[USA Today] David Dupree tells it like it is and gives the Rockets props

I love it. Glad to see he has faith in T-Mac and the Rockets. The Yao Ming support will come once he's back from injury.

 

some of you need to relax. if you had followed Dupree's column, this guy has always been a Yao supporter. It did surprise me that he'd put Amare of this season ahead of Yao as a center. Yao's definitely a better player this season but Amare did outplay Yao quite badly the only time the two teams met this season.

 

Dirk is not a top five player. Hell, he's not even top 10. All he can do is shoot and rebound. His post play is decent, but he plays defense like a tall Steve Nash.

But the biggest problem I have with him is that he's a CHOKE ARTIST. Sure, he had that one play against the Spurs last year, but most of the time guys like Josh Howard and Jason Terry get it done down the stretch for the Mavs. Anyone recall Dirk missing those big free throws against the Heat in the finals last year? How about getting locked up in the playoffs against the Rockets?? Their other guys beat us.

yao, tmac, kobe, nash, duncan, garnett, wade, lebron, carmelo...they are all better than dirk (and that's not an exhaustive list either)

 

that is exactly why i believe garnett is overrated. he is a great player. but he can't really step up his game. he'll give you the same consistency that loses so many games for them. arenas will do whatever it takes to win games.

 

I'm tired of reading the 'experts' opinions. I'd rather just watch the games.

 

In regards to the best center comparision:

I think too many "guru's" totally miss the minor fact that Yao almost always get double or tripple teamed--usually before he even gets the ball. Sometimes, they single cover him in the first half and then he goes for 20+, then they revert back to triple teaming him and he only gets 5-10 points in the second half.

Since the comparesion was made between Tim and Amare, what do you think would happen if Yao was surrounded by the all the three point shooters that Spurs and Suns have in JVG system. IMHO, I believe HELL would be unleashed by Yao on the NBA. I believe we would be a high scoring team, because Yao would be 70% on single coverage most nights and our shooters would be 50% from 3pt range by virtue of wide open "practice" type three pointers taken.

 

Garnett took his team to the WCF. Garnett can do it all, and he's damn consistent. Gilbert has had 1.5 good years, and his team is still insignificant. Plus, all he does is score. He plays damn hard, but he's still not elite. Top 10-15 player IMO.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_Arenas#Awards.2Fhonors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Garnett#Achievements

Check those two links out. Garnett and Gilbert aren't even comparable, Garnett is legendary, Gilbert is very good.

 

Gilbert also distribrutes the ball really well. That is one thing that is overlooked because of his scoring. But he does a good job with that as well.

 

What difference does the past make? We are talking about THIS YEAR. I like KG a lot and he's perked up recently but Gilbert has been off the charts. If the past makes a difference then Yao didn't belong in the top 5 before he was hurt.

 

I know this has been discussed before, but how in the world did Gilbert Arenas not get drafted until the second round? Best second round pick ever?

 

Michael Redd was also a 2nd rounder, but those two were definitely a couple of crazy steals.

 

Um... anyone who doesn't put Lebron in their top 5 is CRAZY.

Seriously, what sport are you watching?