By Martin Burns Rookie of the Year This year¡¯s rookie race is extremely close, even by its own standards. After all, the award has been shared three times, most recently by Elton Brand and Steve Francis in 2000. Suspicious for sure, but that¡¯s a subject for another day. One thing¡¯s for certain this season, however. Nobody but Rockets center Yao Ming or Suns forward Amare Stoudemire deserves to win it. Yes, Heat forward Caron Butler has had a fine season, but there is no way a guy who shoots 42 percent for a dog team walks off with the hardware in this race. Stoudemire and Yao simply have been better all-around. Both are near the top of the rookie list in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage and blocks. Both have played key roles in helping their teams contend for playoff spots. But while Stoudemire is the surprise rookie of the year and the most athletic rookie, he hasn¡¯t had the same overall impact as Yao. The Suns don¡¯t run their offense through him the way the Rockets do through Yao. Meanwhile, at the other end of the court, Yao¡¯s size allows him to change and alter shots on a regular basis. It¡¯s become trendy among some NBA cognoscenti to contend that Yao is still more hype than substance. They note that the 7-foot-5 phenom has benefited in the rookie race from his dubious All-Star starting berth and greater number of TV appearances. But Yao also has had to deal with the pressure and responsibilities of being the No. 1 overall pick and the unofficial Chinese ambassador. Yao shoots a high percentage (50.9 percent), passes extremely well and impacts the game more on the defensive end. The fact that he¡¯s excelled while being besieged by media and fans everywhere he goes is an added factor. It¡¯s a close call, but we¡¯ve got to give it to Yao. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/marty_burns/news/2003/04/10/burns_awards/
Wooohoooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's celebrate! There's finally something good said about the Rockets Amare is a great player, Yao is a great player. Yao's gonna win simply because of this. David Stern needs a new marketing buzz machine. The old marketing buzz machine Jordan is breaking down and faltering and will finally be sent to the gashouse after the season. But just when all looks bleek, here comes Yao to save the day with a following of nearly a billion or so earthlings and King David is seeing a sea of dollar signs ahead. Yao has a great rookie season and the hype surrounding the"Yao Show" begins to grow and spread like wildfire arund the NBA. Yao goes to Golden State and the Warriors draw their largest crowd in franchise histroy dating back to there days in Philly and Stern is happy. But then it looks like the Rockets arent gonna make the playoffs and Yao's season is over. Stern screams NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, we must keep the new marketing buzz machine running for the sake of NBA humanity. Then Stern's goons come up with brilliant, diabolical plan. Let's give Yao an award. They considered making Yao MVP but soon realized that wouldnt work for reasons unknown. Then they decided to make him Rookie of the Year and Stern rejoiced as the marketing buzz machine Yao continued to gain steam throughout the offseason. But not all were happy in the kingdom of the Association. A troll who lived underneath a bridge named Mark Cuban wept tears of sorrow as he contemplated why couldnt they do this for his team when he had Wang ZhiZhi.
I am gonna have to disagree here.... I think CO-ROY should be given. Amare and Yao. If they would do this which I know they won't Yao and Amare and Caron. To me they all 3 deserve it!
Such a strange statement for a Rockets Fan, especially when you dont give any reason(s) for your opinion!!!
i'm a huge rox fan, but as a basketgall fan, i really think amare and yao should share it. i would obviously be happier if yao won it alone, and angry if amare did, but i really think the right thing to do is split the award. honestly, amare got game, anyone is blind if they dont see that.
