Understood. I'm not trying to take away anything from Howard. I didn't expect the Magic to get out of the East, and both he and his team exceeded my expectations. But I do think he'd have a much tougher path to the Finals playing in the West, and the Rockets a much easier path playing in the East. That goes for previous years as well, when McGrady was leading the team. Another hypothetical to consider is Yao in place of Dwight Howard on the Magic trying to battle through the East, and the same with Dwight on the Rockets. Yao's strengths and weaknesses are far different, and more than any other player I think he changes how his teammates have to play. So its hard for me to project how successful the Magic would be with him. What do you think? Less successful, or more so?
from Yahoo translation Some people said that NBA suppresses Yao Ming? Talks nonsense, which can NBA also depend on Yao Ming to develop the Chinese market, which flatters him also without enough time, how possibly suppresses him? I must tell you, NBA was mistakenly must develop the Chinese market, but could not pay absolutely lets the Chinese players rule their native place star player's price! When the Chinese players could not have achieved the NBA player standard time, for the Chinese market, they may let this Chinese players enter NBA; When Chinese player's ability could not have achieved the main force player standard time, for the Chinese market, they may let this Chinese players hit dozen of first rounds; When the Chinese players achieve the NBA alliance the middle reaches level, for the Chinese market, they may say him to have boundless prospects, may flatter him for future giant star; But when a Chinese player has the dominant alliance potential or ability, threatens sufficiently when they manage a household star player's status, this Chinese players the Chinese market which develops for them incomparably had been already general, already did not need them to flatter again, on the contrary, for their native place star player's status, they must suppress this Chinese player! Now lets us look together how the NBA alliance does use the multiple standards to make them the froth star player and suppresses Yao Ming. If kobe's technology and ability sufficiently with his giant star status appropriate match words, then James and Howard are NBA in the alliance use field multiple assign froth star player's work which representative the standard makes! James and Howard these two players besides have the astonishing physical quality, actually the technology is quite rough! However in the NBA alliance use field the multiple standards assigned a penalty have covered their technology rough huge flaw, but let their physical quality obtain the incisive display! Everybody knew, whenever enters the international championship or the Olympic Games compete, in NBA class of stroke light infinite James, the Howard completely will expose its technical rough serious defect, becomes dirty. In this kind assigns in the standard unified competition, these artificial make the froth star player can only be difficult! Everybody might not despise the referee to the competition the influence, when in an alliance referee wholeheartedly to make some star player and suppress some player, but used unscrupulously multiple assigned the standard the time, then to these player's will influence be huge! They may let using the scat singing defend Howard the player not to dare depending on him to be too near, does not dare to Howard to raise a rumpus, thus expands Howard's attack space, displays the Howard physical quality good superiority fully! They may cause to defend Yao Ming the player on rollers to hug unscrupulously to Yao Ming fall, thus reduces Yao Ming's attack space, lets the Yao Ming technology good superiority display without knowing where to begin! They may let Yao Ming using the scat singing, in the sealing match or fights for the backboard time is timid to act, is not careful is slightly violates a regulation! May also let Howard, in the sealing match or fights for the backboard time has no scruples, so long as will not be too obvious will not be blown violates a regulation! Is precisely under this kind of double standards assigning, under basket's Yao Ming in opposite party many strong male unscrupulous on rollers hugs falls, vacillates the center of gravity with difficulty steadily, the technology displays with difficulty, the physical strength actually unceasingly