don't forget the big e while you're at it. you are right, toast. no matter who ends up with more rings you just cannot compare the two- they have vastly different games. we are lucky to have them both.
I think 4Q is the responsibility of the veterans. If Yao can put in 20points in 1Q like he did in the Mavz game, works for me.
Last weekend, I stumbled on an old tape of the 96-97 playoffs, 7th game against Seattle, 5th game against Utah. Hakeem was awesome. He was automatic when he got the ball. Hakeem earned his place in Houston Sports circle. Noone can replace him. Having said that, I saw Hakeem with 2 issues that Yao is having. 1) Fronting defense. When Atoinne Carr fronted Hakeem, he couldn't get the ball either. 2) Stamina. Hakeem did have his problem at times. 3rd quarter against Uath, he just walked up court and not involved in the offense. Barkley played the post. Of course, all of us remember his stamina's problem when we played at Denver in high altitude. Another thing that is not really a problem but some people had complained that Yao shoots the fade away too much, which takes him away from the basket. Dream's shake and fall away baseline jumper did the same thing. When you have a money shot, I guess you just have to stick with it. One more of my pet peeves whenever I watch the Jazz ... Those guys, Stockton, Hornacek, Malone were a bunch of floppers. I swear, if a Rocket would just brush up against their shirts, they instantly dove to the floor. Imagine a big guy like Malone hitting the floor 4, 5 times ... so pathetic !
That is on every Rox fan's wish list. To remove zone defense, NBA should consider contraction first. Zone defense was put in to level the playing field. According to MDE himself, zone defense was introduced to NBA so that weaker teams can defend against him. If we don't water down the talent level, every team could have an adequate center to guard Shaq. I propose that every Rox fan write to the league office and petition for the removal of zone defense. It's only fair.
You're right. Zone changes a lot of things. It could take a player out and the teammates have to step up.
Wow..because of a "not that smart" comment from a poster about Hakeem the legend, Juugie finally have a chance to sneak out of the closet to say something which at least some of the Rockets fans will agree with. Nice job Oliver_67, you have done a big favor to Juugie.
That was the 34+ year old Hakeem, playing 35-40 mpg after 12 years in the league, playing at altitude (Utah is pretty high, almost as high as Denver). I think the 24 year old Akeem could run to Lagos and back without so much as breathing hard. He was a badass running the break...
Yao hasn't played this season at the level Hakeem did in his second year, but there are some major differences. Sam touched on some of them. The level of competition was much higher. The zone was illegal, but teams played a kind of zone anyway. Hakeem's game was pretty raw in areas, but not that raw. Yao has a better jumper at this stage of their careers. Anyway, I just wanted to mention that we should give Yao a chance to show what he does in the playoffs before we judge his season. If he dominates in the playoffs, we get out of the first round and are very respectable, no matter what the ultimate result is, then Yao will be viewed in another light for this year. He won't match Hakeem's 2nd year, but if we get to the Finals, he'll match the end result. I would be flabbergasted if that happens, but like the '86 Rockets showed, you never know until you get the chance. edit: thanks for the SI cover, Sam... that brought back memories!
I guess I should have put a , or at the end, but I thought posters know better than that. You muct be a newbie here
According to 82games.com, In the last 5 minutes of the 4th quarter and overtime, with neither team ahead by more than 5 pts(hence, clutch situations), Yao shoots a ridiculous 82% from the field. The guy's as clutch as they come. That said, Yao has quite a few turnovers too. But it seems to be much better recently, although that's more based on my watching the game more than hard stats. Link: http://www.82games.com/comm25.htm
The lack of guard quality was also low when jordan was in his prime, does that tarnish his career as arguably one of the best to play the game?
Magic Johnson Clyde Drexler Isiah Thomas John Stockton Joe Dumars Reggie Miller Kevin Johnson Gary Payton etc etc etc. Those are pretty decent guards, IMO.
I didn't bash you in that infamous thread you created, but I really can't stand your bias and lack of knowledge any longer. First, NBA centers are more athletic and play better defense than any other era. True, they can't score as well as the old timers, but that doesn't mean they can't defend. Just look at Shaq's number, worse than his rookie and sophomore seaons despite the factor that he's a better player and playing against so called "scrubs". Second, how do you know Yao doesn't have 1/4will, determination and desire that Olajuwon had? Didn't you see Yao has been improving consistantly? Didn't you see the way Yao took it to Shaq? Didn't you see Yao has gained so much more strength comapare to last season? If that's not bias, I don't know what that is. You really deserve to be called troll for that matter.
No doubt about it: when Yao gets the ball with good position in the fourth quarter he's money in the bank. The problem is getting him the ball more. Defenses are and will be doing their best to keep him from getting and maintaining position to receive the entry pass. There'll be a lot of shoving and downright nasty play that Yao will have to beat just to get good position and seal the defender off. Yao isn't as quick laterally as the smaller guys (see Najera), and he isn't a quick leaper, so trying to throw a lob to him over the fronting defense and/ or double team is still problematic (remember, Yao even has difficulty controlling the jump ball because of his lack of quickness). Of course, some of the problem also rests on our guards, who have to learn to adjust to the stiffer defense around Yao in the fourth quarter. They have to be more careful with the timing and placement of the entry pass because Yao will not be permitted to hold his position for very long.
I didn't argue that Hakeem was a lot better but "Yao doesn't have 1/4will, determination and desire that Olajuwon had". That shows how biased the guy is.
