Means nothing I got Dirk and Josh Howard last year on my team.... yea I kind of hate them both but they were good picks in rounds I got them .
Since this is Yao's 5th season in the NBA, let's take a look at the first 5 seasons in the NBA of our esteemed TNT analysts, Messrs. Barkley and Smith, as well as how long it took for some of the other notable centers of recent history to win their first NBA Championship (or reach the NBA Finals): If there's anyone who is absolutely qualified to talk about not winning an NBA Championship, it's Charles Barkley. In sixteen seasons in the league, his teams (Philadelphia, Phoenix, and Houston) never won an NBA championship. His rookie year (1984-85), the 76ers (58-24) had Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Maurice Cheeks, Andrew Toney, and Bobby Jones. Lost in the Eastern Conference Finals to Boston (4-1). In his 2nd year in the league (1986), the 76ers (54-28) had essentially the same cast. Lost in the Eastern Conference Semifinals to Milwaukee (4-3). In his 3rd year in the league (1987), the 76ers (Erving, Cheeks, Toney, Roy Hinson, Cliff Robison (USC), Tim McCormick) finished 45-37. Barkley led his team in scoring and rebounding. Lost in the 1st round of the Eastern Conference playoffs to Milwaukee 3-2. In his 4th year in the league (1988), the 76ers (Cheeks, Toney, Hinson, Robinson, McCormick, Mike Gminiski) finished 36-46 and did not make the playoffs. In his 5th year in the league (1989), the 76ers (Cheeks, Robinson, Gminski, Ron Anderson, Hersey Hawkins) finished 46-36. Lost in the 1st round of the Eastern Conference playoffs to New York 3-0. The first 2 seasons, Barkley had great teammates (Moses Malone, Dr. J, Maurice Cheeks, and Bobby Jones). The 76ers had won the NBA Championship just a few years back, in 1983. Yet when Barkley (and his then volatile personality) were added to a championship-caliber team, the results were not as good as they were pre-Barkley. When asked to shoulder the load after several key contributors left, the 76ers either failed to qualify for the playoffs (1988) or lost in the first round of the playoffs (1987, 1989). So much for making your teammates better, huh? As for Kenny Smith, I think it is safe to say he will never be considered to have been an impact player in the NBA: 1987-88 Sacramento Kings finished 24-58. Teammates included Otis Thorpe, Reggie Theus, Joe Kliene, Mike McGee, Derek Smith. DNQ for the playoffs. 1989 Sacramento Kings finished 27-55. DNQ for the playoffs. 1990 Sacramento Kings finished 23-59. Smith was traded to Atlanta Hawks (41-41) midway during the season. The Hawks featured Dominique Wilkins, Moses Malone, Kevin Willis, Doc Rivers. Neither team qualified for the playoffs. 1991 Houston Rockets finished 52-30. The Rockets featured Hakeem Olajuwon, Otis Thorpe, Buck Johnson, Vernon Maxwell, and Sleepy Floyd. Houston lost in the 1st round of the Western Conference playoffs to the Los Angeles Lakes, 3-0. 1992 Houston Rockets finished 42-40 with essentially the same team from the previous season. DNQ for the playoffs. Three playoff games in his first 5 NBA seasons -- and the Detroit Pistons / Chicago Bulls weren't even in the same conference except during his brief stint with Atlanta. Enough said, Mr. Smith. As for how other notable centers of the past 25 years have fared, one has to consider the following: had a certain pretty fair basketball player (let's call him, "MJ") not decided to take a sabbatical after leading his team to its 3rd straight NBA Championship following the 1992-93 season, I think it is safe to say the Orlando Magic (led by Shaquille O'Neal) would NEVER have reached the NBA finals in 1995. Upon MJ's return in 1996, the Bulls defeated Shaq's Orlando Magic squad 4-0 in the Eastern Conference playoffs. As this is a Rockets fansite, I won't comment on whether I think the Rockets would have won the NBA Championship in 1994 & 1995 had MJ been playing with the Bulls througout those seasons. Sufficed to say, MJ's team won the NBA Championship in every full season (6) he played from 1990-1998. As for Tim Duncan's first championship (1999), that was during the lockout-shortened regular season. San Antonio already had a great center in David Robinson, as well as quality role players including Sean Elliott and Avery Johnson, so adding Tim Duncan to the mix (coupled with MJ's 2nd retirement) probably hastened the inevitable. It wasn't until 2003, Duncan's 6th season in the league, that the Spurs won an NBA Championship following a full 82 game regular season. 1. It wasn't until 1994, Hakeem's 10th season in the league, that his team finally won an NBA Championship. 2. It wasn't until 2001, Shaq's 8th season in the league, that his team finally won an NBA Championship. As mentioned above, the Orlando Magic (Penny Hardaway, Nick Anderson, Dennis Scott) reached the NBA Finals in Shaq's 3rd season (1995), losing 4-0 to Houston. 3. It wasn't until 1994, Patrick Ewing's 9th season in the league, that his team finally made it to the NBA Finals (lost to Houston). MJ's sabbatical probably had quite a bit to do with the Knicks advancing to the NBA Finals that season. The Knicks advanced to the NBA Finals again in 1999, but Ewing never played on a team that won an NBA Championship. 4. It wasn't until 1999 (the lockout-shortened season), David Robinson's 10th season in the league, that his team finally won an NBA Championship. You don't suppose the shortened season helped the cause? If not, why didn't the Spurs win another championship prior to 2005? While I'll concede drafting Tim Duncan in 1997 certainly helped the Spurs to win the championship in 1999, it is worth nothing the next title for the Spurs wouldn't happen for another 4 seasons. 5. It wasn't until 2006, Alonzo Mourning's 400th (13th) season in the league, that his team finally won an NBA Championship. With an assist from Dwayne Wade and Shaq, of course. Prior to 2006, Mourning had never played on a team that had even advanced to the NBA Finals. 6. Brad Daugherty never played on a team that won an NBA Championship or reached the NBA Finals. The bottom line is in order to be fair, either evaluate Yao's place in NBA history after he has finished his playing career; or, if comparisons are to be made to other "greats", the same timeframes need to be used when other players are being used as a "benchmark". Yao still has an opportunity to do something that all-time greats such as John Stockton, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller were unable to accomplish: win an NBA Championship.
What about Bill Walton... This Jack Ass hates the Rockets! As far as people hating on Yao, it's international hating! I hear all nationalities of dumb asses that continue to hate on Yao. He's is the best center in the league. This is a what have you done for me lately league and a new year. Shaq has passed the torch like Hakeem passed it to him... Yao should just pop the next person that hard falls him in the mouth and then we'll see a ton of respect rain from the heavenly sky above! From a Black Man!
just constructive criticism i suppose from the jet. i think charles was right about some games where yaos 26 isn't dominating. its not he makes his presence known. yao must demand the ball more. he shold be averaging 35. only if they could get him the ball when he screens off his man everytime in the post. the back is wide open 80% of the time.
