Amare a 'top 20 player'???

Anybody think their statements are at least partially motivated by some kind of a subconscious racial bias? Or by a kind of envy because of all the media attention Yao has been getting?

 

I also keep hearing about the same thing. Then I looked at the stats and realized majority of them are idiots. Amare did two things better than Ming: rebound and one very big game against KG. Everything else, Ming is better.

I feel especially strange about the claim that Amare had a bigger impact (from Sean Elliott and Barkeley). If you compare the improvement of wins for both the Phoenix and Houston. Phoenix improved by 4 wins while Houston improved by 10 wins. Then if you compare the Opponents field goal percentages, Rox improved tremendously from the last season which can mostly due to the improved interior defense (Ming). So both offensively and defensively, Ming statistically has a bigger impact. But in some people's mind, Amare had a bigger impact. What's the reason?

At this particular time of the season, Amare is at most a co-ROY with Ming. So why do majority of the sports anchors SAY Amare is ROY? three reasons: 1. want to cover their a** to belittle Yao at the draft time: "see, I told you Yao is not worth #1. Amare is better" 2. Majority of the sports anchors are former players and got the job because they are former players. Most of them do not have the brains to do statistical comparison. 3. Amare is an American and a brother (from Barkeley). We can not let foreigners win two ROY in a row.

 

By the way, USA today has a comparison here:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2003-02-19-rookies_x.htm

 

I think it's more of an envy than anything else. How do you think these narcissistic all-stars (Kobe and others) felt when Yao was the 2nd biggest draw in Atlanta a few weeks ago?

 

Definitely envy.

Yao has 3 major endorsement deals and has been on SI twice already.

Their numbers are very similiar and they both have All Star PG's driving the team. The X factor will be the playoffs.

There could be a case for either player and if the Suns make the playoffs then Stoudemire deserves ROY.

However, if the Rockets beat out the Suns, it would be hard for anyone to say Stoudemire did more than Yao.

 

If you dont rate Kenyon as an offensive player, then Amare shouldnt even be close to him. Amare has the least offensive talent I have ever seen in someone that is so hyped. He dunks. He dunks. He dunks. Thats it. Kenyon can at least hit the occasional 3 and the 10 footer. If Amare develops an offensive game, he will be very similar to Kenyon Martin.

 

Most concise and best argument I've seen. What teams would take Amare over Yao? The Lakers are the only ones I can think of.

 

Another reason people are more easily impressed with Amare is that he has a very aggressive and physical game. Power dunks are always going to stick in your mind, compared to hook shots, fadeaways and layups.

Try to watch a highlight of Amare's dunk for 10 times, and do the same for Yao's hook shot. Of course the dunk looks like having "a greater impact to the game".

 

Their impacts on their respectives teams has been huge. They both are putting up great numbers. A case can be made that whichever team makes the playoffs that player will get ROY which in turn shows that that player pushed that team over the edge to get into the playoffs.

(Side note, Amare has TWO all stars that help him with Marion and Marbury, Yao has ONE. Which guy benefits from double teams on their stars more? I say Amare. Makes Yao's job tougher and in turn his output that more impressive).

However, I personally think that this year will be much like the Brand/Francis year and we will have "CO-ROY". Amare the highschooler and Yao the foreign player. Makes sense here. They both deserve it. There has been presedence for CO-ROYs. Heck Grant Hill and Kidd got it the same year as well.

This argument for one or the other is pretty hotly debated but when it comes down to it I see the media choosing both!

Chris

 

Good posts. Yes, there is absolutely no contest, in YAO's favour.

 

Even though I defend Yao VIVIDLY as ROY, I admit that I believe Amare will have the better career once it' said and done. The reason for this is his UNBELIEVABLE, UNIMAGINABLE, INCREDIBLE desire to become the best. he works harder than any 1 person in the league. I'd bet my money on him becoming the best PF to ever play the game, and being a top 15 player by the time he's 24.

 

Amare's defense is absolutely pathetic...to an extreme. He's getting less and less minutes because he's a horrible liability on the defensive end. Hell, Frank Johnson was getting sick of Amare's lazy D and sat him for awhile which pissed him off...Amare, a damn rookie, had some words because he was getting put on the bench. The Suns can keep Stoudemire and his lazy/bad attitude. He would've been the worst thing for this team.

I really don't care if he's rookie of the year, I know the Rox have the better player...someone who can do more than just dunk the ball going to his right.

 

I am with Sane. Amare is an athletic freak, with the desire of Allen Iverson.

Tell the truth, if you were Rudy, and you could have the last draft redone, who would you have taken-

1. Yao Ming

2. Jay Williams and Amare (trade down)

 

I know youre kidding.

He has 1 skill. Quick step and drive to the basket. You think it'll take him less than 4 years to develop a medium range jump shot, be able to pass out of a double team and learn how to play defense?

And I doubt he works harder than anyone in the league.
Kobe Bryant and Karl Malone have always been tireless workers to elevate their game to an elite level.

 

Horrible post...how is he working harder than any '1' person in the league when EVERYONE including the suns fans acknowledge his lack of defensive intensity. Thats not a best player in the league...I don't know how on earth you came up with that conclusion. 'UNBELIEVABLE, UNIMAGINABLE, INCREDIBLE' ? I watch suns games all the time to keep up with Amare's progress and these adjectives aren't even close to describing him.

 

I have no idea how people can say these things now. People used to say the same stuff about Shawn Kemp. Talk about freakish, Kemp was a man-child.

Maybe once he develops some real skills (like a jump shot), we can actually make a rational comment.

A little presumptious bordering on ridiculous.

 

I like Kobe Braynt more than Steve Francis himself, but Amare's a harder worker.

Judging by your comment, I KNOW you haven't looked up the guy at all. His past, his comments, his coaches' comments, his past coach's comments, things like that. I've read tons of articles about the guy. As of now, as far as I'm concerned, he only has the body and the athleticism. He will stockpile skills at an impressive rate over the next 4 years.

 

Errr, how did you find out that Amare works harder than everyone in NBA today?

And would you qualify his UNBELIEVABLE, UNIMAGINABLE, INCREDIBLE desire to become the best so that we can all be inspired.

 

Not that I deny the guy works hard but what makes you think he works harder than everyone in the league. He's gotten buy so far on pretty much his freakish athleticism alone. He's very lazy on the defensive end. I remember the last game the Rockets faced them, numerous times he would let Cat or Steve go to the hoop without even tryin to stop them. Yao would at least try even if it means getting posterized.