We'll see...but don't forget that he is still very young, to be 2nd in the league in rebounds in your 2nd year is very impressive. Some players need time to develop their offense, guys like KG and Karl Malone (I hate Karl Malone) weren't the best offensive players when they came into the league but they developed very good jumpshots and post-up games. Not sure why some don't like Dwight Howard. Don't get me wrong, he's no Yao Ming, but he isn't that far behind and could be a hall-of-fame player if he continues to improve like he has.
I like Dwight Howard. He's got an enormous amount of potential (much of it already realized which is a very nice change of pace for these young bigs), and will most certainly be a top notch center in this league. In fact I expect him to be the main rival of Yao for dominance at the center position in the near future (with Greg Oden being the next most likely, and Andrew Bynum after that).
US mauls China to send clear warning http://www.shanghaidaily.com/art/2006/08/21/289659/US_mauls_China_to_send_clear_warning.htm
There is no benefit of doubt for yao, internatonally or NBA, period. come on i mean what else he has to do to ever gain any kind of respect from the refs? out of the 5 fouls 4 of them are questionable to say the least, the last 2 are blinded bogus calls even in the eyes of the opposing players.
Yeah right. Straight up one on one--No player short of shaq can play YAO--one on one. Your comment to me is either over glorifying D. howard or disrespectiong YAO or both.
Another summary on Yao. Positives: - showed consistent FT shooting - showed emotion and showed the refs he won't take crap (not that it helped him) - had a nice little almost coast to coast (which unfortunately got called an offensive, which I thought was a wrong call) Negatives: - jumper still off - stamina problem returned (probably due to Team US' pace). Liu Wei had to wait three times for him to cross half court after China had a front court/mid court steal - turnovers. Looked like just rust, but clearly isn't protecting the ball as well with back to the basket as in the NBA. Had the ball poked away several times - got fouled yes, but still should have finished around the basket several times - might be due to fatigue, but brought the ball down. If you can't dunk it right away on offensive boards, at least keep it high. Team US was able to slap it out of his hands/foul him when he did Other rants: - man, these refs suck. It's not just against Yao either. The calls are highly stacked in favour of the US. For example, Mo Ke tried to block a Brand dunk, got all ball, but Brand still dunked it in. There was NO body contact at all, but it somehow still got called And1. Dwight Howard and Chris Bosh each had a blatant push against Chinese players just inside the three point line which weren't called. Even at the corner of my TV, I saw it. If three zebras can't see it, they should have their eyes checked. They were also clearly allowing the US to play a lot more physical (slapping, hacking, pushing, etc) than the CNT, which would definitely be called if there was any sort of body contact. Now, I'm not saying that the outcome would change if there were better reffing, but fairness should be ensured whatever the outcome, which it was not. What Team China should do (which unfortunately they are taught not to) is to take a blatant whack at a US player (whoever it is) the next time he drives to the basket to show the refs if they are gonna call pathetic fouls, they will foul and foul hard. Cuz Team US sure wasn't too keen on not pushing. - as I've said following the China-Australia game, I still think Du Feng should start over Zhu Fangyu. Wang Shipeng also ran the ball better than Liu Wei, despite Liu Wei being the "point guard." - the CNT sucks at passing. Everybody can see miles away who they are going to pass to. In fact, if the receipient is well covered, the pass will STILL be made. For example, several times I saw Wang Shipeng at the top of the key several times. He wanted to pass the ball to Liu Wei (or vice versa). Wade or Lebron would come and wrap up Liu, including one arm on the ball side. Wang would still try to pass to Liu. I think part of the problem is that two of the other players are just standing in the corner and not come to help even when Wang picked up his dribble. Even Yao has come out to try to set picks several times when the guards got into trouble. - China's defensive rotation stinks, but that was pretty much expected. And as usual, they can't box out. Nowhere was it more obvious than this game. China made a three point shot, misses, Yao tries to get the offensive board but can't because Howard, Melo and Battier all are under the basket, with Battier and Melo almost holding Yao. On the other hand, Melo makes a three point shot, Yao boxes out Howard left of the basket, Melo just walks right in for a rebound and dunk because the there isn't a single Chinese player on the entire right side of the paint.
Du Feng is a black hole. There was one play, Yao had his man sealed and demanded for ball from Du Feng. The punk instead used Yao as decoy , took the ball to hole and only found himself against wall of US players. He was subbed out right after that play and didnt play for the rest of half. The Chinese coach must have seen what I saw.
The thing that shocks me about the CNT is the real lack of fundamentals. This isn't some nation that is competing internationally for the first time with an unknown coaching staff. Does Del Harris have any say in what's going on?
Heh, i just watched that Yao coast-2-coast play and he actually crossed Lebron. . LBJ tried to reach, Yao crossed him over to get past him and ran into Shane. I think it happend so fast that i didn't notice it the first time. Damn you Shane for robbing Yao of another crazy highlight.
The Chinese coaching sucks in general. That's why they brought in foreigners to coach. However, it doesn't matter even if they bring in Phil Jackson. No coach can install fundamentals in a short time that are supposed to be down in a player's early age. Team USA had like 18 steals.
