I don't think it's a matter of his skills, it is simply a matter of his ties to China and all the B.S. that the Chinese gov't and all these amateur team managers (like this Shanghai Sharks bozo talking trash) are going to put on the Rockets. If the Rockets can get thru all that, there is no reason not to take him. Why? Here are his season averages from last year: PPG 32.6 RPG 19 BPG 4 Here are his PLAYOFF averages from last year: PPG 39.6 RPG 21 BPG 4 Oh, on top of that his shooting percentage was something like 70% or some ridiculous number like that. Now, it would seem that <b>ANYONE</b> who can average that many points, I don't care if it's high school or the pros or China or Bangladesh, it would show me two things: 1. They know how to score in a competitive game. 2. They shoot a high percentage. Take those same numbers and translate them to the NBA. If he can manage HALF that production in his first season, he will be averaging over 16 points and 9 rebounds per game. On top of that, he will be a <b>FRIGGIN' TREE</b> in the post on defense. Why would anyone <b>NOT</b> take this guy? This is not Manute Bol (couldn't put the ball up his own a** from point blank range), or Shawn Bradley (couldn't shoot from outside of 5 feet). This is a guy with real basketball skills who is 22 years old. Do not be fooled by all these idiot sports writers bagging on Ming. He will be the real deal for whoever drafts him.
Just for the record - here is a page with Ming's exact stats. What impresses me are the FG % and the amount of improvement he's shown since 1997: http://nbadraft.net/profiles/yaoming.htm
Yao Ming will be a Houston Rocket. Don't believe anything else you've heard. It's the right place for him. That's why we have the #1 pick. Both China and the NBA want him in Houston. He will be in Houston. No other team in the league is more perfect for the Ming Dynasty. It has all been arranged and everything is in place now. Just be happy that you're a Rockets fan.
all i want is if we draft and keep ming is that he gets his 16/9 and 2 blocks a game. and the next season, he'll blossom even more ..say into a 24/12 guy blocking 2-3 shots a game. now that i would definitely be happy about. a 24/12 guy is like having a garnett right?
He may have have impressive stats, but I'm still not sold that he can play with the big boys in the NBA. Dick Vitale wrote a little something on Yao Ming: http://espn.go.com/dickvitale/vcolumn020522YaoMing.html[/URL] A lot of other analysts have put Yao down more than praising the big fella. I just cannot see him posting the same stats in the NBA or even anything similar. I know a player with his versatility does not come along aften, but I have to say no to Yao until proven otherwise.
sorry but dick vitale should be the last person evaluating and running a franchise. didn't he help red auerbach win all those rings by giving him picks that ended up being robert parish and mchale? about your statement, sorry but a 'sure thing center' ain't always available. duncan shaq hakeem...those are RARE commodities. none of the players in this draft is a 'proven player' sans jay williams and EVEN HE has some doubters. unless we get KG, i want ming. and seeing how KG can't be had easily, it'll be ming then. all we really need, IMO, is a center that can defend well and can shoot a decent percentage. cat and steve can score, we just need some defense.
One thing about Vitale though, and I'm sure it's been thought, but needs to be addressed re: his opinion of Ming...He's probably going to take the top draft spot away from a Blue Devil. Vitale is as pro Duke as any announcer is pro any team..Add to that the fact that he's seen him play little more than you or I, and I'll take his opinion of Ming with a bucket of salt...
Ha. Just want to inform you that Ming is rendered as a player who's defence is FAR better than his offense. And he does love blocks! He said that MANY MANY times. And if you all think he has a nice offence, I am really wondering how you are gonna to say about his defence. :=)
For the season: 411-570 at a .721 clip. Playoffs: 147-192 at a .766 clip. Good Lord that is just sick. I have never seen numbers like that for any player of any age in any league. I mean, many pros couldn't shoot that % in warmups, with no defenders. This isn't a couple of feak games exaggerated in order to hype him- that's hitting more field goals than many NBAers hit free throws over an entire season in real game situations. Even at the olympics he shot 64%.
Sometimes I am wondering, does any man on earth really know the potential of a 7" 5 player? How many do we have? Three or four? Don't you think the pool is too small to draw a clear conclusion? Frankly, I don't believe ANYONE has a clear idea of how capable Yao Ming is on court. I mean, actually there is no limit. He can do whatever he wants. I believe only his belief in himself is the limit.
When Shanhai won the championship this year, David Benoit played for them and he was average. Follow me now. I know David Benoit, David Benoit is no Kobe Bryant, nor T-Mac... but he is better than your average college player in the U.S. So, my question is if David Benoit is avarege in the Chinese league and a bit above average in NCAA, then how many points per game would a player score in NCAA if they score 40 on 76% shooting in the Chinese league?
What impresses me about those numbers is that everyone's always saying he's a jumpshooter. If that's the case, that makes those numbers even more incredible. I mean what percentage of his shots are dunks? If not many, then a jumpshot can translate to the NBA game because it's not like he's going to be getting rejected too easily at 7'5". Heck, I doubt Cato is even 70% on shots 10 feet and (not including dunks).
So. I picked Maryland to win, too. They were clearly the best team. Anyone who thought Duke was going to win it all was r****ded. Come to think of it, why didn't Vitale pick Duke?
Vitale also said Charlie Ward had no future in the nba. While Charlie hasn't been a stud, he is now a serviceable 10 year vet.
if cato can put up double digit scoring games with his limited offensive game and hands of stone...image the numbers ming could put up..with francis spoon feeding him ally oop dunks.... at the very least..i can easy imagine ming filling out(330lbs+)...and becoming a tree trunk in the lane a la mark eaton, and putting up double digit points and rebounds .......wasnt utah consistently at the top in the league in defense, the year eaton was there?
Watch the videos.... http://www.warriorsworld.net/article.php?sid=35 This is not Shawn Bradley I repeat, this is NOT Shawn Bradley... This is not Rick Smits I repeat, this is NOT Rick Smits... This is not Manute Bol I repeat this is NOT Manute Bol... The kid can flat out PLAY BALL. He has fundamental skills. He can dribble, he can shoot, he can board, and he can swat. Give this guy three years in the NBA and he is going to be dominant. Hopefully by then he will have defected to the USA and told the Chinese government and all his "handlers" over there to shove it (you know where).
