According to NBA writer David Dupree he might be. http://cgi1.usatoday.com/mchat/20021204003/tscript.htm Washington, DC: Is Yao the second best center in the NBA? David DuPree: If you don't count Duncan as a center, I think he is.
Yao=2nd best Center his rookie year. Yao in 2 years? 5 years? Actually, if Yao has a great showing against shaq, whose to say he wouldn't be the best in the NBA? Shaq always had trouble with Sabonis and Muresan. How will he fair against those guys if they were quicker and more skilled...i.e. Yao. This is gettin good! I need to get off these boards and go to work...But I can't peel myself from my keyboard and Yao-Mania! I need help!
I don't think there's anyone question he is. The only question is are the Rockets going to consistently utilize him in the correct way.
With the lack of legitimate centers in the league..It looks like its going to be the Shaq and Yao show....For some time
I agree. He is easily the 2nd best center. Mutombo is done, Zo (who would certainly be the 2nd best if he were healthy) is not going to play anymore it seems. Brad Miller? Valde Divac? You could make a case for Vlade but I think his age puts him behind Yao overall.
I hope everyone realizes he has played only 17 games. He has proven to alot of people he can play, but don't hype him up so much to the point where you will be disappointed if he does not become dominant or best center in the NBA. I think he will ev entually get there, but just let him be a rookie this year. I personally don't think he is the 2nd best center yet. I think Divac or Ilgauskas is right now.
Agreed. Also, when is the last time Vlade posted a 27 point 18 rebound game against Robinson, Duncan and Willis...
For only 17 games ....a rookie....and 2nd best!!!! WOW >>>> I SAY WOW...YAO!!!! Always been a fan, was socool when rocks got the first draft pick. man...i was like !@$#% YEAH!!! I have never been against any of Rudy's trades/drafts, though there have been a few questionable ones in the past but...it all ends up being fine...or great. Just one of those wait and see....
So there shouldn't be too much controversy when he plays in this year's All-Star game instead of the rookie game. Would he be allowed to play in both? I wonder.
When is the last time all the other assumed 2nd best centers (Olowacandi, Dampier, Mutombo, Zo, etc )did that?
Washington, DC: Is Yao the second best center in the NBA? David DuPree: If you don't count Duncan as a center, I think he is. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ waterbury CT: Whats up David? Thanks for all the great articles and chats. After seeing Yao take it to the twin towers last night, I'm really looking forward to seeing him against Shaq. My question is whats up with L.A.? In the offseason they talked about having a new hunger and that everyone(besides Shaq) was getting into great shape before the season. Now it seems like everyones got an injury and they play with no fire(even with Shaq). How far can they go before complacency comes back to haunt them? I'm a big Laker fan so give me some wisdom to get me through the NBA dog days, Thanks--JAY David DuPree: Hi Jay It looks like Yao is for real, doesn't it? I have seen most of his games on satellite and it is incredible how much he has improved and how much his confidence has grown. He passes the ball well now, is aggressive and goes to the boards hard. The Rockets are a real sleeper. As far as the Lakers go, this is still as if Shaq is in the preseason. It also looks like they are having difficulty getting motivated. That will change as we get closer to the playoffs. The injuries will heal and they are hoping everyone will be ready to make siome noise after the All-Star game. That's how long I think it's going to take them to turn things around and I doubt if they will finish in the top 3 or 4 in the regular season standings, but they are still the team to bat and every team in the league knows it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Peru, IN: Yao Ming, especially after what he did last night to the twin towers. Very exciting newcomer. Also, Ron Artest is awesome. Pacers are fabulous! MJ needs to call it a career. Dean David DuPree: Dean U agree with everything you say except MJ does not need to call it a career yet. He is still the best player the Wizards have and he is the only one who can lead them into the playoffs. He certainly can't do it alone, though. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ pitts, pa: David, welcome back!! What do you think about the rookies so far? if you get to do draft again, who would be your top 5 picks this time? David DuPree: Good question. My top 5 draft picks based on what I've seen so far would be 1 -- Yao Ming; 2 --Dajuan Wagner; 3 -- Drew Gooden; 4 -- Amare Stoudemire; 5 -- Jay Williams ------------------------------------------------------------------------ London, UK (But an Aussie): Hi Dave, Remember back in '94, '95 when the centers dominated the league, The Admiral, The Dream, Patrick Ewing (to some extent, they made the Finals) and Shaq. Jordan was in his first retirement and previous stars like Clyde Drexler, Barkley and Nique were on the way out. Now, with the Lakers winning the last few championships with Shaq (don't think they can win it again this year), do you think the centers in the league will start to dominate again, if not already. Especially with the likes of Yao Ming playing for the Rockets? Defense is getting tougher and tougher, FG percentage is getting lower and lower yet the Power players seem to keep their FG% fairly constant and rebound all night long. Ben Wallace for example. What are your thoughts? Thanks, Tim David DuPree: Hi Tim I don't think you will never see the game go back to where centers dominated the game. They will with some teams, but players are too versatile now. Yao and Duncan are the only ones (other than Shaq, of course). Vlade is getting old, Ilgauskas is always hurt and Olowokandi is probably the next best one. Centers have become role players now. It's just the way the game has evolved and will keep evolving. Do you realize that you could put a legitimate team on the floor that had Shaq at center, Duncan at power forward, Jonathan Bender at small forward, Kevin Garnett at point gaurd and Dirk Nowitzki at shooting guard? They ar all at least 7-feet tall. Think about it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Dallas, Texas: David- Do you think that Dirk Nowitzki will end up being the best foriegn born player to play in the NBA? Also, do you believe he has more upside than Bird ever had? David DuPree: Wow. That's a tough question. At least the first part is. Hakeem was pretty good an I think Yao Ming has a chance to be great as does Stojakovic, but Nowitzki is right up there. As far as comparing him to Larry Bird...I'm sorry I can't do that. Bird is on a tier with only four other players in my eyes -- Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. We don't compare people to those guys. Bird was a great passer, a hard nosed rebounder and a super clutch player and shooter. I love Nowitzki's game and I think he has heart, but he will never be the passer Bird was and Bird has the mystique and the most lethal killer instinct I have ever seen. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ santa fe NM: I think that if the Utah Jazz had Yao Ming, they would be a contender for the nba crown. Even without him, I see them in the 2nd teir among teams in the West, just below Dallas, Sacramento, SA, and LA. And I see them making the playoffs. What do you think? David DuPree: I think it's going to be tough for the Jazz to make it. I guess you're right about the Jazz with Ming, but if you put him on almost any team, with the way he's been playing, that team will make it. ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please don't forget the last part: Allen, Philadelphia: Dave, any idea why Steve Francis is never mentioned when it comes to best all around players? He's a point gaurd either leading or nearly leading his team in multiple statistical categories. Whats the deal? David DuPree: It is going to be mentioned right now. I think Steve Francis is a Gary Payton Clone with a little more offensive versatility. He's an All-Star and a player I think should be under consideration for the Olympic team
On Inside the NBA last night, Barkley even said there are only two centers in the game right now...Shaq and Yao. What I like abour Chuck is that he's willing to go out on a limb but also admit when he's wrong. He was wrong about Yao before but now he is right...there are only 2 centers.
