I wish I could create a poll but apparently I can't. I think it's close enough to the end of the season to where asking this question makes sense - who is the Rockets MVP for the 08/09 season? I've been surprised by recent comments from Daryl Morey and Shane Battier that Luis Scola is the team MVP, Battier even adding that it's not even close. Don't get me wrong - I love Scola's game and he's certainly been Mr. Consistent - but we're not talking about the most consistent; we're talking about the most valuable player on the team. How can anyone be more valuable than Yao to the success of the team? The offense revolves around him. He anchors the defense. By most objective measures, Yao is clearly superior: - Minutes played (33.4 to 30.3) - Points (19.6 to 12.6) - Rebounds (9.8 to 8.8) - Assists (1.8 to 1.5) - Blocks (1.9 to 0.1) - FG Pct (55% to 53%) - FT Pct (87% to 76%) - Check out the derived statistics from 82games.com; Yao dominates those too My vote: Yao is the MVP and it's not close
I'd say Yao, followed by Artest. Scola is valuable in that he's probably our most consistent player (though he has struggled recently against PHO and UTA). I think Yao, Artest, Scola, Battier would be my top 4.
Well, our MVP just got four points last night, hoping that he can do well in next game. Scola is playing great, and is the most consistent player on the team, but the GM and the player all keeps saying he is the MVP, which is very strange thing to me.
Yao ofcourse is the team MVP. Scola is a solid PF but a lot of his pts and rebounds comes from teams doubling Yao and leaving him open. Last night when the Suns didn't double Yao, Scola was ineffective.
Consistency and efficiency go a long way. Scola is not the MVP but when you look up at the box score at the end of games and Luis put up 16/12 without anyone remembering him taking a shot it tends to make people say things. He is certainly my runner-up for Rockets MVP.
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Going to have to go with Scola as well. Its close, but Scola will edge out Yao. Artest a distant 3rd.
The thought did cross my mind but then I realise Yao is so much part of the whole process that he needn't be brought up in every little mentions like those. When you ask whether a kid or any GM who anchors the Rockets? you dont have to wait for an answer. Yao is the main guy, the leader, the X factor by default. Scola is a great hustle guy. But If Yao was not there creating spaces for him and for the whole team then he wouldnt have been as effective. The team would have trouble beating Suns to the 8th spot. As great as Scola has been, Landry is arguably better offensively and would easily replace him. Whereas Yao is irreplaceable. So debating in that sense is not even plausible. We should be generous in acknowledging the contributions each player has made to the team success. Doing that doesnt take anything away from Yao. Everybody expects a lot out of him. This team is on his back, shoulder or literally on his hand. Like they say, you dont know what you got until you loose it. Maybe some of you people must wait till that day. But yes every single guy in this team has done good things for the team. MVP? Yao. no contest.
scola has had a great year but yao has taken the load and carried it this year. especially after big injury last season. the fact that teams key on him with so much attention and double teams shows you how the league feels about him. the fact that they design defenses to stop him and give others open shots is more proof. the nba players and coaches all say the same thing and try to do the same thing...yao is tough to guard and if you can double and triple him into passing it out you then have a chance to win. when you sit there and let him get good position and shoot you are toast scola has had a great year no doubt but his performance is helped by having yao on the floor to take the focus of defense without yao we would be washed
Landry is athletic and a good player but is not better offensively than Scola because Carl lacks the footwork and post moves of Luis.
Don't know about that, everybody loves Scola, he brings work and energy that no one else comes close to. It isn't always successful in 1 out of 8 games, but really, of all the starters, you know what you are getting with Scola, Yao does do all the heavy lifting, but Scola is always there to lighten the load. Pretty much it is either Yao or Scola depending on your preference.
