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What could have been -- I wish Yao had a longer career...

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Ubiquitin, May 25, 2014.

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  1. Ubiquitin

    Ubiquitin Member
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    Was inspired by the discussion of Bigs drafted at number 1 decided to look back at old stat lines, when I saw Yao had averaged 19/9/2 ... imagine if he could have had the longevity of other big greats. He is the only number one big (besides Blake Griffin who is PF) who met expectations.

    Dwight is great, but I'd rather have a Yao Ming dominated front court.

    [​IMG]
     
    #1 Ubiquitin, May 25, 2014
  2. Pieman2005

    Pieman2005 Member

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    Huh? You know Olajuwon was the #1 overall pick too, right?
     
    #2 Pieman2005, May 25, 2014
  3. Pieman2005

    Pieman2005 Member

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    Not to mention Patrick Ewing, Elvin Hayes, Kareem, Bill Walton, Ralph Sampson, David Robinson, Shaq, Duncan, Chris Webber, Dwight Howard, and Anthony Davis.. and like I said, Hakeem too. These were all #1 picks at the PF/Center position who met expectations
     
    #3 Pieman2005, May 25, 2014
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  4. Ubiquitin

    Ubiquitin Member
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    Olajuwon is a different era altogether. Shaq -- Duncan if you count the PF -- was the last great big drafted whose body of work showed it was worth being drafted at number one. Even Dwight failed in that regard.

    edit: My point is for players playing now, or who could have careers now.
     
    #4 Ubiquitin, May 25, 2014
  5. OlajuwonFan81

    OlajuwonFan81 Member

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    Dwight failed in what regard? He has been by far the best center in the league the last 5 or 6 years. He has taken a mediocre team to the NBA finals, and has won multiple defensive player of the year awards. The only thing he really hasn't done is win a championship.
     
    #5 OlajuwonFan81, May 25, 2014
  6. Ubiquitin

    Ubiquitin Member
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    Dwight hasn't won anything, and he took a team to the finals in the East. His only competition was LeBron on the Cavs. Which isn't to say that he won't win next season, but I'd rather have a healthy Yao Ming. Same story for Kevin Love whose stats are impressive but he just will never win a championship at the rate he is going.
     
    #6 Ubiquitin, May 25, 2014
  7. PinkTacos

    PinkTacos Member

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    Yao is without a doubt my favorite player all time, but how could you say Yao met expectations and Dwight didn't (Dwight has accomplished much more than Yao). He took a team to the finals, and won multiple defensive player of the year awards. Yao has only passed the first round once. You can't say Dwight hasn't won a championship cause neither has Yao.
     
    #7 PinkTacos, May 25, 2014
  8. roflmcwaffles

    roflmcwaffles Member

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    We'd likely not have Harden or Dwight if we had Yao.

    Yao would be aging, and the team would've been built around Yao by that point. We likely keep Battier, possibly Artest for a couple seasons, and if they retire we add more vets.

    I think that 2008 team was the 2nd best team that season (after the Lakers), but would have won the title the way Yao was playing, had he not gotten hurt. Lakers had absolutely no answer for him or AB. That is my biggest regret is the year that could've/should've been the Rocket's year Yao goes down.
     
    #8 roflmcwaffles, May 25, 2014
  9. D12Eminem

    D12Eminem Member

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    Sura is about to faint in the background.
    Yes the feeling I as a fan have is sadness. The big guy just wanted to play healthy.

    He had some incredible moments though, and the Lakers had no answer none! So true. Him and Artest worked well together when they were somewhat healthy. Both played through the pain.
     
    #9 D12Eminem, May 25, 2014
  10. DrNuegebauer

    DrNuegebauer Member

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    Dwight failed and Yao succeeded :confused: :confused: :confused:

    Dwight has played in the NBA finals before...

    Yao averaged 19/9 in the playoffs, Dwight is 20/14 and statistically superior to Yao in absolutely every single category except FT%.

    And he won more than 1 series.
     
    #10 DrNuegebauer, May 25, 2014
  11. Gimmmethemike

    Gimmmethemike Member

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    Yao had no supporting cast to help him, where as Dwight did.
     
    #11 Gimmmethemike, May 25, 2014
  12. Ubiquitin

    Ubiquitin Member
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    Yao was injured throughout his career.
     
    #12 Ubiquitin, May 25, 2014
  13. don grahamleone

    don grahamleone Member

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    Can we give Harden and Parsons his work ethic?
     
    #13 don grahamleone, May 25, 2014
  14. larsv8

    larsv8 Member

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    Dat 2009 team....
     
    #14 larsv8, May 25, 2014
  15. lucnguye92

    lucnguye92 Member

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    Can we give Dwight Yao's freethrow percentage?
     
    #15 lucnguye92, May 25, 2014
  16. Downtown Sniper

    Downtown Sniper Member

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    Haha. Dwight hasn't really done anything in the League.

    But Ming has?

    hahaha. Too much.
     
    #16 Downtown Sniper, May 25, 2014
  17. CometsWin

    CometsWin Breaker Breaker One Nine

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    Like Tracy McGrady.
     
    #17 CometsWin, May 25, 2014
  18. Exiled

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    Yao & lin are the best players ever to play in the NBA right?

    That's sad..& stupid
     
    #18 Exiled, May 25, 2014
  19. meh

    meh Member

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    I don't think we'd have kept Artest. His antics towards the end made it pretty clear he wanted the Lakers. I think Ariza for Artest "swap" would've still happened anyway.

    Personally, I think we could've had a decent shot at making some noise immediately afterwards. Yao/Scola/Battier/Martin/Lowrry with Brooks/Hayes/CBud/Lee/draft picks look like top-4 team with slight chance of contention.
     
    #19 meh, May 25, 2014
  20. d12babymamas

    d12babymamas Member

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    I wasn't high on Yao when we first signed him. I wouldn't say I was a hater but I thought he was just another Shawn Bradley 2.0. Nevertheless, he kept improving and showed he had the potential to take us to the next level. Sucks he was prone to injuries and his career ended the way that it did.

    In terms of what he's done for the Rockets...he helped get us past the 1st round once. I'm sure D12 will achieve that and more as long as we put the right pieces around him.
     
    #20 d12babymamas, May 25, 2014
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