Does anybody think Yao is capable of having games with double digit blocks? I think Kevin Garnett had a game with 8 blocks a few years back, so I dont think its impossible to accomplish. And does anybody know the single game record for blocked shots?
I think that it is definetly possible that Yao will have a couple of 10 block games. He had 6 blocks against team USA, and I'm sure people will be going at him in the NBA, so that will result in more blocks for him.
MOST BLOCKED SHOTS - SINGLE GAME Player Blks Date Elmore Smith, LA vs Port 17 10/28/73 Manute Bol, Wash vs Atl 15 1/25/86 Manute Bol, Wash vs Ind 15 2/26/87 Shaquille O'Neal, Orl at NJ 15 11/20/93 MOST BLOCKED SHOTS - ONE HALF Player Blks Date Elmore Smith, LA vs Port 11 10/28/73 George Johnson, SA vs Gold St 11 2/24/81 Manute Bol, Wash vs Milw 11 12/12/85 Harvey Catchings, Phila vs Atla 10 3/21/75 Manute Bol, Wash vs Ind 10 2/26/87
If Manute Bol could get 11 blocks in a half then I think that Yao can definetly get 10 in a game. KG got 8 in a game twice, and I'm sure that Yao is a better shot blocker then KG.
I also can't believe nobody has been able to break that 30 year old record of 17 blocks in a game. Hopefully Ming will be the first to shatter it!
I think that Yao could break the record, but I wouldn't exactly say that he would shatter it if he did. If he got 20 blocks in a game, that would average probably less then 2 minutes in that game, since he probably won't be playing more then 40 minutes this season.
Without a doubt, you will see Yao with double-digit blocks, probably several times in his career. How about double-digit assists? I wouldn't be surprised to see a couple of triple-doubles thrown in there, too. Sweet!
The main reason that the record hasn't been broken, is that most teams figure out that after, say... 12 or so blocks, that maybe they should settle for the jumpshot.
The thing is, there are so few players who: - can consistently create their own shots (different from just finding a seam and slashing to the hoop, the league is filled with guys like that) - are willing to draw fouls - are not conscious of how they'll look on SportsCenter that after Yao blocks 3 or 4 shots, the opposition will stay out of the paint. Granted, I certainly think he can\will block a lot of shots, but I don't know if he'll have many opportunities.