ESPN: Top 30 International Players in the NBA Today (Yao #5, Scola #20)

That's fair, but keep in mind that I'm not over-rating Yao or anyone on the Rockets. There are many players in the league that I wouldn't hesitate to take over Yao, but Ginobili simply isn't one of them. First off, he's turning 31 this offseason, so there aren't many years left in his effective career. Another thing people have to realize about Ginobili is that he's a rich man's role player. This is the only season that he's played more than 30 minutes per game. So, given the way he's used by SA, there really isn't any evidence that Ginobili can give you big starter minutes in the same sense that other elite SGs can. I'm not saying that he isn't capable of playing more minutes, but simply that you can't automatically assume that he would blossomed necessarily given more minutes. After all, I highly doubt Popovich would restrict his minutes for the sake of restricting his minutes. It's obvious that for the Spurs, he's more valuable as an impact player off the bench. I just find it hard to believe that if GMs were given the opportunity to take either player as of now, more would select Ginobili without the pretense of marketing and financial gain.

 

It bothers me that fans are underrating Ginobili this much and haven't seen how much he continues to improve. If Yao played a whole season, I'd put him over Manu. But given his injuries and given Manu's improvement, I could easily see GM's that would consider Ginobili over Yao at this point. Especially in a guard-focused league

 

this may well be reasonable, but your reasoning is weak at best. see below.

anyone could be a "liability" on defense, depending on the match-ups. but i'd say the vast majority of games, yao not only is not a liability, he also anchors the rockets defense (top notch in the league in recent years by the way).

see your own example. boozer and howard. boozer is a tough handle for any defender incl. tim duncan; and howard should not have been yao's cover at the first place.

i agree we'd take marketing perspective out of the discussion when purely talking about bball. "not every team needs yao" is true only when you already have a prospect on your team (orlando, portland, etc.); but how many teams in the league have an excellent 5? 5's and 1's (to a lesser extent) are the 2 hardest positions to fill; others come in bunches.

injury issue we just have to wait and see. there is a possibility yao becomes walton-like. but since this is the first time he went down on a wear-and-tear type of injury, i'd wait till next year to see. remember medicines are much more advanced nowadays. amare came back strong after missing an entire year and is still going strong. just one recent example.

 

Jesus people, Yao is not a liability on defense. Yes, he struggled guarding a quicker PF. What center besides great defensive centers don't?

I guess Shaq was a liability because he sucks at defending the pick-n-roll? Um, no...centers defend in the paint, not on the perimeter. Yao could be better at weakside help but it's not like he is a liability in that area. Last time I checked we have been a solid interior defensive team since he got here....

So yeah, Yao is a defensive liability if you expect your center to cover guards and quick forwards....

 

I don't know if I would call Ginobili's performance this year an improvement rather than a good year. Even if it is an improvement, his age certainly renders this development less useful than those in younger players.

 

I would be willing to bet team usa loses. Yao at the 5 with Dirk at the four and Tim coming off the bench would be tough for the team usa to match up with.

Its interesting to see that the best post players are foreign born. I think that Team usa would have the athleticism and defensive edge but that is about it. Shooting and post play go to international squad by a lot. Its funny how people look at players individually and not see how the will be able to play together on a team. Biggest factor being that the combination of shooting and post scoring with players that genuinely compliment each other will be able to compliment each other will be too much for team usa in my opinion.

 

GINOBILIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!

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Ginobili's a baller, no doubt, but I wouldn't pick him to build a team around over Yao.

 

Are you trying to imply that you would take Ginobili over Yao? Say it out if that's what you meant. Don't be a chicken.

 

Have some of you guys seen Manu play? There is a reason why some of the people around the league call him instead of Mcgrady the 2nd best sg in the league. To call him a glorified role player is completely absurd.

 

I know. It's dumb. Duncan is not an international player.

He was born April 25, 1976 in Christiansted, St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. He was born and raised a U.S. citizen.

 

Yao may be one of the best post defenders in the NBA...

It's the perimeter that gets him...but if you pull his PER Allowed and other crap like that, one would quickly find that Yao is nothing close to the liability players like Amare represent on defense.

 

Manu is good but he just cannot be in front of Yao because opponents do not double or triple team him.

 

They need to seriously stop calling Tim Duncan an International Player.
I mean doesn't he play for Team USA...

 

Manu Ginobili is quickly becoming one of the most overrated players in the league.

 

That's usually what winning championships usually does for a player. Look at Dwade.

 

Wait who were the 4 guys ahead of Yao?

Duncan, Nash, Ginobili, and Dirk?

I don't think Ginobili should be ranked ahead of Yao.

 

Someone pull up that video where Yao dunks it in Duncan's face. Obviously, videos are living proof of a player's superiority over another.

 

He also won a gold medal. I think in a championship you always need a guy like him.

 

it's not only that. it's more of match-ups.

put manu on yao to defend him one-on-one, you'd say manu is a huge defensive liability.

put the dpoy's (wallace, camby etc.) on say mcgrady or manu, they become instant liabilities.