Yao: too slow for offense, awfully slow for defense

Many of us want a trade for that reason, Steve and Cat included. I also think Yao will have a difficult time developing and only wish the best for my team. I beleive the best thing to do would be to trade the pick. That simple. See what we can get for the pick, then pull the trigger on the most logical answer.

 

Good points...

But have you cared to conjure up the fact that you can make these arguments for about every center in the league, other than Shaq?

I really doubt Ming will have trouble shooting over anyone. If Wang Zhi Zhi can shoot with a hand in his face, then so can Ming. Ming's like 5 inches taller.

 

Wows are you clairvoyant? You must be to know all this. After reading this I have completely changed my stance. To hell with Ming.

 

Well, you seem to think that the NBA is loaded with centers who will exploit Ming or something. Will Greg Ostertag score 40 on him or something?

Fact remains that Ming doesn't have to be an all-world player to succeed as a center in the NBA.

 

almostReady,I back your viewpoint,I almost watched every game that yao ming played in 2000-2002,all CBA teams are vulnerable when they meet yao ming except Bayi, ming didn't meet a great opponent before, so it is uncertain yao ming's function in the next season, a tremendous gamble! but I hope yao ming could win!

 

I watched the final games between Lakers and Nets. The starting center of Nets is so bad. He is slow. He cannot shot. He has some turnovers. I bet Ming will be better than him.

 

You got that!... and he's Canadian but he does have a sense of humor.

How many Top Picks have become all-time greats: Kareem & Magic come to mind. Look at the last dozen:

90: Derrick Coleman
91: Larry Johnson
92: Shaquille O'Neal
93: Chris Webber
94: Glen Robinson
95: Joe Smith
96: Allen Iverson
97: Tim Duncan
98: Michael Olowakandi
99: Elton Brand
00: Kenyon Martin
01: Kwame Brown

Which of those are going to be all-time greats?

Yes: Shaq and Duncan
Maybe: Webber, Iverson
Ways to go: Elton
Not on the horizon: Robinson, Martin, Kwame
Fuhgettaout it: all else

The Top Pick isn't de facto an all-time great but he sure better be a career starter and a reliable contributor.

BTW, I don't see Jay Williams becoming an all-time NBA great but he'll be a helluva pro.

 

Yes, lower your expectations.

How many years did it take Hakeem to get his first ring?
How many years did it take Larry Bird to get his first ring?
How many years did it take Michael Jordon to get his first ring?
How many years did it take Shaq to get his first ring?

Yes, be realistic for the first several years.

But, NO to the suggestion of not to draft Ming or trade him.

None of us are Rudy.
None of us have the resources as the Rockets.
We are just fans.
If Rudy and Rockets are choosing Yao and keep him, BE IT!

After all:

He is only 21.
He is willing to work.
He wants to be better.

--------------

Yao Ming! Yao Ming! Yao Ming!

Don't worry. Be happy.

 

I'm feeling that most of the people on this board who likes Yao realizes that this is a long term project with rewards that will be bling blinging it to Houston.

No doubt in the first year some cocky smartass guards are gonna try to hoop this 7'5 monster up. And most frontcourt rookies get caught up by frontcourt veteran tricks. It's a learning process, and since this guy is foreign, it's gonna come at him hard.

But his demeanor sounds like he's willing to learn. And undoubtedly he's got something to prove. Let him take his lumps. Every great player had to go through that process.

 

Yeah, that's nice that you want to trade the pick, but the bigger question is what trade? The #1 pick is used with the notion that the player selected will be a franchise player! Whether you think Ming will be a franchise player or not is immaterial, because Rudy and CD already do. So, in order to trade the 1st pick, you need to get a franchise player in return. Odom is not a franchise player, nor is he anywhere close. My problem with trading the pick is that no trade I have heard is good enough. Nobody is offering Elton Brand or Kevin Garnett. Hell, the Wizards wouldn't even trade Kwame Brown's sorry ass for Elton Brand. What teams are offering is Jamison, McDyess, Curry, and Odom. Curry would probably be about the fifteenth pick in this much deeper draft, and is still a question mark. The players being offered just aren't good enough in my opinion. And so what if we also get a high pick? The only player we would take is a small forward. And despite what some of you may think, Butler is not a sure thing by any stretch of the imagination. If we traded down we'd still be drafting question marks with much less potential than Ming. Not to mention it could be another decade before another center comes along with Ming's potential. Can anyone even name any centers in college who are waiting in the wings to become a #1 nba draft pick?. The small forward position and some added depth is a lot easier to fill than the center position. The Rockets need to take this opportunity to fill that need, because it could be a long time before they get another chance...unless of course you're looking forward to four more years of Kelvin Cato.