Reading this thread is like Deja Vu all over again as Rox game threads, particularly those two years ago. The same rants about refereeing, the inability to get the ball to Yao, and guards not looking for Yao. Chen Jianghua is coming off as the Francis with people praising his speed and athleticism but bashing him for not getting the ball to Yao. The only thing we need to round things out is a good old fashioned "FIRE GUNDY" posts.
Disrespecting Yao? You must be new here, because I'm one of the biggest Yao backers on this board. Check my Yao video if you doubt my Yao supporting credentials: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8XzxMQRH6I That being said, it's obvious that Dwight Howard has the best package of size, strength, athleticism and skills to compete with Yao. I didn't say he can guard Yao one on one (in fact none of the top low post scorers can be handled with single coverage in the post. Not Yao. Not Shaq. And Not Duncan. Each of these guys can score on either one of the other guys in a one on one situation.), but with that big body, long arms, and quickness Howard has the best chance of anyone in the league (including Shaq who's been lit up by Yao in single coverage for the past couple of years) Don't let your love of Yao blind you to the truth. Dwight Howard is an extremely good player that's only going to get better with more maturity and polish. And right now he's the only young big man that can make Yao work on both ends of the court. He's got the mass to bang with Yao down low, the length and athleticism to challenge Yao's shot, and the ability to crash the offensive glass which would put more pressure on Yao to box him out. I still think Yao's going to be the best big man of his generation, but these other guys aren't going to just roll over for him. Guys like Howard and Oden (who supposedly will be a slam dunk as the second coming of David Robinson) are going to be gunning for him. As well as Andrew Bynum if he can translate his physical tools like Howard has. I don't think it's a stretch whatsoever to think that these guys can and will compete against Yao. And even if Yao's got all the tools to fend them off, it's still not a foregone conclusion who is going to come out of these future battles on top. I'd rather just watch and enjoy what happens than rule anybody out.
Yao put up 21/10 coming off an injury against a team of All Stars, playing alongside players that couldn't match up with Baylor on most nights. And he was NBA animated. I think he is poised for an MVP season.
You know what? I have something to say to some of you guys. NOT ALL (So don't be sending me a bunch of messages like I'm talkin to everyboby) But some. 1st...Yao had a broken foot 4 months ago. Not a pulled hamstring or a broken hand. A broken foot. And he had surgery where they put a pin in there. Last time I checked...a broken foot is a pretty serious, major, injury. Especially to a basketball player. 2nd...He has worked his butt off to play for the Chinese. Probably could have used the rest and rehab, but he didn't take that route. He did double time work based on the info here. And he didn't use any excuses like "I need more rehab" (Amare S.). Even though he probably would have liked more rehab and time to heal. But the man put the effort out there. 3rd...he is PLAYING. Not just there or playing minny minutes. The guy has played more and more minutes each game. 4th...he is surrounded by a group of much lesser talented teammates. Let's see Wade or Anthony or LeBron line up against a team of NBA All-Stars with thier high school buddies. That's basically what it comes down to here. I doubt ANY of those NBA All-Stars would have even accepted the challenge that Yao has accepted. Without that group of talent, I'd bet none of those guys would have even decided to play for the USA. Then add a major injury to the mix. It would have been a good time to pull excuse city. 5th...The NBA All-Star team didn't even try to guard the other Chinese guys, they just focused on Yao. 12-1. Yao has no backup. Yao has no shooters. No point guard like Heinrich to feed him quick and sharp passer with good timing. It's just him. Not hard for any team to focus on 1 guy, much less the NBA's best. 6th...Yao plays his heart out. He could have sit at halftime (like most NBA level would have done) seeing that his team was a lost cause. But the guy played. For one, he wants to get better (get in game shape for the Rockets season). Second he knows that without him, the Chinese lose by 50. 7th...Dwight Howard ain't sh**. He is just a part of the pack. Backed up by Bosh and Miller and who knows who else. Sure he looked good against Yao. It was the USA Team vs. Yao. I'm sure he was a little tired. No help. He just came back a week ago. As far as Dwight Howard's performance...you can put glitter on crap, but it is still just crap. He may be good but he is, and will never be a Yao Ming. 8th...You want a hero? You want a role model? Houston has one in Yao Ming. I am so impressed with how that man does his thing...what he represents...how classy he is. Man, that guy is a real man. Not a God-Blessed, never worked for anything a day in his life, NBA superstar. He ain't out there partying, raping or causing trouble. He just does the right thing day in and day out. That can't be said for the rest of these NBA cry-babies. Many of them are on the USA team. When I have kids, I hope Yao is still playing ball, because that's the kind of player I want my kids looking up to, wearing his jersey. What is so funny is that Yao makes me proud. I can't say that the USA team makes me feel anything but spoiled and cocky. I love America, but I hope a European team blows them out in the next few weeks. This post was for you guys who can't do anything but bash Yao even when the guy is working hard to be better for the Rockets. You know who you are.
