I disagree about Yao. I think he is at his prime. With a healthy Mcgrady, Yao would average 23 ppg, 11 rebs. Tmac is the only one tall enough with good ball handling to get Yao the ball where he wants it all the time and also capable of breaking down the fronting defense. Also keep in mind how much money Yao makes for the Rockets. His salary is a small percentage of it.
That's really funny, because Walton in his own biography said it was because his ankle bone was shaped wrong. Once he had surgery to change the shape of the bone, he never had the problem again. Diet had nothing to do with it. In fact, Grant Hill had the same EXACT problem, his ankle bone was shaped wrong. They cut the bone and re-shaped it and he has been fine since.
If Yao somehow becomes injury free, you'd be surprised to see how long Yao lasts. When a player gets older, It's a good thing to have skill vs. athleticism, and Yao isn't going to shrink any time soon. His size will always be there.
A healthy Kyle Lowry would help Yao a lot as well. Kyle Lowry is very good at creating for others just like he is at creating for himself. I think a guy like Joe Johnson or Michael Redd in 2010 could help Yao a lot as well.
So now we're making decisions not based on winning rings, right? If that's the case, the rockets will never win a ring. Yao brings business to les business, not the rockets. His money isn't or can't be used in that manner. The clippers can generate more money than the rockets. The wizards, celtics, mav knicks and nets also. U know why?
You are right. Usually centers plays much longer than other players. That's why a 43 year old Dikembe was able to get a contract to play in the NBA. Hakeem played for almost 2 decades. Shaq is still around, etc.
Blame alexander for that. If he decides to use the money Yao brings in to go over LT and sign more good players, Rockets will be contenders year after year. Look what Cleveland's owner just did.
Yao is both a good money maker for Les AND an all nba center who gives you 20-10-2 That's the beauty of Yao Well I'm not looking to make enemies with the Yao haters since I rarely ever post here. You know my opinion.
And on top of that. Yao is a top 2 center in NBA righ now, and will be that way in the near future. A great center could be so important to Championships.
Actually he is THE BEST center in the league right now But as I said, I think Kyle Lowry starting can help out Yao's production and Joe Johnson or Michael Redd in 2010 possibly would also help out Yao's production. Yao is a championship caliber player, everybody knows that. Especially GM's.
Last thing, Les' money is the Rockets money. If Les is poor he will take the Rockets salary to the league min and give away players like what they did with Memphis and Pau Gasol. With Yao, Les has the money to take the salary right to the luxury cap and spend to buy draft picks too. Really think how life will be like without Yao. With that, I'm out.
Dream got his last great contract from houston when he was the best player in the game. Shaq was traded because buss didn't think shaq was worth a 30m per extension. Deke was cut 5 yrs ago cause he was making max. What you all are telling me is no matter that the rox might cripple their cap with a injury waiting to happen, Yao should retire a rocket? No matter what another team offers houston, they shouldn't even consider it?
As a serious yao hater, you are so obvious...next time, think with head please Yao is cash COW, Moss is not, Kidd is not, Shaq is not, but Yao is... Do you think Les would let Yao go without offer him a max contract, think it again NBA is and always will be a business. Period
gotta love how the only defense any time a valid critique of yao is raised is to label the other side as a yao hater. no surprise that it's usually laced with poor grammar and other obvious signs of idiocy. main reason why i don't participate in yao threads anymore. you guys have really done your best in bringing down the quality of the best sports message board on the 'net.
How the hell is that relevant? I'm pretty sure if Yao could half ass the regular season like Shaq did, he'd be more durable and maybe even dominant in the playoffs. But can the Rox afford that, esp. considering T-Mac's ups and downs, well mostly downs in this past regular season? And most importantly, we all should probably know by now that Yao would never half ass on the court, even if Rox can afford it. Isn't that what we like about Yao?
So you're still going with the claim that SHaq was injury prone in year 7, the lockout season in which he played 49 of 50 games, after it's been pointed out to you multiple times that that was the lockout season. Try being a bit less obviously YOFFy
