Since we have been running out of topics, how about let's list all the potential players who voted Yao Ming as the second most overrated player. We are all amzaed at Yao's performance after All Star Game, and we have given tons of analyses to explain why Yao erupts. Many people mentioned that being elected by his peers as the second most overrated player must piss Yao off. I do believe in it as Yao has a deep "revenge" mind. I can easily think of the following players who voted Yao as the second most overrated player. In the west: 1. Eric Dampier -- the self claimed second best center, no more words here 2. Amare Stoudmire -- he must hate Yao being a default All Star Game starting center 3. Paul Gasol -- fill words here ... In the east: 1. Shaq -- so many reasons... 2. Big Ben -- possible? 3. Big Z -- possible? Ok I just throwed a stone into water. Let's compile such a list, and somebody please send this list to Yao Ming so that Yao will kick their asses hard on the court. Hey don't put a rocket name on that list, otherwise next time when Yao grabs a defensive rebound he will just dunk it.
Sad world we live in, even in this modern day and age, racism still exists. Yao is THE best center in the world, bar none. That is just pure hate to say he is overrated. Shaq is a has been.
Racism does exist... but in this particular situation, I think you are referring to prejudice, not racism.
Well, to cut them a little slack, they would have had a point in his first two all star appearances. Pure hate? I don't think so. Pride? Maybe. Shaq is a has been? Now wouldn't you be guilty of exactly the same thing you are whining about? He happens to be the second best center in the league.
I would like to say it is prejudism. And say that basketball players are just protecting the American philosophy of basketball training. Because Yao was taught in China, it's nationalism that is the motive. People wanted Dirk to fail, Stojakovic to fail, Hakeem to fail, etc. To this day, Hakeem who played in a talent filled NBA isn't given proper respect for what he could do at seven feet tall. He was an awsome finess Center. Too bad he never had the players around him his whole career. I think street ball is the true hater of sound philosophical basketball skills.
I'd think more perimeter oriented type ballhogs or anyone who likes to dunk a lot. Besides the obvious rivalry issues like Gasol, Amare, etc, no one with a sound basketball mind would call Yao overrated. How many of the leagues great players have jocked Yao long long long before he had his coming out party post All-Star break? "gift from God"-Allen Iverson Lets make this a quote thread like the one above!
Well, whoever they were, I disagree with them but they formed their opinions based on Yao's performance before the ASG. It's unfair to knock on them just because of Yao's post ASG dominance.
I think Kaman didn't say much about Yao, it was Elton Brand who claimed that Kaman was the best center in the West.
Yao overrated? Yao action speak louder than words. Fact of Yao now Yao Ming of Houston has been the most dominant big man in the league since the All-Star break. He is scoring a league-best 7.1 more points a game (among players who averaged at least 10 points a game before the break) than he did before the break. Since the break, he has averaged 26.8 points, increasing his overall average from 19.6 to 22.5. He is also averaging 10.2 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and is shooting 51.7% from the field for the season. Another place where he separates himself from the league's other centers is at the free throw line, where he is shooting 84.9%. Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki and Chauncey Billups are the only other players in the league making at least six free throws a game and shooting at least 84%.
Yao's performance is not that bad even before ASG. 19/9 was as good as any Centers if not better (of course, nobody knew at that time he played with a rotten toe).