 

Every college player must adjust to the NBA speed too. There is huge difference between NCAA and NBA as far as speed goes and all players must adjust. What about highschoolers coming into the NBA? European leagues?....same deal.

Here is a news flash that has not been stated before in the past 2 months!!! It will be no surprise that Ming will need to adjust. Remember that the Chinese national team and the traveling National Chinese teams all play collegiate talent and European teams on a regular basis traveling around the World and, often times, Ming has been on the victorious end of the head-to-head matchup.

Yes, Ming will need to adjust just as Kobe, McGrady, J. Oneal, Gasol, Nowitzki, Mobley, Darius Myles and just like every other highschool, collegiate and foreign player has learned to do, but you do not see people saying, " they will never make it in the NBA or they will be average." If Ming played for an Italian league team or Spanish league team or the University of Texas or North Dakota State or Augusta College, we would probably not be having this debate.

 

AlmostReady, I know you are trying to lower people's expectations, but Yao has played many years against International competition, so he atleast has experience with some quicker games/players.

Yao knows he needs to adapt to the NBA and it will probably take some time. He even said he is willing to sit on the bench for 2 years if he has too, not sure if the fans are willing to wait that long though.

-G'day-

 

Yes because Cato and Collier are the core of the team.

The guy can run the court. I'm not sure about his lateral quickness but I'm assuming it's respectable. Anybody who's seen him play have some insight? Sure the quicker style game will be an adjustment but he has the talent and desire to play at an NBA pace.

I'm in agreement with you there. He has to learn the players' moves, the different officiating style in the NBA and how to be physical within the rules of Stern. That does not worry me in his first half of the season. This team has plenty of big man options.

Boxed out? With those legs and that height? He rebounded well in the Olympics at 19 in limited playing time.

What's much lower from 72%? 55%? 45%? 35%? 25%???? The guy has a sweet stroke and at his height he won't have much difficulty of geting his shot off regardless of the leaping ability of the other player. Height trumps jumping any day. He just needs to keep the opponents honest through ball faking and passing.

Do you have ANYTHING to back up that statement? The guy plays organized basketball all year. He doesn't own a car. His transportation is a bicycle. The guy can play 35+ minutes a season provided he doesn't get into foul trouble.

And you do? How many CBA games have you been attended? That's an absurd statement. I bet those CBA players are pretty quick. Again do you have ANYTHING to back up this statement. Sounds totally unfounded to me.

Height trumps jumping.

He doesn't need to gain speed. He's plenty fast for a center.

My expectations the first year are not of a star player. Nevertheless he will be a great improvement over Cato. He has a lot to learn but he has the intelligence and desire to excel at this level. If you actually has any evidence to support your claims, I'd reconsider your post but your arguement is based on assumptions.

 

GregM:

nice post...I was thinking the same thing about the CBA...all we know about Ming is through International competition...

 

1. Cato isn't a liability in crunch time?
2. So does Cato
3. Cato lead the league in rebounding last year
4. what was Cato's percentage?
5. Cato gets how many minutes agame?

Cato we get CAREER and last year
points: 5.7 / game . .6.6 / game this year
blks: 1.37/game 1.27/game this year
Steals .47/gm .57/gm this yr
asst. .4/gm .4/gm
rebs 5/gm 7/gm
fg% .523 .583
FT% .622 .582

IS THAT GOOD ENOUGH FOR NEXT YEAR? AND THE NEXT?
If you say yes. . .that why argue against MING
He cannot do too much worse.



Rocket River


Rocket River

 

almostReady, you made some interesting points, but I don't know how you got the idea Ming is too slow. EVERY scouting report I have read state that is what makes him special, because he is so very QUICK and AGILE for his size. If you have heard something I have not, please let me know,because I am still on the fence about him. Alot of the other things make sense, but the speed issue just kinda struck me as crazy.

 

Is this thread really necessary?

'A player coming from a lower level of basketball isn't immediately ready for a higher level of basketball.'

I guess the next thing you'll tell us is that the world is round, huh?

Ming is as unprepared for the speed, pace, and intensity of the NBA as Wilcox, Gooden, Dunleavy, Hilario, even Jay Williams (Dude may come in as a monster offensively, but have you ever seen him check a Marbury or Payton?), or any other prospect.