What player of all-time do you think Yao Ming's game Resembles?

The thing to look forward to about Yao is that since his game is in no way based on physical leaping/jumping ability... it should continue to age well as he ages well.

Namely, he will continue to learn techniques about how to establish/keep position, continue to be able to shoot over smaller guys, and he'll continue to cause havoc defensively simply because of his sheer size (like Sabonis did, even though he was SLOWER than Yao).

His numbers would be much better had we still focused on establishing him in the low post, and punishing teams for fronting. Lately, instead of forcing him in there, we defer to the high post/pick and roll (which never leads to Yao scoring). Also, we still need somebody to be able to find Yao IMMEDIATELY when he's open. A lot of times, they wait, he waits, and by the time the ball gets to him... its too late. Then again, sometimes they pass it before he's ready (even though he's open), and he fumbles it away.

Regardless, its a plus that the majority of his game is based on his size... and he won't be getting smaller any time soon.

 

I like the people who say he resembles the Dream...
if Dream was playing basketball in his swimming pool.

 

I like the Kareem comparison. I was a huge kareem fan back in the day, almost as big as the Yao fan I am today. Here are the similarities as I see it.
1) Build - both wiry strong up top though Yao's legs are much stronger
2) Athleticism - both outstanding for their height but not impressive compared to their peer group
3) Offensive versatility - hooks (both righty and lefty), drop steps, baseline spins, turnaround jumper, face up jumper (Yao only); Kareem relied much more on the sky hook, the most effective shot in the history of the NBA, but Yao is slightly more versatile
4) Passing out of the post - both great court vision to the perimeter, Kareem better to cutters
5) Rebounding - both solid, but not great
6) Demeanor - both rather stoic but could definitely get fired up
If only Yao could have the durability Kareem had. He played at an all-star level up to about the age of 39.

 

i thought he was like a combo of the dream and duncan as well, he can face up and shoot over the top or he can do that one dribble spin and although it isn't as nice as duncans, or as athletic as hakeem's it certainly is similar, like a slow mo version haha

 

resembles is the key word, like i said his moves are the dream in slow mo

 

JohnKamla- I guess you never seen Kareem when he was 29. I also guess you didn't see the 80's all star game when kareem got the ball and broke the press and you had to do a double take. Kareem was a great athlete.

I still say Brad Daughtery most resembles his game. Brad was pretty good until his back went out.

 

that's what i said, he's like Dream playing in his swimming pool.

 

I think he missed Lew Alcindor too.

 

Playing in a swimming pool was classic!

 

I'm not sure Yao would be better if a Rudy T or Adelman had developed him, he might be worse, but he would be different. I posted a thread during Yao's first season that it would be interesting to see him playing at PF with Cato at Center. I still think it would've been interesting to have Yao playing in the high post some to shake up the offense. I think Yao can still be a very effective high post passer and also can hit the midrange face up jumpshot like KG does.

 

Brad Daugherty, I knew some posters would mention his name or compare the stats at some point. But, Daugherty only realtion to Yao are the numbers and injury prone nature. Outside of that, they are nothing alike. Daugherty was much more related to a player, like Tim Duncan in his style of play. Maybe not as clutch, talented, though. But he is definitely in a Tim Duncan mode player. I'd say yes, Yao and BD are related in the production department, but not style of play.

Yao again has his own game. They aren't really any players you can make a direct example of to make an accurate comparsion to. Ewing and Kareem were way more athletic and fundamentally sound, but not nearly as strong. That's 230-245 vs. 310-320 pounds. Sabonis was a better passer and shooter, again not nearly as strong, he's body was somewhat more fragile than Yao's. Rik Smits was an optimal shooter, but was lacking in every other area of play, offensively to defensively. Hakeem just being an all the way around better player, faster, quicker, better reaction, BB IQ, and explosiveness, yet again Yao has more power to his game.

Yao is probaby one of the more unique players in the league (skill wise, not ethnicity/culture), from him being so tall, yet being better than the average talent, for any size. He has an array of hook shots (which can be unblockable at times), fadeaways, fallaways, up and unders (not as much these days), a fair shooting range, great FT shooting, decent passing skills, defensive skills that can range from average to great (at times) and power plays (like Shaq and Moses). I can't really think of any of other players who fit that mode, because they are either greater in most areas (shooting, athleticism, and passing), yet aren't that big and powerful.

He has his own game. But again, if you have to compare him to someone, I would say an weaker (hybrid) version of Ewing (without the shooting range), Kareem (without the clutch play and BB IQ), and Sabonis (minus the shooting range and passing skills). You can't really compare them unless it is just on out right production.

 

I usually give JVG and Ewing credit for that, too. They did take Yao Ming's game to another level, they saw he was practically unguardable in the paint. That's where they made him develop his game from, instead of hanging away from the basket. Which I thought happened for the best? Because, he plays really well against post centers and teams with weak front lines. He knows how to exploit his size, more often than not.

It would be nice for him to shoot, like forward, but we don't need him to be like Smits or Miller. Or a lesser version of Tim Duncan. We need him take advantage of the post like Moses or Shaq, since most teams in the league, aren't really built to stop a high scoring center. Most HOF-type centers from the past would have field day with these centers and teams now. You could even imagine a team, like Celtics, Spurs, or Lakers (cream of the crop teams)now trying to stop Shaq in his prime, when they can't barely stop an old broking down 37 yo version. Centers, like Kareem, Olajuwon, Wilt and Ewing would be unguardable nowadays. For example, who would the Lakers put out there to guard someone, like Wilt or Moses Malone.

 

I said other but the closest guy in physical stature would be Z but other then that he is like the heaviest tallest guy most non athletic (NBA wise not size/weight wise)

 

Saying he doesn't closely resemble any of these players may be one of the biggest compliments you can give him. He has his own game, his own style.

 

I don't think there has been a center like Yao ever. His game to me is most similar to Sabonis offensively but better with a splash of Vlade, and defensively more like Mark Eaton.

Yaozerourous comes to mind, or Yaozerstein. That's not putting him down, I think he's the best center in the game right now, but he doesn't look like the Dream or Kareem.

 

You got me there. My recollection of Kareem was based on 1980 and on. He was 33 by then, which considering how dominant he was at that age is amazing.