Stats don't tell the whole story (although with Yao getting 21/14 last night WITHOUT Francis & Mobley feeding him is a FEAT! Trust me, I know: Amare is getting his stats without a single play being run for him, thanks to our incompetent coach. Most of us over at phxsuns.net are calling for Frank Johnson's head due to his gross lack of preparation & NO gameplan). The Rockets' zone isn't real effective, but Yao definitely makes up for it by making players change their shots down low. My point is that both players are pivotal to our respective teams' success and both have limitless potential (Amare's relentlessness and Yao's almost flawless floor game & footwork). Sure, Amare had 5 blocks last night (including 2 blocked Yao dunks), but Yao manhandled our new starting center in Jahidi White - What pleases me most is that these two will learn from each other at least 4 times a year, as Amare lacks Yao's footwork and Yao lacks Amare's aggressiveness. They'll eventually learn enough from each other that they'll become a couple of the most well-rounded post players I'll ever see. Both Amare and Yao are breaking even AND progressing at the same rate - And I for one am damned glad that these two are able to play off of each other so well. Nice game last night, despite my Suns' loss. Both teams definitely battled.
well done ... its nice when fans from competitive teams post here, and do it respectively and with well thought out posts.
Well said. So, when are you willing to send Amare down here so that they both can play on the same team?
But if you were to had THE first pick and had to pick one, who would would take? One is a player that you can build a team around, the other is a good 2nd or 3rd guy.
Amare will be a #1 guy eventually. Right now though, that's Marbury's team. The Suns fans seem to blame the coach, but doesn't Marbury want most of the shots?
I feel sorry for Phoenix Suns fans. they have only phxsuns.net (which is an inferior looking website big time) which is no where in comparison to clutchcity.net in terms of fan base, website design, rockets fan activity and creativity I don't think other fans team have a website even close to being comparable to clutchcity i believe. CLUTCHCITY THE BEST SITE EVER
both players are a bit over-rated and inconsistent. However, its no question that Yao gets more attention from opposing defenses.
DavidS, I coln't really tell you what we'd do with the #1 overall pick, as my Suns haven't EVER had the #1 overall pick. The closest we came was in the off-season of 1969, when both Milwaukee & us were 1st year expansion clubs and had a coin-flip thanks to our identical 16-66 finish in both of our inaugural years. We lost, BTW. Lew Alcindor (a.k.a. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) went to the Bucks while crippled center Neal Walk came to us as the #2 overall pick in the 1969 NBA Draft.
Uh, would you give up Amare Stoudemire for 2 first round picks if you had him? Neither will they. How does the NBA pattern go? If the Suns contrinue to struggle (which I don't think they will) with a core of Marbury, Marion and Stoudemire, they will get rid of their coach. If they have faith in the next coach and STILL continue to struggle, to the point where a different surrounding cast is not helping, then Marbury or Marion would go before Stoudemire. He's 20-21 years old with lots of potential -- he's not going anywhere. It would be a long time before the Suns ever even think about trading him - if ever. You can't scoop up a guy like Amare for 2 first round picks. Good job. You sure got that Suns fan who came in with the intelligent and in no way provocative observation.
I think that not all 1st overall picks should be the 1st option on a team all the time. Specially when you're sharing the spotlight with Fracis and Cat. We're lucky we even got such a good player in our pick. Think about it we could've ended up with Kandi, or even worse Eddie Griffen (Rox management said the would've taken Eddie in the 1st overall if they had the pick.) Just my 2 cents.
Solid sentiment, oscar. I mean, my Suns have had Joe Kleine (#6 overall in the 1985 NBA Draft) and Luc Longley (#8 overall) start at center for us. And what good have they done for MY team? That said, the Rockets got lucky with 2 consecutive #1 overall picks in 1983 & 1984 (Ralph Sampson & Hakeem Olajuwon, respectively), along with Yao Ming - Why can't WE get a break?
If I were the Suns owner, I would trade Amare + 2 first round picks to the Wizards for Kwame & Christian Laetner.
Actually, you unwittingly hit upon the biggest problem Yao has - not enough aggressiveness. Amare didn't block any dunk attempts. Instead, he blocked very wek and timid hook and layup attempts. Calvin Murphy said it best. Yao is playing smaller than he is. No matter how tall one is, the basket is only 10 feet above the ground. If Yao continues to meekly attempt to just shovel the ball into the basket, he will continually be blocked as he was last night.
Imagine if Amare and Yao played with each other in the All-Star game...it would be really fun to watch how the two play together.
I hear ya, Tom. That's one reason why I love watching Yao & Amare in action - and a reason why I enjoy watching Yao operate. Don't be so hard on Yao. I mean, Hakeem was drafted i#1 overall in 1984, yet the Rox didn't reach the Finals until the spring of 1986. Patience...........
Amare did look much improved on defense. That was a pretty wicked block on Padgett. He also knocked down 2 jumpers, but once he missed one, he seemed hesitant to keep shooting them. Teams continue to agressively help on the pick and roll to slow down marbury, who then passes to a diving Amare. Seems like someone could step in and take a charge, but i rarely see anyone do this. That kid can pick up a full head of steam pretty quick.
