Most of the NBA players won't last a day in the real world if their basketball skills are taken away from them. They don't know the first thing about social etiquette and our society created these monsters. We put them on pedestals and give them carte blanche as long as they can shoot or rebound. So don't blame Amare if he talks trash about Yao. He was taught to do only one thing all his life. And I wish I were joking.
Rockemike has it right, it is not about ROY, it is about rings. I just find it funny how many people jock Ming. He is a god on here and that makes him less desirable to the normal Rockets fan and not just a Yao lover. People on here do not believe he is capable of making a mistake by himself. They turn it into a Yao vs. the rest of the team situation. The Yao only fans back you into a corner where you have to choose between Yao and everyone else on the team. If he turns the ball over it is Rudy or Steve's fault. When he is not producing, it is Rudy or Steve's fault. Let's face it, we had a better record without Yao 2 years ago when everyone was healthy. He has not made the impact everyone on here claims. Cato is making that impact this year and in all truth should be starting over Ming. The Suns on the other hand had no signifigant injuries last year and are much better this year with the addition of Amare. So Feishen, Yao who? For every person you name who jocks Ming, I can name at least one who jocks Amare just as hard. Why can you not be happy that we have one of the top rookies in the league and not try to bring everyone else down? Yao may turn out to be a great player or he may be another Bradley, which isn't that bad. Amare may turn out to be a better Shawn Kemp or he could fade out like Kemp. Just give it time and see how it plays out and quit trying to bring a 20 year old kid down to make yourself feel better.
I never saw anybody here blame rudy or steve for yao turning the ball over. But if yao didn't get enough chance to touch the ball, Rudy or Steve should at least take some blame. Not just Yao lover thought that way, those columnists also thought the same way. It was'nt Yao lover who push Rudy to start Ming over Cato. It was Rudy's own decision. Either Rudy made a bad decision or Yao deserves it. I think amare is a good player and I think it is nonsense to argue who will be ROY. As long as Rox can be in the playoff, I don't care who will be the ROY. But I do think Yao is much more mature than amare in personality even though he is only 2 years older.
do u guys seriously think that david stern is going to let amare be the only rookie of the year and not yao? didn't think so...millions of ppl around the world will b shouting bloody murder... ...so its either the both get it or only yao...no other way
T-Stupid-man, look at Cato's stats for last five years and shut your mouth. 97-98 POR 74 8 13.6 .428 .000 .688 1.20 2.20 3.40 .3 .39 1.27 .59 2.20 3.8 98-99 POR 43 0 12.7 .450 1.000 .507 1.10 2.30 3.50 .4 .53 1.30 .63 2.30 3.5 99-00 HOU 65 32 24.3 .537 .000 .649 1.60 4.40 6.00 .4 .51 1.91 1.09 2.70 8.7 00-01 HOU 35 13 17.8 .577 .000 .649 1.30 2.70 4.00 .3 .37 .89 .71 2.50 4.7 01-02 HOU 75 73 25.6 .583 .000 .582 2.30 4.70 7.00 .4 .53 1.27 .71 2.80 6.6
I am a HUGE Yao fan, so of course I'm biased. However, Yao should easily be rookie of the year. If you look at one individual has done for their team, let alone the league, hands down, Yao is the man. It does seem that all AS has is the dunk, but hell, he's from freakin' high school, how awesome is that.
It is all about getting the rings. That's why I haven't been this excited about Rox since the Dream arraived on the scene in 1984. That's why I don't understand why any Rox fan would get annoyed by all the attention Yao is receiving. At least for this Rox fan, a normal one by any standard, Yao is the best thing that happened to Rox since 1984.
Cato a starter? Wow now I've heard everything. Sure Cato would be a starter, in Denver. He's a great backup center and he really turned it up a notch for us this year, but he's a role player, nothing more, nothing less. And it's not the Yao only fans that blame SF and Rudy for Yao not getting touches. SF WASN'T passing the ball and Rudy's too dumb to be coach (great player, but terrible coach). To Steve's credit, he's doing a little better now, but Rudy's still a dumb coach. Hell, he should of been fired last year but we kept him around for reasons unknown. FYI, Yao can't turnout to be another Bradley, because he's already putting up better numbers (not to mention Bradley has no skill). Also FYI, Amare is not another Kemp because even Kemp had more skills when he came into the league. You're right about that we might be too hard on a 20 year old but you're wrong that we're doing it to make ourselves feel better. In summary T-Man, I shouldn't have argued with you cuz you show no judgement.
