Please don't compare them. TD somtimes chokes, but he is two-time MVP, NBA champion, and in his mid 20s. At least wait until YM becomes 20 ppg, 10 rpg contributor.
Well Duncan is the best player in the game right now. Yao is just coming off his rookie season. You can't compare the two, atleast not yet.
Right now Tuncan is a lot more polished than Yao. But wait until Yao get some rests, build up more strength, get some proper NBA bigman teaching, more importantly, get utilized A LOT more efficiently. All these can happen as early as next season! A quick comparison: Size. Yao. Also, you can't teach size. Strength/Stamina. Duncan. However, you can teach strength/stamina. Shooting. Similar. Passing. Yao slight edge. Remember those no-look slap pass to Steve? No-look behind head pass to Moochie. Don't see those from Duncan. Post game. Duncan. Yao not much behind though. Rebound. Duncan. FT: Yao. Defense presense. Similar. Clutch. Yao definitely. Duncan is known to choke in clutch situation, especially free throws. Summary: Yao won 4 categories, Duncan won 3 categores. Tie two categories. The most important thing, when Yao is fully developed, Duncan won't the dominant big man in the league any more. Yao will be. One can never teach 7-5.
sorry but the 'clutchness' b/t these two should be Not Applicable. One 'chokes' b/c of his inability at the FT line and his teammates inablility to shoot when the ball is passed to them. the other hasn't had many decisive games where he had to be 'clutch'.
At this point in time, Duncan by far. He's simply a joy to watch on the court. But remember, he's playing PF and not C. Yao looks to be the same type of player as TD only taller but he has yet to fully make the transition from international ball to the NBA. Both players possess a very high degree of basketball knowledge and skill which is very unique amongst big men. Both players depend on these skills rather than physical prowness and this is what sets them apart from the Shaqs and Wallaces. If the Rockets somehow discover movement & passing on offense next season, then Yao's fundamentals will be better displayed. He appears to be the most knowledgable player on the team in terms of playing fundamental basketball. I think that playing the boneheads on the team started to wear on him as the season wound down when it looked like he and the rest of the team were on different pages out on the court.
All these comparision is irrelevent since TD is a much better player than Yao right now. Yao might has showed one or two good moves, but Duncan does it everygame. If you talk about fundamental drills in practice, or the skills competition during all-star games, yes, Yao probably will win most of them over Duncan, but it's a different story in the game.
At this point, it is no doubt, Duncan is a better player, fundamentally and has more experience. I wish Yao develop to a player like Duncan.
Yao will win all polls, atleast on Clutchcity. You could ask who could be the MVP of the season and the BBS people would pick Yao. Hell, you could ask who looks more black, TD or YM, and YM would win.
Folks, the question is not "Who is the better player?" It's "Who is more fundamental?" More fundamental doesn't necessarily mean better. That said, Duncan is still hands down way better than Yao in fundamentals. Yao still has a few fundamental skills to work on: footwork at the post, jump hook, decision on when to pass and when to shoot, rebounding position, etc. The only fundamental weakness in Duncan's game is free throw, and that, imo, is an underrated weakness especially for a go-to guy like him. Yao, on the other hand, is cold blooded in clutch fts.
There should be no question about it. Duncan is definitely the more fundamental, and the better player. Will yao become better than Duncan? Maybe. But there's absolutely NO COMPARISON right now.
I would just like to state that after watching the mavs-spers series, I have come to the conclusion. TD cannot pass. He
you apparently forget the times he DID make the passes when he was double/triple teamed but his chicken **** teammates were too scared to shoot the 3......
I dont like comparing vets w rookies because its unfair. As a Rookie Duncan was fundamentally light years ahead of Yao. He did everything better. In his 1st exhibibition game as a pro he was matched up against Barkley here in San Antonio 1997, he was better than Barkley at everything except rebounding but even that was close. David R was the go to guy but TD was 21 and 12 as a rookie and nobody was trying to get him touches, he was ready for the NBA day one. But Duncan will never have Yaos sweet shooting stroke or 7'5" ht, if Yao ever attains the fundamental skills TD had as a rookie..he will be a all time great..a 7'5" Tim Duncan..unstoppable.
