listen... Yao is a calculator and will do as good against shaq as shaq does against him. My prediciton, and write it down.. Shaq 29 - 12 - 5 Yao 18 - 9 - 8 Rockets 91 Lakers 86
Shaq may get the better of Yao. But if Rockets play an all-round game, we can win the ball game and that's the most important thing. And yeah I guess Shaq would guard Yao 1-on-1. Shaq is going to be embarrassed if he needs double team or zone help. LOL.
Shaq will definitly have the majority of better moments against Yao. Shaq will definitly score on him, but Yao will definitly score on Shaq, IF HE CHOOSES TO. This is how I see it shaping up. Yao will most likely be forced to play outside of a 7-9 foot ratio. This is what Yao should want. Create space between Shaq and the goal and use him with the pass. This creates backdoor cuts against them, and I see Francis and Mobley causing havoc. Shaq will be forced to come out, but watch it Shaq; Yao will take you to the whole. But to keep him honest, Yao's shot is going to be pure. His flawless performance in the Shanqhai championships proves he is clutch. Yao will be ready for this, he understands the importance, we know that.
i bet some has or will let yao know that shaq is gonna attack him. i expect yao to suprise everyone this game. im looking forward to jan.17
oh man, some of u guys kill me. just vote for yao ming, who cares what other people thinking. being told that SF /Nash 's number are so close. I donot vote for nash any more. ****, it is turf to make a choice sometimes. But that's real life. and it is ur life. Keep Vote for SF and Yao. BTW, someone can write a little OCR to recognize the comfirmation number in NBA's site? if so, distribute it here. we all need that!
Your first sentence above tells me you either know nothing about basketball or you didn't actually watch the 94-95 Finals. Hakeem showed Shaq how the game is played, Shaq DID NOT play Dream to a standstill... I watched every second of that series...the only possible way that series went past 4 games was if the Brick actually hit his shots.. 4-0......nuff said Second sentence...I agree.
Actually not "nuff said" It was far far far from being a one-sided battle. Hakeem's moves might have been prettier and his team certainly played better, but that does not and should not take away from what Shaq accomplished during that series (his what, third year in the league?) I'd like to believe that I know something about basketball AND I watched the aforementioned finals. Statistically they were nearly even or a "standstill". Hakeem came out with the win(s) and probably did end up with the edge, but I don't remember Shaq being totally befuddled or dominated whatsoever. Olajuwon averaged 32.8 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists to O'Neal's 28.0 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 6.3 assists- thats pretty damn "standstill" if you ask me. This is all from someone that doesn't even care for Shaq and enjoyed Hakeem to the fullest. STuart
Shaq's words about the '95 Finals: "I'm the first guy to say that somebody is better than me. I was the first guy to say Hakeem Olajuwon beat me in the [1995] NBA finals. He killed me. He dominated me. I didn't go, 'Oh, he's traveling. They had experience. Wah-wah-wah.' I'm a man. Hakeem Olajuwon dusted my butt."
Although Yao has never faced Shaq, he has indeed faced a similarly immobile force in training while on the Chinese National Team - Mengke Bateer. Well, as analagous a body-type that I can think of anyways ...
Hmm....no. Yao has never faced anyone like Shaq. But it seems to me like Shaq doesn't care. He seems content about it. He's probably saying all these jokes about China in the lockerroom but he's seems pretty OK with it. I hope he doesn't crush Yao into two...
Attention Yao: stomp on Shaq's toe early and often!......seriously though, Yao will take his lumps on the 17, but he will learn and eventually conquer Shaq.
If Shaq dominates against Yao, we will say, "Yao will come back and play a lot better next time." If Yao dominates Shaq, we will say, "Wow, Yao is the best center in the world. Shaq who?" You see? Yao has nothing to lose, while Shaq has everything to lose. I want Yao to do well against the Lakers. But I don't think this is some make-or-break kind of thing for him. I just hope the Rockets beat them as a team. For Shaq, it can be a potential major embarrasment.
SHAQ: "He (Hakeem) is my idol." HAKEEM: "He (Shaq) is humble." And, remember that junk food commercial with Hakeem and Shaq on a two-seat bicycle?
Actually Hakeem was coming out of his prime in 95. If he never got injured in 90 (in his prime) his career might have been a lot different. Course if he actually had basketball training before college...
anything can happen,, Yao has unbelievable skills , so I'm not gonna underestimate him,, I think he'll do just fine..