Richard Jefferson isn't a soothsayer. And sticking up for Stephon's vocalized opinions is pretty questionable. I was pointing to the logic which is sound independent of Jefferson's endorsement. The point is that good players become All Stars because their teams perform. As you pointed out, Marion is putting up similar numbers this year as last, so the difference in the Suns' W-L record is largely attributable to Amare. And it's that W-L record that enabled Marion to be an All Star. Compare this situation with Elton Brand. His numbers have been consistent from the past two seasons, but the Clippers' record at the All Star break last year was at .500 whereas this year they were in the cellar. That's why he was an All Star last year, but not this year. As for Marbury's career year, it's also attributable to the addition of Stoudemire. With him on the post, it opens things up for a playmaker like Marbury. Marbury embraces Amare and he lets Stoudemire make him a better player. And Panda, I'm talking about a positive impact. Until the Rockets develop and commit to an offensive system to utilize Yao, his presence hinders the flow of the current Rockets' offense. Plus, I think you overstate Yao's defensive impact. He doesn't have the lateral movement or explosiveness (notice how he gets beat on jump balls and doesn't finish alley oops the way Shaq or even Cato do) as dominant center like Shaq to truly cover for his teammates. Lately, he's been focusing on boxing out his own man to prevent a pass and dunk and so he can have better position for the rebound. That being said, it is true that his presence improves the defense. Regardless, I'm on record as saying that Yao and Amare will probably be Co-Rookies of the Year. And, I think Yao is putting up better numbers and having a bigger impact on the league. In the future, Yao will emerge as the better player (though both will be spectacular).
This year Cato is playing very good. Blocking shots, rebounding, and playing strong down low. Yao has been inconsistant, but showed flashes. And to say Yao can't be another Bradley, because his numbers are already better, look at Bradley's rookie year. Pretty similar. It would not be horrible to have a center stick around for over a decade and make a solid contribution anyways. Bradley is near or at the top of the league in blocks every season. To all you Yao-lovers, I make a good case to show that Amare-Yao are both young and good and we should be happy with either of them and the best combacks you can put together are "let's ignore him", "Shut your mouth", "T-stupid-man". You really show your intelligance. I am guessing you are all jr.high kids. You could not think of anything better than that.
Hm.... That's you argument? A little too cryptic for me. Why don't you prove your point by telling us, 1. Isn't posting up an effective way to utilize Yao on offense? 2. In what way exactly does Yao's presence hinder the flow of the offense? 3. Why Amare's dunks which have a lower fg% have a more positive impact on the Suns than Yao's posting up, creating for himself and teammates, 53% shooting on the Rockets, when they score the same amount of points? As to the defense, you can't downplay the positives of Yao's defense by pointing out his deficiencies on defense, nobody is perfect and Yao's a rookie. Yao is the biggest reason the Rockets are having vast improvement on defense over last season. To say otherwise shows a lack of understanding of Rockets ball. Also, since this thread is for Amare vs. Yao comparison, the fact that Yao has more impact on defense than Amare is enough for discussion. I agree that Yao probably will turn out to be better than Amare's in the future, and both will have bright future. I am just happy that we got Yao and in no way I'll trade Yao for Amare, from a standpoint gamewise.
Dude, there's no such thing as "Rockets ball". Have you been watching them at all this season? There is no label that you can ascribe to their style of play (unless that label is inconsistent or schizophrenic). Contrast that with the great teams (Mavericks -- gunners; Kings -- inside-out with excellent passing; Lakers -- triangle). That proves my point. But perhaps the best proof is which team (Phoenix or Houston) will make the playoffs. At this rate, Yao and the Rockets are going to be on the outside looking in, while Amare and the Suns are going on to the second season. If Yao's impact on the Rockets (as he is being utilized) were more positive than Amare's impact on the Suns, then the Rockets should be in the playoffs ahead of the Suns. Or maybe I just don't get "Rockets ball". Maybe you and Rudy T can diagram it for me sometime. That being said, I take Yao over anyone else except maybe Shaq or Kobe.
Cato is playing very good. He plays D, he rebounds, but contrary to what you believe he does not block shots. And it also happens that he can't hit an open jumper if his life depends on it. Yao's consistency, except that (I'd say about 3-4 games) in which he played bad (or hit the wall, whatever) pretty much was dependent on whether our guards involved him in the play or not. So to argue that he's not consistent simply doesn't make sense. I'm don't recall many guys posting double doubles when getting 5 shots a game. Also, are you sure Bradley's numbers are similar in his first year? YEAR TEAM G GS MPG FG% 3P% FT% OFF DEF RPG APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG 93-94 PHI 49 45 28.3 .409 .000 .607 2.00 4.20 6.20 2.0 .92 3.00 3.02 3.50 10.3 Most significantly, he averages 3 points and 2 boards less while playing 1 minute more. As a rookie, that's a earth shaking difference. Blockwise, Bradley is 7'6. If he doesn't get a couple of blocks he shouldn't even be playing. The reason Yao won't be another Bradley is not because of the numbers, I merely used them as a demonstration. Yao won't be another Bradley cuz he has skills, which the stiff has none. It also happens that Yao is much more athletic and is not exactly a stick.
OK error on my part, Bradley played 1/2 min more a game instead of 1, but still, the pt and reb differences are there.
When you started to make sweeping accusation against all Yao fans (me included), you already lost your argument. Then to top if off, you discredited yourself further by using ad hominem attack. So next time you have a point to make, take a civilized approach.
I hear you T-man. These people could really get to your nerves. Worst of all, they don't really care any other thing except Yao. They probably do not have any idea who Steve Francis or Rudy T is before Yao joins Rockets.
