out how to put the team on your back and put the ball in the hole. -They have a very similar supporting cast. No clear 2nd star. Of course, the comparison cannot be made until Dirk finally wins titles but for now you just see a very similar player that seems to be on the same path at the same point in their careers.
That is true. But Yao dominates both sides of the floor no matter how you see it. Dirk doesn't dominate on the defensive end, and that's the only thing keeping him from the top PF spot.
The poll was from back in 09. Dirk had nowhere near the legacy he has now because of the past 3 months.
The Mavs run sets for Dirk similar to sets the Rockets would run for Hakeem. The offense is run through him in a similar way. They are both smooth. But it ends there for me.