exhausts! But under basket's Howard actually relaxed freely, displays the bodily superiority heartily, the slam dunk does not have the limit! These two, third-class centers when to Yao Ming may use heartily low method, when to Howard actually does not dare to use, can only look at him and do nothing. But when Howard and Yao Ming resist directly, the referee is spells tries also not to help how many to be busy! First, takes the first center who is promoted grandly by the alliance, Howard when defends Yao Ming is always embarrassed elephant these two, third-class centers to Yao Ming on rollers to hug equally falls? Does not use these low's method, how could he defend technical comprehensive Yao Ming? Even if were looks for the team friendship association against to be also useless. Next, when the Howard attack, by he that rough attack method, Yao Ming only needs in him after death a station, is the barrier which he is unable to cross, the referee cannot see Yao Ming stands is blowing violates a regulation? Therefore we saw that in Howard and Yao Ming resist in competition, whatever how the referee does help, blew inexplicably how unceasingly punishes Yao Ming to violate a regulation, limits Yao Ming's display, technical rough Howard still difficultly ran away by the Yao Ming storm bad luck! But to the international game, Howard insufficiently has resisted with Yao Ming share! Many people always get sick gou Yao Ming to compete when key ability, how could it not be knows this is precisely the court creates. In critical moment, James, so long as dribbles toward the basket under flushes, opposite party is unable to prevent, who and do it have the bodily contact to blow punish violate a regulation, if with its contact, that naturally is not the relaxed on basket or the slam dunk! Continuously for a long time hence, this will give James when the processing key attack will produce the big self-confidence? Also will give defends them the person to have the big fear? But Yao Ming which, attacks in Yao Ming, whatever defends the player on rollers to hug falls, the referee all looks but not see, how do you let Yao Ming process the winning play? The match how will have the fear to Yao Ming's key attack? Some people disparage Yao Ming because Yao Ming fears Fronting, said that if fronting Howard that will be airborne relay. Thats a joke! Therefore match this circles before Yao Ming, acknowledged to Yao Ming's defensive not in the least means that but is compelled to use obstructs the method which Yao Ming catches a ball, so long as i.e. Yao Ming has attained the ball helplessly they only then like this. But before technical rough Howard serves a need others to circle? Also airborne relay, can't Yao Ming? If only then a player circles before him, after death has not defended the player, because Yao Ming is not dies stands in there, before opposite party circles, the player to the complete attention place on the Yao Ming body, but Yao Ming's attention on ball, so long as the rocket player throws a ball high toward the basket, Yao Ming may with ease catch a ball the slam dunk. Therefore cannot only like this, not be because after death also some people are keeping off? Why does this kind defend your Howard to be able to meet the slam dunk spatially? Moreover, other teams therefore can only circle before Yao Ming succeeds, the referee is also has lasting achievements, before circling the player who, defends to carry to Yao Ming, Yao Ming may the free derailing, why did he know Yao Ming also in him after death, why always does maintain before the Yao Ming body's position? Does not use on rollers holds and so on methods, before circling, defends is untenable. Clearly competition environment contrast which with Howard, James et al. locates, quite runs in Yao Ming in the water, but Horward and James etc runs in the air, who can run faster and win, it can be imagined! May say not politely, if the NBA alliance gives Yao Ming a fair competition environment, Yao Ming will be irresistible under the basket. This is also precisely the NBA alliance to make them the native place star player to suppress Yao Ming's reason to be at!
^ I'd say it is about even, they'd could easily play a similar (albeit slower) game with a healthy Yao, but they would need someone to come help clean up all the rebounds that Yao might not be able to get at. But given the lack of true centers in the East, he'd probably do just as well as Howard, if healthy.
