Was watching Cold pizza at around 12:30pm today and there was 2 white dudes and one black dude on. I don't know what the usual cast is but I think its the two white guys and the black dude was a basketball expert. In anycase, when I turned it on they were talking about KG and whether he was a failure or not. The next topic was about the Magic and whether or not they could win the East. The white guy says yes because the game's dominant big man has arrived, Dwight Howard. Then the black dude was like," wait a minute, aren't you forgetting about someone in the West?" I thought they were about the mention Yao, then he busts out , "what about Tim Duncan?" Then the white guys is like , "Oh I meant most dominant in the East" Then the black guy is like,"atleast while Shaq is out." No mention of Yao at all. Just amazing how he can still be ignored. Oh wellz. Why is it that Yao is being ignored to this day despite obviously being the game's most dominant big man. Even when put vs duncan, Yao changes how the other team plays defense more than anyone, period. I will admit that at this point in their respective games, if the game was on the line, I'd rather have TD. But in terms of completely changing the other team's whole strategy against your team, Yao is most dominant, bar none.
Yea, I saw this as well. The guy who said D. Howard is the most dominant big man is Skip Bayless. He's kind of a nut and goes overboard with his analysis of people. I was really hoping that the guy interrupting him would mention Yao but I've decided it's best when experts don't talk about him at all. Even while mentioning how good his game is this year they add in the finally-seeing-what-was-promised-his-rookie-year line, and I really hate that.
I wonder if an American-born Asian player, who talked alot of trash and played a flashy, more American style of play, would have to deal with many of the same criticisms as Yao. My point is that I don't believe Yao's lack of props stems solely from him not being white or black, but is the result of many different factors, including not being black or white.
Tim Duncan IS having a more dominant season. He's shooting better, rebounding more, has more assists, more steals, the same bpg average, fewer turnovers and fewer fouls. He is scoring less, however, and continues to be horrid at the free throw line. You can argue all you want about impact on the game, though it would be purely opinion based (though Yao's Roland Rating of 13.9 is slightly higher than Duncan's 13.7 at this point). One could probably argue for Yao, but one could also argue for Duncan. He does still have better talent around him after all.
I'm getting used to the fact that nobody mentions Yao when talking about the "most dominant big man". In fact like some here I'm hoping they continue to not mention him so when one of the "most dominant big man" has to play Yao he in the most nondominant way drops 30/10...
Why are you guys so surprised? Even in this clutch forum itself there are people who think Yao is a bust. Don't be touchy. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. The most important thing we're going to be 12-5 tonight.
On another basketball forum, one thread starter asked "who would you rather have, Yao or Howard", 80% of people who replied said Howard.
Howard is 5 years younger, and, like Yao, has improved every year. He isn't that far behind Yao right now in terms of overall production, with the primary differences being offensive. He really is not anywhere near as polished in terms of a set of offensive moves. He almost averages 2 more offensive rebounds per game, but is still almost 10 points less a game than Yao. BUT, in Yao's third year, he only averaged 18 ppg, too. Look, I understand that Yao is still underappreciated by media and fans alike, who think he's just some kind of bumbling giant only in the NBA because he is 7'6" (as if Dwight Howard isn't only in the NBA because he is 6'11" and freakishly athletic or Kobe Bryant isn't only in the NBA for similiar reasons). That doesnn't mean someone else's opinion is always completely wrong. Yao might just be my favorite NBA player right now (it's between him and Chuck Hayes!), but I think if I had to choose, I'd go with Howard, too. And as others have mentioned...WHO CARES what those people think? I can tell you for certain, Yao doesn't. In the offseason he goes home and gets to be comfortable in his own skin again in China. He only wants to win and perform well.
Well said.. believe it or not. athleticism is very important in the NBA.. and Dwight Howard... he's not human.
I don't see how that is surprising. The only stat where Yao has more than a marginal lead is scoring (25 PPG vs. 17 for Howard), but Yao is also taking 7 more shots per game. Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge Yao fan, but I'd rather have Howard also - he's averaging 17 PPG & 13.5 RPG while shooting 60% from the field, and he's not even 21 yet. The thing that confuses me is when people think that Shaq is the better player. IMO, Yao is the best true center in the game today, but I don't consider guys like Howard & Duncan true centers.
I agree. Just look at all the pro howard people here, so it's really no surprise that a site not dedicated to the rockets would have that result. Yao is the rodney dangerfield of basketball.
Disagree. Two points: 1. Howard is not the pivot/core of Magic's offense and he may never will be due to his touch and passing skills 2. Howard is seldom doubled or tripled. I double he can still put 17pts each game when facing that. Each "dominating" big man need to face double/triple team while still dropping about 20pts per game. Basically, it is too early to judge Howard and his game still has too many holes. If people are talking about the most dominating big man in NBA right now or in the following 3 years, it should be either TD or YAO. If people are trying to predict who will be the most dominating big man in 5 years, I think Howard has a chance but the chance is slim.
