i feel that yao will develop in a different version of hakeem olajuwon with fadeaways blocks and rebounds, along with francsi and mobley and eddie the rockets will be back on top of the basketball world, but remember yao needs time be patient and it will come.
I think that Yao will have moves similar to Dream, and a shot like Smits. I think that Yao will be a superstar.
Uhhhh......I voted none of these because it seemed,FROM YOUR CHOICES,that it was the closest thing to somewhere between Smits and Olajuwon. Actually closer to where Ralph would've been without the knees giving out.
You stole my thunder. I do not think Yao is quite as agile as Ralph. Sampson was a true freak of nature. But Yao has similar skills in relation to his size.
Yao will eventually do for the Rockets what Duncan has done for the Spurs. Except the Rockets already have a superstar, and a supremely talented supporting cast. We are looking at a future champion ballclub.
From a marketing standpoint, he has already made a huge impact: http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news/ap/20021103/ap-yaosfans.html Shanghai fans cheer on Yao Ming in NBA home debut By EUGENE HOSHIKO Associated Press Writer November 3, 2002 SHANGHAI, China (AP) -- Chinese fans of Houston Rockets center Yao Ming cheered his NBA homecourt debut with a party in his hometown Sunday. They cheered the No. 1 overall draft pick and said he was destined to become a major force in the NBA. ``Pass it to Yao,'' shouted fans, who cheered and applauded every time the 7-foot-6 center appeared on the television screen. About 150 people turned out to watch Yao and the Rockets defeat the Toronto Raptors 88-76 on Saturday night -- early Sunday morning in Shanghai. The game was broadcast live on Shanghai Television's sports channel and shown on a projection TV in the ballroom of a downtown hotel in China's bustling commercial capital. Yao entered the game with 8:18 to go in the first quarter with fans cheering his every move. Scoreless in his NBA debut Wednesday night, Yao had two points in his second road game at Denver on Friday. He finished Saturday night's game with eight points, four rebounds, one block and three fouls. `` Yao is still new to the league and we all need to give him a little time to adjust,'' said Zhang Wei, a member of Yao's old team, the Shanghai Sharks. `` There are a billion people in China who are going to give him the biggest boost possible, '' said Zhang, standing beside a banner bearing Yao's picture and a greeting in Chinese that read ``best of luck to Yao Ming in the NBA.'' Longtime fan Ren Wenbin, 62, said Yao is already showing signs of improvement. ``I was really anxious during Yao's first game because he didn't seem to be used to the style of play, but now it looks like he's starting to adjust,'' said Ren, a retired school teacher. Ren said he has been following Yao's career as a player on the national team and with the Sharks for five years. Another fan, Chen Lin, said Yao's size and presence were already great assets for the Rockets. ``A player that size is good for the whole team, and once he adapts to the NBA, he'll really be a star,'' Chen said. In an interview with Shanghai TV accompanying the broadcast, Yao said he had benefited much from the intense physical training regime run by Houston's trainers. NBA watchers had said Yao needed to boost his upper-body strength to handle the more physical American game. Yao's parents, both former Chinese national team players, were in Houston to watch their son play.
Ming doesn't have the quickness and hop of Hakeem. So, Ming won't rebound that well and will be mediocre in defence. However, Ming is TALL and can shoot and pass. He will be a physically weaker but more agile Sabonis.
He's already contributing. Home court advantage. You can't measure what he's going to bring us. He's that good.
Yao Ming has about 7 inches on Dream and once he learns the speed of the game and more about positioning he will be a very good rebounder and shot blocker. He is already a good defender just based on the fact that he makes players change their shots.
You guys might be right on the overall theme of Yao's personal rebounding ( as compared to Dream). But I think he will alter the game in more ways simply because of his presence. Once he learns how to stay out of silly foul trouble (lateral movement) he will be more adept at defense. I say put him on a diet of upper body training and lot of time with Mr Mean.
Dream was a defensive monster. I don't see Yao being in the top 10 in all time totals for Steals, Blocks and Rebounds. Offensively he has skills that make you wonder if he thinks he's 6'9. Maybe Techlabor was right, he'll be a lanky version of Sabonis.
I know this poll is just a small sampling off all the members on here, but Im shocked to see that 70% feel Yao will be just as good or better than Hakeem. Personally, Id look for him to be better than Smits but not quite up to Olajuwon like standards.
A more highly skilled Mark Eaton. J/K Seriously, the poll should have had another choice, between 1 and 2.
People that just hate Yao and has no clue about this guys potential even it him 'em in the face. I have a friend who went to the game vs Toronto and still insisted Yao had a terrible game and Yao "sucks". I didn't know which game he was watching.
What if Yao Ming developed a skyhook AND mastered the dreamshake. Do you know how devastating he could be just on the offensive end? And if the rockets could somehow persuade Bill Russell to work with Yao Ming like he did with Jermaine O'neal, that championship just might come sooner than later.
