Who gets to dunk on Yao Ming first? Quentin Richardson? Shawn Marion? Jason Richardson? Or any other player devoid of postseason aspirations in sore need of motivation. Sorry. It's Steve Francis, of course. With all the ulterior motivation in the world. The Rockets were a pseudo-center away from doing some serious damage in the postseason. Instead, they've got a 7-foot-5 three-point specialist who will be fishing in the Yangtze river come the first round of the playoffs. The Rockets missed the postseason by two games two seasons ago. This past season, they missed them by 16. You get the idea. Imagine what that No. 1 pick would have fetched in trade. Now, imagine Steve Franchise running the point with Pau Gasol and Drew Gooden on the wings. Yao Ming is 300 freaking pounds and these beat writers still label him a "three point specialist" or a "Bradley clone". When Yao starts pushing around everybody but Shaq, these writers are going to realize how ignorant they were.
Yao has 30+ pounds on Bradley and is an inch shorter! I'm sick of the Bradley comparisons now. Yao can dribble and has a sweet stroke. Yao also talks trash. I'm not seeing the comparisons.
He was told he couldn't leave until he won a championship. Done. He was told to take a gruelling plane ride half way around the world and perform well enough under the microscope at a one shot workout to be #1. Done. He was told he would have to give up almost half of all his earnings in order to leave. Done. Heart of a champion: Do whatever it takes for the good of the team and never give up. Ming gets things done.
a pseudo-center away from doing serious damage in the postseason? They were, what 15 games out of the playoffs this year? sure whatever.
Seriously, What makes anyone think a 7'6" 300 llb man who has played basketball is whole life is going to get pushed off the block. Please. You'all act like that is an easy thing to do. It's not going to happen unless yao wants it to happen. What makes anyone think he is going to get in foul trouble? Again, he's played basketball his whole life and I'm quite sure he has the ability to show some self restraint. How many players in the Nba have a problem with fouls. Almost none. Let's be serious. Nobody can handle Shaq. Period. Take him out of any equation. What makes everyone so sure he will struggle blocking shots. The guy has 6 inches on everyone. That's an enormous advantage that can't even be measured. Even if he closes his eyes he's going to get 2 blocks a game. What centers can even compete on a decent level? Really, name some. There are what five and most of them are in the East right now. Language barrier? Cmon. We've seen Gheorge Muresan become a force in this league. That will be overcome. And those are the concerns? Please. You'all are being silly. This guy is going to dominate the league. By next year he will be an ALL star.
What's up with this obsession with who's going to be the first to dunk on Yao? Guys are waiting to dunk on Yao??? Well, I know a couple of guys who had that chance when he was 19, their names are Vince Carter and Gary Payton. Maybe Q. Richardson should ask them first. Second, apart from getting guys on SportsCenter this whole dunking over Yao stuff means nothing. I remember J.R.Rider in his second year dunked over Dream once, and it was on all the highlights for that night. Of course the T-wolves lost that game anyway. So did this tarnished Dream's career? Did anyone care two days later? Did this prevented J.R. from slipping into oblivion? KJ dunked over Dream in the playoffs once, and I think it was in game 7 in 1995. The guy was pumped like crazy. Fast forward 30 minutes and Mario's kissing them goodbye. Now the part about Francis going to Memphis would be troublesome if it was not a pure imagination in trying to sell content. But, still I hated when Francis got back from the lottery all gleaming and raving about Jerry West. This guy is the biggest con-artist in the NBA I would be very carefull with him.
Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Ming want to win a championship also? Wasn't there a quote regarding Chuck where he was joking about sending him a copy of the trophy after they won...Yao isn't a 3-point specialist, he's a 15-18ft specialist...and he sure as hell will destroy Bradley comparisons come the World Championships
I like what DA said about the Rockets' draft as well as Yao: "Houston. Relative to their position, I like the Rockets' other first-round pick, Nachbar, more than Yao. This kid can get to the rim. He wants to dunk on you. He talks a little junk, which I like. And he will fit right in with the draw-and-pitch game Rudy Tomjanovich loves to play. We will not know about Yao for several years, but I know this: he wants to be good, and he'll work at what he can't do. He'll score some, but more importantly, he'll pass. And even when he doesn't have position under the boards, he's seven freaking five. The ball will find him. Also, let's stop this unfair diminishing of Yao because he'll have trouble dealing with Shaq. Everyone has trouble with the Big Fella. Final thought: take Shaq out of the mix in the Western Conference for a second. The conference's other starting centers, at the moment, are Raef LaFrentz, Nene Hilario (or Scott Williams, if the free agent re-signs with Denver), Erick Dampier, Michael Olowokandi, Lorenzen Wright, Rasho Nesterovic, Jake Tsakalidis, Dale Davis, Vlade Divac, David Robinson, Jerome James and Greg Ostertag or Jarron Collins, depending on Jerry Sloan's mood. Who, of that group, is going to dominate Yao?" He's just trying to get back on the good graces of Rockets' fans since his Damon Stoudamire is a Rocket days.
wow. that last part of DA's bit was eye-opening. I tend to forget how spare the rest of the NBA's centers are past Shaq. I still think it's a crapshoot on the Merciless, but it does seem like the majority of those ripping the rockets are sportswriters, whereas the majority of people who like the pick are b-ball people. that can't be all bad.
May allah have mercy on the soul who actually pays 10 bucks a month for the espn "insider". I'd rather pay Rosanne Barr 10 bucks for a table dance than read that maligned trash-spewing, lunch-box vomit. Those guys don't know "come on" from "siccum" about basketball cause they've never played any sports. They were the guys that got beat like circus monkies in the high school halls and got snapped with towels in the gym showers. Now they're gonna lay their wrath on any jocks anywhere and say just enough "nice things" every once inawhile to not piss the editor off. Ming's gonna kick butt. I feel it therefore I know it. My guess is he'll average over 12 pts and 9 rebs/game. Probably get a few blocked shots, too. Hell, he'll probably block more shots with his forehead than Cato had last year. Nasty's gonna be a nice 3. I can't wait until he tomahawk jams over Christie in his rookie year. Did you see this guy's highlight clips. Who says white boys can't jump?
