Since Ming hasn't been exposed to the rough and tumble of American Basketball (except for the Olympics), how will he handle being steamrolled by Shaq?
Probably about as well as Shaq will enjoy being bombed by 18 footers by a guy 5 inches taller than him. Come on Shaq... show us some of that face-up perimeter d!!!
You know, I don't know why everyone seems to hold incoming centers to Shaq's standards. It's not like there are any current centers as good as Shaq, so why should we expect a rookie to come in and do so? A lot of people seem to have the attitude that if a center isn't as good as Shaq, just forget about drafting him. Well, there are lots of other teams to beat besides the Lakers, and having a good 5 would really help there. And anyway, it's not like picking Mike Dunleavy is going to help the Rockets handle Shaq either.
Do you really think that Shaq will be guarding Ming? I figured they'd let their PF man up on Ming and allow Shaq to guard our 4. On second thought that's not a good idea because either Mo T and Eddie will be shooting jump shots from outside too, pulling Shaq out, and Ming could hopefully post someone up if he has 8 inches on them. With Ming, we could definitely cause some matchup problems, but he's going to have to be able to shoot lights out from 18 feet and in.
I guess I should have titled the post " MING vs ANYONE in the NBA that bodyslams the opposition. I agree that he has the ability to shoot the ball - but it's not like he has played against NBA quality players throughout his whole career. Can he take the hits?
He'll give Shaq more fits than Kelvin Cato will, that's for sure. Or any long-term SF for that matter. Hopefully, he'll end up giving Shaq more trouble than anyone, after a couple of years in the league.
Ming + hookshot = hard to stop. I don't know if he has one, but if the Rockets select him, I think he will develop one.
To begin with Im not worried about Ming offensively. Defensively its another story. But with some of the first hand accounts some people have made in regards to the post Will posted I am a bit more confident in this guys defense. This guy can rebound. This is a given. Thats what the Rockets need to run. This +injuries is why the Rockets were so bad this year cause they couldn't run. But at the same time he needs to learn to get good post position defensively and force Shaq to shoot the ball. Can he do this? Isn't it worth a draft pick to find out? Can he expand his game and be tough defensively? Isn't it worth a pick to find out? Comparing Ming to Shaq right now is unfair given this guy hasn't bumped with the NBA's best yet. I know all the cons of drafting him but I don't want to be sitting here in a few months saying to myself "what if". In my opinion this guy is worth it. He reminds me a bit of Hakeem as Dream wasn't the strongest man out on the court but how many titles did he bring to Houston? Yeah now Shaq squashes Hakeem but only a few years ago Hakeem was the best center in the league. Ming is the man. From what I have read Ming is a smart player and mental toughness goes a long way in this league. And if Im the Rockets I pick this guy. #1= Yao Ming
shaq who? By the time Ming fully develops into a 'NBA player,' Shaq will be washed up/ on the decline. So I don't think Shaq will even be a factor when it becomes our time for championships again.
i agree with you Stickfigure i don't know anybody who can guard Shaq. but a center 7"5 can guard Duncan. I want Ming. He is tall and i'f heard he is athletic. do you know a lot of guys his size who are athletic????? \ Gasol wassn't either, and Nowitzki either. and they turned out nice I WANT MING AS A ROCKET
