i'd agree that Yao won't become a great center. those guys may only look at the box scores. too bad you won't be considered great if your box scores don't look great. just fact of life.
i don't think there's ever been a player you can compare yao too. he is extremely unique. his game is nothing like rik smits and he certainly isn't comparable to the sticks that came before him. anyone notice it's the national media that makes these comments. they see a few boxscores and some highlights and they're yao experts. he CAN hit jumpers like smits but he is far from limited to that and really when does he take more then 2 or 3 15 footers? brad miller is a far better comparison to smits. yao is improving every game it seems now and with this team rolling you can see the comfort zone that he's getting in. even better then that is the dramatic improvement he's made in his defense. i don't know if he's got more energy or if he's gained a step but he's been great. it's pretty fair to say that coming out of china is akin to coming out of high school and how many of these a$$holes would talk so much **** about an american high schooler who puts up the same numbers in their first 3 seasons. i'd say zero. i'm not saying anyones racist, it's just that people are quick to want to jump on yao.
Well Wilbon has always loved Yao. TK on the other hand is not a believer just yet. Hopefully after today's game against his hometeam his opinion will have changed.
Was this David Dupree who writes for USA Today? Because I'd really be surprised that he said this stuff. He's always been a huge Yao fan. And while most analysts started jumping off the Yao bandwagon this year, David Dupree said in a chat earlier this season that he thought that Yao could still be something special, and that people should be patient.
Yes, that's the same guy. I too was a bit surprised by his current attitude on Yao. Wilbon is still a believer and Cornhole is just an ignorant old man that only says stuff to instigate Wilbon. I bet Cornhole doesnt believe half of the stuff he professes. His opinions are usually worthless. What gets me is the people that compare Yao to Shaq. I mean that is like comparing every SG in the league to Jordan. If they arent Jordan they must suck! Can't Yao be good, no even GREAT even if he isnt Shaq? I mean Shaq is one of the ALL TIME great centers. Comparing Yao to that high a standard is ridiculous! Yao can be great in todays NBA even if he isnt at Shaq's level. Who is? And who today is at Jordan's level? Anyone? Hell Kobe isnt even the next Jordan. Do people say Kobe sucks? Ridiculous!
This might be a bit OT, but does anyone know when TK is coming back on XMRadio? Apparently, he is coming back via the FoxSports channel (interesting with his ESPN engagements) sometime this month... maybe it has even already happened. Also, do any of you XM gurus know if this is a channel that will be available over the webstream that has a small monthly surcharge? He alone would surely be worth the cost! Tough to get through the day without him on Espnradio anymore! Thanks for the info, Pete
I don't think you can say that Yao is a much better rebounder than Smits. He may be averaging more than Smits did, (i didnt look at the stats) but Smits played with the Davis boys for many years and didn't need to rebound. I dont really consider yao a good rebounder anyway....he gets them many times because he is taller...not because he can establish position better than the next guy....once he learns how to box out better and hold his ground, he will be a great rebounder.
I've seen both players a lot. Yao is a much better rebounder. Yao is not only taller, but also stronger. And he is doing a very good job boxing out opponents if you watch the games. Yao may never be a great rebounder because of his relatively slow feet and lack of explosiveness, but it's not like Smits is quick and explosive. Yao is already much better than Smits rebounding wise.
Wilburn had a chart. he put the Rockets as the 4th best team on his chart. He said the Rockets in a 7 game series, with Mcgrady leading, are dangerous. Thats pretty much it. It was funny he threw the Suns off the chart and left Houston up there. Kornholio dude was ragging on the Rockets like always, saying Yao Ming cant lead the team, and Wilburn told him he don't need to Mcgrady will, and to shave his damn beard and do something about his halitosis.
Rebounding is all about spontaneity and awareness, and Yao is gradually getting better at both. Earlier in the season he was so self-conscious about his JVG-mandated positioning that he couldn't free his mind to follow what was going on around him. Now that JVG has relaxed on that front, Yao's rebs will start to go up. He also loses a couple of rebs/game to Sura, who competes with his own teamates to get them. Finally, Yao doesn't get enough credit for clogging the lane. How often do you see opponents start to penetrate, take a look at Yao, and pass off to the side? It happens several times a game.
It's upto Yao to prove them wrong. and till no, one cn say, he has'nt fully lived up to his potential. but i must say, in the last month, yao has really become more agresive and a enforcer. the sky is th limit, bu it's upto yo to fly ike n eagle!