from Yahoo translation: Some people said that NBA suppresses Yao Ming? Talks nonsense, which can NBA also depend on Yao Ming to develop the Chinese market, which flatters him also without enough time, how possibly suppresses him? I must tell you, NBA was mistakenly must develop the Chinese market, but could not pay absolutely lets the Chinese players rule their native place star player's price! When the Chinese players could not have achieved the NBA player standard time, for the Chinese market, they may let this Chinese players enter NBA; When Chinese player's ability could not have achieved the main force player standard time, for the Chinese market, they may let this Chinese players hit dozen of first rounds; When the Chinese players achieve the NBA alliance the middle reaches level, for the Chinese market, they may say him to have boundless prospects, may flatter him for future giant star; But when a Chinese player has the dominant alliance potential or ability, threatens sufficiently when they manage a household star player's status, this Chinese players the Chinese market which develops for them incomparably had been already general, already did not need them to flatter again, on the contrary, for their native place star player's status, they must suppress this Chinese player! Now lets us look together how the NBA alliance does use the multiple standards to make them the froth star player and suppresses Yao Ming. If kobe's technology and ability sufficiently with his giant star status appropriate match words, then James and Howard are NBA in the alliance use field multiple assign froth star player's work which representative the standard makes! James and Howard these two players besides have the astonishing physical quality, actually the technology is quite rough! However in the NBA alliance use field the multiple standards assigned a penalty have covered their technology rough huge flaw, but let their physical quality obtain the incisive display! Everybody knew, whenever enters the international championship or the Olympic Games compete, in NBA class of stroke light infinite James, the Howard completely will expose its technical rough serious defect, becomes dirty. In this kind assigns in the standard unified competition, these artificial make the froth star player can only be difficult! Everybody might not despise the referee to the competition the influence, when in an alliance referee wholeheartedly to make some star player and suppress some player, but used unscrupulously multiple assigned the standard the time, then to these player's will influence be huge! They may let using the scat singing defend Howard the player not to dare depending on him to be too near, does not dare to Howard to raise a rumpus, thus expands Howard's attack space, displays the Howard physical quality good superiority fully! They may cause to defend Yao Ming the player on rollers to hug unscrupulously to Yao Ming fall, thus reduces Yao Ming's attack space, lets the Yao Ming technology good superiority display without knowing where to begin! They may let Yao Ming using the scat singing, in the sealing match or fights for the backboard time is timid to act, is not careful is slightly violates a regulation! May also let Howard, in the sealing match or fights for the backboard time has no scruples, so long as will not be too obvious will not be blown violates a regulation! Is precisely under this kind of double standards assigning, under basket's Yao Ming in opposite party many strong male unscrupulous on rollers hugs falls, vacillates the center of gravity with difficulty steadily, the technology displays with difficulty, the physical strength actually unceasingly exhausts! But under basket's Howard actually relaxed freely, displays the bodily superiority heartily, the slam dunk does not have the limit! These two, third-class centers when to Yao Ming may use heartily low method, when to Howard actually does not dare to use, can only look at him and do nothing. But when Howard and Yao Ming resist directly, the referee is spells tries also not to help how many to be busy! First, takes the first center who is promoted grandly by the alliance, Howard when defends Yao Ming is always embarrassed elephant these two, third-class centers to Yao Ming on rollers to hug equally falls? Does not use these low's method, how could he defend technical comprehensive Yao Ming? Even if were looks for the team friendship association against to be also useless. Next, when the Howard attack, by he that rough attack method, Yao Ming only needs in him after death a station, is the barrier which he is unable to cross, the referee cannot see Yao Ming stands is blowing violates a regulation? Therefore we saw that in Howard and Yao Ming resist in competition, whatever how the referee does help, blew inexplicably how unceasingly punishes Yao Ming to violate a regulation, limits Yao Ming's display, technical rough Howard still difficultly ran away by the Yao Ming storm bad luck! But to the international game, Howard insufficiently has resisted with Yao Ming share! Many people always get sick gou Yao Ming to compete when key ability, how could it not be knows this is precisely the court creates. In critical moment, James, so long as dribbles toward the basket under flushes, opposite party is unable to prevent, who and do it have the bodily contact to blow punish violate a regulation, if with its contact, that naturally is not the relaxed on