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World Championships, Yao, Expectations and reality

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by JT, Jun 28, 2002.

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  1. JT

    JT Member

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    I was looking at the Team USA Roster for the upcoming FIBA World Championships and noticed that Team USA has no 7-footers. The roster:

    Ray Allen G 6-5 205
    Elton Brand F 6-8 275
    Antonio Davis C 6-9
    Michael Finley G 6-7
    Jason Kidd G 6-4 212
    Raef LaFrentz F/C 6-11 240
    Shawn Marion F 6-7 215
    Andre Miller G 6-2 200
    Reggie Miller G 6-7 190
    Jermaine O'Neal C/F 6-11 230
    Paul Pierce F 6-6 230
    Ben Wallace F/C 6-9
    ALTERNATES
    Nick Collison F 6-9 250
    Jay Williams G 6-2 195

    Now it's obvious that the front court players here aren't the best that the NBA has to offer. Thus, Yao won't be facing the stiffest competition from the NBA and he will be playing under the FIBA rules he's used too. If he is as good as some you of think he is then he should pretty much dominate even though China won't be able to keep up with Team USA's back court. I wonder if there is anyone here who thinks Yao is good enough to give China a chance to win against the roster above? I don't think so but I'll be far more excited about him being a Rocket if he makes China competitive with the USA in the World Championships.

    As a side note I notice that Germany is in the same starting pool with China and the USA and that Shawn Bradley is playing for Germany. That will be something to watch and will at least provide some answer to the question of how much better Yao is than Bradley. As far as I know the two have never played head to head before.
     
    #1 JT, Jun 28, 2002
  2. courtside

    courtside Member

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    Jermaine Oneal will completely abuse Yao and he'll feel fortunate when Raef comes in to relieve him. Guys like Brand, Davis and Wallace will keep Menk Batere and Wang Zhi Zhi in complete check so Yao won't get much help either, I'm afraid.

    Yao has "upside" and "potential" but for the time being, don't expect much vs. North American competition. He'll be the go-to guy playing for China and get inflated stats compared to what he'll get in the NBA - but it'll be a real eye opener for everyone considering it's the first true test vs NBAers since the Olympics where he was half decent.
     
    #2 courtside, Jun 29, 2002
  3. hoopgod13

    hoopgod13 Member

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    Are these games on TV? It'd do a lot to reassure me if they were...
     
    #3 hoopgod13, Jun 29, 2002
  4. RIET

    RIET Member

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    Uh, do you even watch basketball? Ben Wallace and Jermaine O' Neal are two of the best front court players in the NBA, especially Wallace on the defensive end.

    If Ming can keep up with those guys, that would be a great feat given their talent and experience.
     
    #4 RIET, Jun 29, 2002
  5. JT

    JT Member

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    Yes I watch basketball. Four names for you. Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning, Dikembe Mutumbo, Tim Duncan. Enough said. I know Yao faced Mourning in the Olympics but my understanding was that he fouled out early. My point is simple. Jermaine O'Neal, Wallace and Lafrentz aren't the best post players in the NBA. However, if you bothered to read beyond the first few lines of my post you would have noticed that I said if Yao does well against team USA it would make me feel better about him being a Rocket. That aside, it's still a fact that the front court on Team USA this year isn't the best the NBA has to offer despite the fact that Wallace is the current NBA defensive player of the year.
     
    #5 JT, Jun 29, 2002
    Last edited: Jun 29, 2002
  6. C-Kompii

    C-Kompii Member

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    My prediction for the USA vs China game

    Yao 18 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assist, 3 blocks.

    USA to win 102 vs 73.

    -G'day-
     
    #6 C-Kompii, Jun 29, 2002
  7. okuseinde

    okuseinde Member

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    "Now it's obvious that the front court players here aren't the best that the NBA has to offer. Thus, Yao won't be facing the stiffest competition from the NBA ... If he is as good as some you of think he is then he should pretty much dominate ..."

    JT,

    Why should Ming be able to dominate Wallace and/or Jermaine O'Neal, two guys which many years of NBA experience? Height advantage is not equal to ability to dominate. This guy is not yet 22. I'm one of the biggest pro-Mingers around here, but I certainly don't expect Ming to dominate these guys, not before ever having had even one minute of NBA experience. We all expect Yao to help in taking us to the promised land AFTER having some NBA experience, not BEFORE.
    Yao WILL be facing the stiffest competition in the NBA at his position, if of course, you don't count Shaq.
    Please remember that Duncan does not play center, and Jermaine O'Neal was better than Mutombo and Mourning this last season.
    The two players at Center for the US will be Jermaine O'Neal and Wallace. If anyone expected Yao to be able to dominate Wallace, the NBA defensive player of the year, best rebounder and shot blocker, and Jermaine O'Neal, who, I might have you remember, was the second best center (yes, he plays center for the Pacers) in the NBA after Shaq (check the stats), then we would be talking about the championship for Houston NEXT SEASON.
     
    #7 okuseinde, Jun 29, 2002
  8. arno_ed

    arno_ed Member

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    No of course not, even shaq cant make china win of this team.

    Shaq and Duncan are the best, Zo and Mutombo are not, Wallace is better than Mutombo on both ends of the court. Brand and jermaine o'neal are better than zo.
    there is no one who can stop shaq, so it doesn't matter if Yoa can or can't stop him.
     
    #8 arno_ed, Jun 29, 2002
  9. RIET

    RIET Member

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    Alonzo Mourning? Dikembe Mutombo?

    Give me a break. These people are ancient and are no way as good as either Jermaine O' Neal or Ben Wallace.

    Ben Wallace led the league in blocked shots and rebounding last year and won defensive player of the year. He is awesome. Jermaine O'Neal is a stud.

    If Yao could be compeptitive with these two, that would be unbelievable. Other than Shaq, these are the two best centers he'll face next year.
     
    #9 RIET, Jun 29, 2002
  10. Dennis2112

    Dennis2112 Member

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    I don't think it really matters. Ming will get zero help from his teammates so his number won't mean much.

    Regardless of what Ming will do inside, the rest of the US team will scorch the rest of the Chinese team. Which depending on the score , could determine how the Chinese coach will play Ming. The better guage will be when he plays with the Rockets.

    I think Ming will do well but he will need an upgrade of the players around him to see what he can really do against stiffer competition.
     
    #10 Dennis2112, Jun 29, 2002
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