Whether Yao can become a franchise Center in future is still a riddle. It is very difficult to discus his career achievement just base on his 4 years play. Oppose to the future, making conclusion for his current status is easier. There is a very interesting viewpoint. A famous critics in my place said Yao and Ilguaskas are almost at the same level, Ilguaskas even better. Here are his points: 1. Offense. Yao’s offense is so hesitated. The proof is the speed of Yao’s shoot. Compare to Ilguaskas’s, slower and awkward, especially the decision of choosing shoot opportunity, Big “Z” is smarter. (The critics figured out because Yao got more pressure which makes him hesitated). 2. Rebound. Ilguaskas better than Yao. I think he meant the Offense rebound ( Yao 2.63, Ilguaskas 3.4). Defense, Big “Z” better again, clearly, Yao is suffering in foul trouble, this partly prove that must be something wrong with his defense. At last, the critics siad he doesn't think put Yao with Ilguaskas and Smith together offend Yao coz they are players with the same caliber. Some of his points I agree but not all. What about you guys?
Z's 30 and in the best season in his career, he got 17.2/7.5 a game shooting 44%. Yao is 25 and is averaging 19.9/9 on 51% now. Nice try for your first post though... but the rookie wall came to you in a hurry.
Zydrunaus is a lot closer to Yao than Rik Smits, but Yao is still superior to both by a fair margin. Actually, check that. Z is about the same as Rik Smits plus more foot trouble.
Does "Z" get the same attention from defenses that Yao gets? Does "Z" have to work under the same pressure Yao does?
Stats doesn't tell the whole story. Yao is clearly option 1B in Rockets, while Big Z is option 2 at best.
Z 's defense better than YAO? the problem of CAV is their D, and that's why THEY are missing LH so much. Your famous friend must a YOH
Yao is a better low post scorer than Z. That's the major difference between the two players. If you watch Z's game, he gets most of his points on mid range jumpers created by his teammates (mainly Lebron). Yao gets most of his points in the low post on 1 on 1 plays, which makes him a much more efficient scorer. Other than that, I agree with most of the things your friend says. Z is a lot smarter than Yao on both ends of the floor, which makes up for his slowness. Ilguaskas's also a better rebounder and shot blocker than Ming.
leave him alone，he have no evidence to prove that 'famous man' ever said that words. Even he DID said that.it means nothing,he has a big mouth just like Barkley.
He is the editor of Hoop magazine and a famous critics on NBA program here. I like his article but just as I said, I am not totally agree with his points just like what he said about Yao. But whether he is famous or not is not the key. The reason I open this thread is because there always exist the argument about Yao's contribution to our team. Rox fans hope their big man become the next O'Neal but gradually realize it is hard ( I won't say impossible). There is only one Shaq in NBA history, the same as the only Yao. Ok, back to the topic, I think Yao and Big Z are the same type C: big, soft touch, good passer and teamworker . This is why the critics just put Yao into Big Z's level.
That's very true. Dajuan Wagner and Allen Iverson are also the same type of player. Short, quick, scorer... Oh, the samething for Mike Dunleavy and Larry Bird. White, soft, smart, shooters... OK, I am putting the criticism on Iverson and Bird for being on the same level as Wagner and Dunleavy.
Big, soft touch, good passer, team worker. Are we talking about Z or Jabbar? Yao or Sabonis? Surely since they are the same type of players, the Lakers would have been fine in the 80s if they had today's Z. Since they are the same type of players, I am fairly sure that the Rockets are mulling a Yao for Z swap.
The day defenses focus on doubling and tripling Z, then I might take your friend seriously. The day Z carries an entire country's + Cleveland's hopes on his back, then I'll take your friend seriously. The day Z's career average in points and rebounds are greater than Yao, then mabye. Good try though. Im not saying Yao doesnt have his faults, but saying Z is better is just rediculous. You could argue Yao has tmac, but Z has freakin Lebron on the wing . There will never be another Shaq, Wilt, Kareem, Hakeem, etc ever, and people need to get that through their heads. There will be Yao being Yao, and playing the way he knows how and hope he improves as he progresses. Yes, he needs to be working on rebounding, conditioning etc, and we're hoping that will improve, but until then 19.9/20 ppg and 9rpb is a VERY good problem to have.
It seems like it's been so long since I've seen Yao play that I don't remember if I agree with the guys points or not.
