Ya know! Been thinking about this - Everyone says that Shaq is the best center in the NBA. Well after watching Yao emerge as a center and after watching his game last night. I have to beg to differ! I think that the Rockets have the BEST center in the NBA! I mean look at this. Shaq - All he can do is DUNK shots, he can block, he can rebound. His free throws are horrible, he can't pass very well. But overall he is just a physical player. Now you look at Yao - He can shoot! I mean that hook shot, baseline shot, outside shot, and dunk. He has a couple moves! he is not restricted to just ONE type of shot like Shaq. As for the rebounding he has this down pretty much as a notch. And this guy CAN pass! Boy can he pass - he always seems to find the open man! He is a more overall all around player than Shaq is! And not only that but Yao is ALSO shooting higher than 75% on his FT. He missed only ONE free throw last night. Personally - I think yao is a MUCH MUCH better all around center than Shaq is! But god, I can't wait to see how Yao looks at the end of the season! He always seems to get better and better and it is SCARY!
Uh, Shaq can't pass? He's averaging more assists per game than Ming, and he's played less games. Not to mention that in 99-00 and 00-01, Shaq nearly averaged 4 apg. He can't shoot, but he's got a nifty little baby hook. Shaq is a better defender and a better rebounder. He's a more consistent scorer too. Uh, oh yeah, he's got more experience and 3 rings. Right now, Shaq is better, there's no question. Down the road, things will be different.
Ming is still human. Shaq is a monster. Shaq's quickness at such a weight and height is unprecedented. But Shaq has to be careful when he faces Ming. God may be on Ming's side. Look what happened to Jerome and Jermaine. They both schooled Ming once, but ended up with knee injuries
- Shaq has a basketball IQ below 100. Yao has a basketball IQ over 100. - Shaq has a range of 10 feet. Yao has a range of 20 feet.
Yes he is a consistent scorer only cuz he BULLIES his way to the rim. But not because he is a creative shot maker. I mean heck even the Dream SCHOOLED Shaq with his creativity. And look how FAST Yao has picked up his game! Not many people can do that! It is like almost every game he does something new. Now with Shaq, when he gets the ball you know what he is gonna do, he is gonna get down bully thru and slam it in the rim! I am not saying Shaq is not a bad center, I am just saying that Yao is a better center overall because of his ability to expand his game. Shaq will always remain a top 10 center in the history of the NBA. But right now, I am seeing Yao slowly taking that NBA Best Center this year away from Shaq right now!
I don't think you can compare the two since they're styles are so different from one another. People often bash Shaq cuz' he's such a big fella, and because of that, gets easy inside position almost under the basket, but what I think people fail to acknowledge is that, if you got a body like Shaq's, wouldn't you do the same thing he does? Also a lot of the time when he gets good inside position he's being wrapped around and hit on his whole body and still is able to muscle through those dunks. Also over the years he's developed a good hook shot, and has learned some new moves. I don't really like comparing Shaq to Ming the same way I didn't like when people compared Shaq to Duncan. But I think comparing Ming to Duncan is a better comparison since both of their games are so similar. They both have a good mid range jump shot range. They got good post up moves, and play a very similar style to one another. I think Ming simply excels in those areas more so then Duncan. But I don't think it's Duncans fault. Ming's just 7'5, and Duncan's 6'10.
I'll tell you guys one thing, I've seen Shaq do a crossover more than once. Could Ming do that? I'm kidding of course, but it shows you what your posts look like to me. All that matters is winning. Just because Ming, a huge man chooses to do it like SF and Shaq does it like a monster, does it really matter as long as they do their job. Wilt and Russel didn't have moves like Yao, is there something wrong with their style of play? This is how I see it. Shaq=Wilt, Ming=Kareem. Not exactly, because those two are on a different pedestal, but I think it's a reasonable assesment.
the part i kind of have a problem with is: EVEN the dream schooled Shaq. what do you mean EVEN. Hakeem was great and at his prime shaq wasn't at his prime. i like ming just as much as any rockets fan, and i think he wil be great. But shaq is so stong. And al he can do is dunk? Shaq can dunk. he has got a nice little jumphook. he can pass. has about 4 assist per game. and block. I think Ming wil become better than Shaq. but do not forget we are verry happy with 29 points and 10 rebounds by Ming. those are close to shaq average. If shaq's toe is healthy than he is the best center in the nba. If ming keeps progressing like this he can become the best. but not this year. And shaq is a top 5 center ever. he is so dominant.
It bothers me to no end when Ming makes a fantastic pass only to have the recepient miss an easy shot. I wonder what Ming's assist numbers would be if his teammates finished them off with baskets..
Consistency is consistency...It doesn't really matter HOW you score, all that matters is that you score. Shaq does more than Yao on the defensive end (right now) and also does more than Yao at the offensive end. Having a good overall game doesn't mean much...if you can score anytime you want (yao can't do that right now, shaq can) then you're the better player.
I agree, Shaq's still better in the sense that he's more physically dominant. For Yao's apg to go up, the other rockets will have to do a better job of catching Yao's passes and making the shots. Just give it some time for them to gel.
the difference between Shaq & Yao just for fun when he was 12-year old, Yao was such a smart kid and so good at math that he wanted to be a rocket scientist. Knowing both Yao's parents are over 6'3'' and member of national bball team, Yao's teacher told him, "well, you do have the brain, but I've never seen a 7' rocket scientists." Yao kept asking, "then what can I do to build rockets?" The teacher had no answer. ten years later, Yao finally realizes what he can do for the rockets: a new NBA dynasty that lasts longer than ever! maybe Shaq is still the best now, but Yao will conquer him. It's not about the 7'6'' height, not the better free-throw, not the perfect jump shot, not the passing ability, ... It's all about the brain!
Okay Okay... To make my case here... Let's say we have a game on the line... Well the opposing team decides the only way to salvage the game is to HACK the center which would be either (Ming or Shaq), now tell me who would you rather have and who would more likely WIN the game for you! Hack Shaq - you are more likely to go home a winner, Hack Ming - more likely you are gonna go home a LOSER! I am just making a case here that Ming is JUST as good as Shaq but in a different style! And you also have to factor in when he first came in his stats werent that good and he was JUST adjusting to the American and NBA life. Now that he has that patted down, now look at him he is a MONSTER! It TOOK only ONE game (Miami) to get Ming to realize that he has to be PHYSICAL. Most people, it usually takes them a while to get things in their heads! This guy LEARNS fast!
Lets see, every team in the league has tried the hack-a-Shaq method. Shaq has won 3 rings in a row. So I guess....yeah, I gotta go with Shaq here.
The way Yao adjusted to the game and learn from his previous game, it won't be long when he will be neck to neck with Shaq. His game is so different from Shaq. In term of basketball skills Shaq do not compare to Yao (even now). Also it much more enjoyable to watch Yao than Shaq. He is an artist on the basketball court. I agree at this time Shaq is more dominant but give Yao another year ( with training camp and off season training), I think by next year it might be a toss up between them. As far as a basketball player, Yao is a much more complete player than Shaq will ever be.
Ming appears to have a wider range of skills, BUT Shaq has the experience, the rings AND incredible strength. It is like the fineese game versus the power game. HOWEVER, I once thought that Rudy shouldn't play him against Shaq during the first of the season, Now, I think Shaq better bring his A game if he doesn't want Ming dropping shots all around him. Ming will definitely bring it for the LA game, he has that Hakeem-like tendancy to take it to another level when he wants to. I think Ming is the second-coming of Kareem. Have we seen all his moves and shots yet? Apparently not.