Amare has game... true. However, I think Yao has had a bigger impact on the court. 1. Yao gets triple/doubled teamed. Amare doesn't get so much attention cause everyone focuses on Marbury and Marion on the Sun's. Imagine how good Amare would do if there were 3 guys trying to stop him from scoring or if the opposing team set their entire defensive scheme to deny a player the ball (ex: Celtics set their entire defense to deny Yao Ming the ball) 2. Yao alters more shots by being 7 ft 5 alone. Not many easy layups either when Yao is on defense. 3. Yao is a better passer 4. Yao shoots a higher %. Yao is the only player in the top 3 of any statistical category. Do you still agree Amare and Yao should share? The suns are in the playoffs cause Marbury is carrying the dam team. Marbury is playing out of his mind. Amare is good but Yao's accomplishments easily overshadows Amare's. I don't think it's even a close comparison. Apples and Oranges...etc
if yao doesnt at least share the ROY it would be a farce... but to say that amare doesnt deserve it is crazy... the kid has no fear, he takes it to the hole and finishes it... i dont think yao has even thought of that. both kids have skills and will only get better, plus if amare gets in the post season(heaven forbid that) it will give him even more reason to be one of the top rooks no matter how you try and agrue it. i think it will be a co-rook or the year because yao is yao and amare is a young kid outta high school that has a mentality of a man with no fear. besides comparing yaos game to amares game is ... how you say... comparing apples to oranges what are yaos accomplishments???? oh you must mean his numbers because yao(just like amare) has not accomplished jack at this point of there careers... but there is more to come on that
Yao has an edge. Burns summed it up. If scoring and rebounding was the determining factor between Yao and Amare. They would be tied. But Yao has better FT%, better passing, and his defensive presence changes the game.
Dudes, its great and all about Yao-- But we didn't freaking make the playoffs!!! Get Mad NOW if you are not so already!!!
What I find really odd is that while most of the NBA beat writers are picking Yao as ROY while NBA Superstars are typically picking Amare (Duncan is the latest to pick Amare). It's pretty odd that it is split so much which the players actually favoring Amare.
What part of my comments did you not understand? Here is what I wrote again...I'll break it down. Elaboration of the comments start off with a "*" sign. "Amare has game... true. " * I think that is pretty easy to understood However, I think Yao has had a bigger impact on the court. * Beginning of my argument 1. Yao gets triple/doubled teamed. * Pretty easy to understand so far Amare doesn't get so much attention cause everyone focuses on Marbury and Marion on the Sun's. * Here is where the differences begin(Apples and Oranges). Yao gets his points having to face multiple defenders. Do you realize how much harder it is to score when everyone is trying to stop you? Imagine how good Amare would do if there were 3 guys trying to stop him from scoring or if the opposing team set their entire defensive scheme to deny a player the ball * Pointing out that Amare would have a much more difficult time racking up his points and over all game would not be as good because it's dam difficult when multiple players are trying to stop you. (ex: Celtics set their entire defense to deny Yao Ming the ball) * Hence, I give an example so the cognitively challenged people understand what I'm talking about 2. Yao alters more shots by being 7 ft 5 alone. Not many easy layups either when Yao is on defense. * Another Apple and Orange comparison. Did I mention the guy is 7 ft 5? Just ask Gary Payton what he thinks of Yao Ming when he is posting up and backing up on a player and then he sees Yao Ming towering down. OR when Tony Parker try to go in for a easy lay up and then goes back outside rethinking the situation again. Amare does not present such a presence simply because he is a lot shorter. 3. Yao is a better passer * Another Apple and Oranges. Yao gets his teammates involved. Yao's height advantage helps him to have great floor vision and hence make spectacular passes to an open player which often times leads to an assist. Amare is average at best at passing. Having said that, Amare doesn't pass that much cause he doesn't have as much offense run through his hands cause the Sun's have Marbury and the Matrix. Even so, that just shows how much more pressure Yao has. 4. Yao shoots a higher %. Yao is the only player in the top 3 of any statistical category. * Does this not speak for itself? Do you still agree Amare and Yao should share? * Open ended question which should easily result in a "No" Answer The suns are in the playoffs cause Marbury is carrying the dam team. * Making the case that Marbury is the star of this team and is the reason why Sun's even made the playoffs. Marbury is playing out of his mind. * stating again how good Marbury is Amare is good but Yao's accomplishments easily overshadows Amare's. * Stating that yes, Amare had a good year but Yao's year was much better I don't think it's even a close comparison. Apples and Oranges...etc * Do I really have to analysis this?
I guess the best way to look at it is this... Pretend you are an opposing team. In 5 years, who will be more feared to play against? A muscular Yao? or... A muscular Amare? Then, ask yourself, which players has a higher basketball-IQ?
