Out of curiosity: Yao or Howard, now that we have Howard

If both players are completely healthy, I would take Howard without hesitation. He is a significantly better rebounder and defender. Yao was better on offense, but he was never a closer. He could be taken out of the game in the clutch.

For years I watched Yao Ming, and it was clear he could never lead us to championship, healthy or otherwise. Expectations got so low while he was here that people acted like we had accomplished something significant when we finally beat Portland to get to the second round.

I don't know what will happen with Dwight, but I will take my chances with him, because I know Yao couldn't get it done.

 

Yao was the far superior offensive talent, but Howard is a 3 time DPOY...Howard mightve lost tons of one on one matchups with Yao, but he took his team to the big dance...Yao was never healthy enough, and never did get love from the refs.


The real question I wonder is if Yao was a bit shorter...say like 7'1 or 7'0..I think Yao wouldve been much more healthier, much more explosive and agile and an all around better player.

 

You have it the other way around. Memit Okur shut down Yao Ming TWICE in the first round. Dwight got to the Finals past Lebron.

 

Since we play "if". If Yao is healthy, what kind of team you will put up for Yao? mine will be Yao/ Paul Millsap/ Carmelo Anthony/ Andre Iguodala/ Kyle Lowry (with current assets and possible trades). I believe this team can get Champs.

 

Since the poll specifically mentioned "healthy Yao", I will go with that hypothetical scenario and choose Yao. In real life though, I would take Howard because of his superior agility and durability.

 

I love Yao as much as anyone but he had a real problem when teams started to front him in clutch situations. He wasn't aggressive or athletic enough to get around defenders who would front him & prevent him from getting the ball & it would frustrate our offense. Dwight might be able to step it up in crunch time but we'll see.

Still choose Yao at this point

 

I LOVED Yao and McGrady, as stars on my hometown team. Decent guys (one more than the other) who both loved Houston and were phenomenal talents.

However - I can't just sit and put asterisks next to everything. Yao and McGrady weren't healthy enough to last. Howard is (so far). Right now, I'm more than OK with Howard.

I'm sick of the city being heartbroken by one guy going down. I'm ready for some success, even if it's with inferior stars.

 

You think we would have higher expectation if we had Howard instead of Yao with that same supporting cast?

 

Adelman's offense needs time to mature. McGrady did not embraced it until his healthy deteriorated. I would say the pace thing is as much, if not more, on McGrady than on Yao.

 

Yep. At least Howard could handle being front along with the FACT that he'd be on the court.

 

Do you think Curtis Martin was a better back than Say Earl Campbell, OJ Simpson, or even Terrell Davis?

 

A healtlhy Yao, hands down.

His "peak", IMO, was the stretch in 2007-8 season before he got injured in a Clippers game. He was on pace to average 26 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks per game, which, I believe, Yao could have either sustained or surpassed for years to come since Yao had improved each season and was only 26 years old when he "peaked". Dwight's average as a Rocket, 18.9 points 12.9 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game.

Yao was NOT a plodding center who couldn't fit a faster paced team either. That's hogwash (you're thinking post-injuries, dummy). During this monster stretch, JVG had Yao sprint down the court (he often beat his man) and then flash near the rim before the defense could set, forcing a smaller defender to either give up an easy 2, or foul him (Yao was the best free throw shooter on the team).

 

If/when Dwight wins us a championship I'll change my tune... but right now I'm saying a healthy Yao. It's pretty close, though. FT% is what shifts things in Yao's direction. If Dwight could consistently hit >60% of his FTs things might be different.

 

I wish Yao would just make a comeback and play backup behind Howard .

 

For one game, Yao. For an entire season, Dwight.

 

Post from a brother who would take Yao in a heartbeat. I witness Yao dominate Howard, becuase D12 doesn't have a jump shot and his post up game was no match for Yao's height. Yao would consistently drop that 15 foot jump shot on D12's head and that lethal jump hook. D12 was getting crushed.... LOLOL!!!

 

Yao Ming was one of the most imposing centers to ever play the game. Few could match him. Howard is not one of them.
As a matter of fact, i am somewhat offended that you would put Howards name anywhere close to Yao's.

 

Howard accomplished more with less in his career than Yao. FACT.

People seems to has blacked out both Utah series when it comes to Yao. Okur made him his b****. It was sad. Remember Dallas? All they had to do was front Yao and it was over.

 

Saying a healthy Yao is akin to saying a Howard that can make FT's. Injury prone players are what they are. Gotta go with the dude that can stay on the court. It's not as if Yao, even when healthy, had more team success than Howard anyway.