basket or the slam dunk! Continuously for a long time hence, this will give James when the processing key attack will produce the big self-confidence? Also will give defends them the person to have the big fear? But Yao Ming which, attacks in Yao Ming, whatever defends the player on rollers to hug falls, the referee all looks but not see, how do you let Yao Ming process the winning play? The match how will have the fear to Yao Ming's key attack? Some people disparage Yao Ming because Yao Ming fears Fronting, said that if fronting Howard that will be airborne relay. Thats a joke! Therefore match this circles before Yao Ming, acknowledged to Yao Ming's defensive not in the least means that but is compelled to use obstructs the method which Yao Ming catches a ball, so long as i.e. Yao Ming has attained the ball helplessly they only then like this. But before technical rough Howard serves a need others to circle? Also airborne relay, can't Yao Ming? If only then a player circles before him, after death has not defended the player, because Yao Ming is not dies stands in there, before opposite party circles, the player to the complete attention place on the Yao Ming body, but Yao Ming's attention on ball, so long as the rocket player throws a ball high toward the basket, Yao Ming may with ease catch a ball the slam dunk. Therefore cannot only like this, not be because after death also some people are keeping off? Why does this kind defend your Howard to be able to meet the slam dunk spatially? Moreover, other teams therefore can only circle before Yao Ming succeeds, the referee is also has lasting achievements, before circling the player who, defends to carry to Yao Ming, Yao Ming may the free derailing, why did he know Yao Ming also in him after death, why always does maintain before the Yao Ming body's position? Does not use on rollers holds and so on methods, before circling, defends is untenable. Clearly competition environment contrast which with Howard, James et al. locates, quite runs in Yao Ming in the water, but Horward and James etc runs in the air, who can run faster and win, it can be imagined! May say not politely, if the NBA alliance gives Yao Ming a fair competition environment, Yao Ming will be irresistible under the basket. This is also precisely the NBA alliance to make them the native place star player to suppress Yao Ming's reason to be at!
Look just because some of us are starting to realize that Howard is beasting it now and in my opinion the best Center in the NBA does not mean that we hate Yao. There was a time when yes Yao was the better Center. But I am wondering if most of you have realized Yao has been in the league for a while and so has Dwight. Dwight although is only 24 is no longer that raw rookie that we used to look at as just potential. He has worked hard and definitely improved in alot of aspects. He's got a pretty nice hook shot. He rebounds well. He boxes out. He blocks. He defends. He does all the nice things that we used to see in a truly dominant big man and would want in our big man. The West and East are getting quite equal in talent wise and it isn't as lopsided as it was years ago. He is banging it out with the toughest of them out there and is still ticking/healthy/not always injured. He deserves his props. Don't forget there was a time when Hakeem was the best center in the NBA. He basically schooled the guy named Shaq in the 95 finals. Eventually the torch got passed and Shaq became the man who owned the Paint. Well the time is starting again. Yao is 28-29. He's been injured a few zillion times. He's not the main threat in the paint in the league. Don't get me wrong he is still a threat and is still a great player. He's still better than alot of the other Centers out there but honestly just watch Dwight OWN the PAINT now. There is just barely any stopping to the guy. If you drive in there he'll swat the ball. If you miss that shot he's going to get that rebound. If you are his team mate he will help you box out so you can have a clear lane to drive in there. If you pass him the ball you can almost guarantee an effecient 100% shot/ dunk. He's just that dominant in there and it is scary but just awesome to watch. He holds his own in there and doesn't get pushed around. The torch is passing on. Yes it is hard to say and it doesn't mean we hate Yao and think he sucks it is just that like alot of things, time takes its toll. In Yao Ming's case Time, Injuries, and maybe a lack of rest during the nba season and off. Dwight has taken his game to the next level. He's come back every year with something new to offer. He's worked his way up there and he deserves the props and title of the Best Center of the NBA until proven otherwise. If Yao meets him in the finals like Hakeem met Ewing and Shaq back then and they duel it out until the finish and Yao wins hey it'll be one of those times that I like many wouldn't mind being Glad that we were wrong. But right now Dwight doesn't need that shot away from the basket. The guy is more of a threat right there in the paint where he can do what he does best and own it. If the only problem they have with Dwight is that he's young and doesn't do a Shanghai shake and doesn't have that amazing free throw capabilities then I think they can live with that and I am sure given the chance we would to.
I agree somewhat. But on the other hand when you have a great serious or even a great game it doesn't really matter great is great.
