Clutch outside shooting, which the Rockets do not have on a consistent basis would make Yao unstoppable. Not even TMac has provided that "cover." The Rockets need shooting, what else is new? The Lakers have Brian Cook making threes, good grief. The Rockets miss more lay ups than most NBA teams miss outside shots.
good logic. I say the whole NBA is a conspiracy, they change rules, they change balls, they pump and dump stars, we all get fooled.
Ok, In those Hakeem's years, was there any player who was paid so much money but did not play? Look the salary in the rockets, and look how many players cannot play, and look how much salary those player takes. Period.
Dream had good PGs. Kenny was good, he can shoot and run the offense well without turning the ball over. Sam was good cause he could score and make plays in the crunch. Look at the top teams now: UTAH-Deron Williams is good. really good. SUNS-Nash-he's the freaking MVP SPURS-TONY PARKER MAVS-they have a bunch of ball handlers
I don't really think that makes a difference. Yao can pretty much handle anybody one on one. I don't see guys like Ewing or Robinson doing much against Yao without help. Physically they're not longer or stronger or more athletic than the likes of Duncan, Howard, Kwame, Diop etc. And if the second-tier centers of today are power forwards then why don't they just put those power forwards on Yao. Power forward, center. It's all semantics. Just put your best big man on Yao and see if he can stop him. We've yet to see any defender do that without help for the past couple of years. And finally Hakeem was a 10 year vet when he won his first title. His impact and learning curve was certainly quicker than Yao's. But Yao has improved every year that he's been in the league and it shows no signs of stopping because of his tireless work ethic, competitive drive, and willingness to listen and work with the coaches. I think it's too soon to say that Yao can't reach a level of dominance that Hakeem did in his title years.
you guys remember that year when the Dream got hit in the face by Cartright and was out a bunch of games? we replaced Dream with Larry Smith and we had some incredible winning streak with no team in the league stopping the Kenny Smith to Otis Thorpe pick and roll. NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE ROCKET LEGENDS!
That's why I love Yao...Dream never got any respect from the refs either because of his quiet demeanor and reluctance to argue bad calls/non-calls.
Yao does quite well against the best centers in the league. It is when he faces hordes of midget triple teams that he struggles. Hakeem struggled badly against Seattle (cheated by doubling and tripling before he received the ball), who played the most similar defenses to the teams that Yao also struggles against.
Exactly. That little guy from Canada could probably make Yao averaging 35 points a game without sweating his shirt.
just compare the our players now (excluding tmac), to the role players back then, and there is NO contest that Dream had the better team. Not only were Dream's starters better but so was his bench. Just look at the collection of players Yao has had over the last 2 years, most of those players are not NBA material. Outside of Tmac and Yao, the rockets have NOTHING. Luther is growing, but he certainly has his short comings.
check out Sam putting on the Dreamshake. <object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/I37j3YHAvLw"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/I37j3YHAvLw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>
Can this guy help? I am looking at the stat sheet. in 51 minutes, he got his only 3 rb, 1 assists, 2 Stl most in first half, then shot 1/4 in 2nd half plus 2 OTs. ..
Ironically enough, Jeffrey, I was about to post the same thing. Yao has looked amazing this season. Certainly an MVP candidate. And yet... While Yao can still put damn good #'s on the board, he still is.... at least not yet... not the "go to guy". ie. the guy like Olajuwon was. Mac always helped him... Don't get me wrong... He still is a phenom. He may get there. The fact that McGrady is out, yet again, really hurts Yao. That said, I said before the season that Sampson was better than Yao. I was wrong.
And before everyone gets in a huff about my last post, I am talking about the 4th quarter. Yao has been spent.
Maxwell was the only person that Jordan coudn't stand... I'd give my right nut to see that match-up. Basketball is all about matchups, and the Bulls never had an answer for Olajuwon.
well we beat "one big man" to win (Ewing) to get there...and Shaq to repeat! so if we hadn't have won...another big man would have.. so your point is?