Alright this translation is making me go bonkers and quite frankly I hope someone gives a better translation. But from what I am getting to is that they are saying the NBA is discriminating on Yao Ming and would rather let one of their own succeed in the NBA. If that is the case then all I have to say is WOW REALLY? Are we really going to sink this low in what 2009 and pull a Johnny Cochran type " You don't like me because of my race?" The Dallas Mavericks vs the Rockets series was rigged years ago but I highly doubt it was anything to do with the league not wanting an ASIAN man to succeed. Heck then that means they would have rather had a German man succeed rather than a man from China. I really don't think that is the case. What do these people want, a red Carpet rolled out for Yao or would they prefer the trail of flower petals like he's the prince of Zamunda ala Coming to America. Yao Ming is an icon and a rockstar. The guy is a superstar who does get superstar treatment. He's a face in the NBA like Lebron and Kobe. He's definitely one of the most recognizable athletic figures in the World. What more do these people want. It is not the NBA's fault he easily gets fronted. It is not the NBA's fault that he has difficulty catching the ball. Heck we have brought in players to do whatever they can to get him the ball and make him the most lethal weapon. Tmac and Steve Francis have basically given up their bodies and thrown themselves into the swarm of Paint defenders just so they can hand him the ball. Not even really pass the ball but HAND him the ball so he could make an easy bucket. What else do you guys want. Do you want the NBA to start saying the rules don't apply to Yao Ming because he's Asian? If they are saying Lebron, Dwight and Kobe have clear paths to the rim it is mostly because these guys are athletic and strong players. You do not want to get dunked on by these guys. It is not that the rules do not apply to them. These guys are big and strong and running at FULL Speed at you. They are going for that Dunk and they will either get that dunk or get that dunk and a foul. Not only that when someone that strong is running at you at Fully speed and bumps into you it does not feel great. It freakin HURTS. It's a freakin a mass of weight being thrown at you at full force. It is not a pillow being tossed at you but over 200 lbs of Rock HARD muscle thrown at you and you will get hurt/ injured. Which would you prefer? Unless you are like Shaq, Dwight, Hakeem or Mutumbo who could handle these super athletic forces coming after you then most would clear away. Yao doesn't seem built for this type of physical interaction. He's already injury prone so yeah if these other players are not so afraid of Yao and are a little more afraid of Dwight that is the reason. Dwight is getting the same abuse Yao is but the difference is Dwight can handle it. He's built like a Rock and starts the game off agressive. The same rules apply for both of them and honestly how much more superstardom treatment do they want from the NBA for Yao? They are not going to just clear the paint out just for Yao. He needs to give them reason to clear that paint like Mutumbo has been trying to show him the past few years. How much more star treatment do these guys writing this type of article want for their Mr. Yao Ming?
If you look only at performance without factoring in competition, then you're not truly understanding greatness. For example. Howard scored 40 against Ilgauskas/Varejao to close out the Cavs. In the 1995 WCF, Olajuwon scored 39 against Robinson (MVP of the league that year) to close out the Spurs. Would you say that they were equally great performances?
so are you saying yao's performances in the playoffs in his career have followed the same pattern b/c he has faced bradley, dampier, okur, pryzbilla, and greg oden--all are mostly defensive scrubs? (well using your logic) the answer is no. when yao had a great game, those were "great" performances regardless. same with howard as he faced double/triple teams throughout that series. however, hakeem's performance was just "legendary" b/c like you said, he did it v. greater competition. and people do take notice of that. but again, you can't help who you face. if you play great, you play great.
No their not equally great, but Howard performance was still great. Theres nothing you can do about who you face in the playoffs you just have to play whos on the court.
I like how you "accidentally" omitted Shaq from your list of centers that Yao has faced in the playoffs. Very true to form. This is the point I was trying to make.
that was yao's first playoff series and he struggled (15ppg on 45%). he wasn't really the featured guy like howard is so i didn't include that (francis was our best player then). so no, stop thinking too much like you always do. the point is basically, they're all "great" performances. do you think ever casual fan will remember who guarded them? what kind of defenses were geared to stop them?... no, they'll just remember what those guys did and if they dominated or not. get it?
I rather have MCGrady or Artest watch Hedo Turkoglu (damn, can't spell his name),,, Just look at the pick and roll Orlando is doing,,,,JVG never perfected that in Houston
