Could Yao Ming make the All-Defensive Team this year?

comback player of year

 

All-Defensive is done on reputation more than anything else, so don't be surprised when you see Marcus Camby get second team.

 

It's going to Howard - leading the league in blocks and rebounds.

Evan

 

He's a monster against certain mathups, toronto, utah and al jefferson can make him look stupid though, but apart from those, he makes playing defense easier for his team mates because he's the greatest intimidator of any post scoring threat in the league without actually blocking ur shots think about it, guys 7'6 with a what 9'8 standing reach?

 

He has no chance.

Once that "soft" rep gets out there, you can never get rid of it - deservedly or not. And this achievement is all based on prior reputation.

 

he'll never get first team if howards around since people tend to value tangible stats in selecting the defensive teams. heck shane was 2nd in DPOY voting last year and didnt make the first team. second team is a possibility but that could be a stretch.

the guy hasnt even been all-nba first team center in his career which is a travesty in its own...i think one year ben wallace made second team before he did.

last year i think howard made first team and i guess the number of games had to factor in that Yao didnt play half the season.

i would be happier if he made all-nba first team, but i doubt that will ever happen since howard has become the poster big man child for the nba.

 

I love Yao and i think he is the best center in the league but why do people have to act like Dwight Howard is a scrub who doesn't deserve any of the respect he gets just to praise Yao. I mean, the guy gets 21 pts, 14 rbs, and 3 blks a night on 56% shooting. It's atleast debatable. If someone gives him an award over Yao, Yao isn't getting completely screwed.

 

Something that doesnt go into the stat sheets is the number of times players erroneously try to barge into Yao when his arms are straight up trying to draw a foul that results in a badly missed shot(but usually not a block). He is one of the few players who can do that and is a very effective weapon on defense provided the refs dont bail out the offensive player.

 

I forgot about Tyson Chandler . . . but he can be a great defender at times though.


On the other hand, I would expect completely curve ball considering it is the media writers voting. We're going to see someone who doesn't deserve make it. Like Camby, two years ago, or both Kobe and Raja Bell being 1st team Defense. Especially, when there are players, like Prince, Bowen (at the time, Battier, and Wallace (Gerald) who are much better defenders.

 

Maybe on this board, but I would reverse the question to the public, certain media writers, referees, and BSPN.

Why do people have to act like Yao Ming is a scrub who doesn't deserve any of the respect...period?

He is probably the most clowned and subtle disrespected player in the league. He doesn't get even get fair calls that are even worthy of backup center. If he waves his shoulder in the paint with ball, the defender goes flopping ... offensive foul. He can't play aggressive or bulldoze people, because he would foul out every game.

 

Marcus Camby deserves it over Yao, he's got more blocks, more defensive rebounds, and even more steals.

I don't know why everybody is so concerned with this though. It shouldn't be on your minds this much. Getting out of the first round and winning a championship should be the only thing you think about for the Rockets.

 

Are you talking Camby in this year? His team is losing, Yao's team is winning, hoping that Yao is on the third team at least.

 

By that same logic, would Chris Andersen and Ronny Turiaf be more deserving of an award over someone Kendrick Perkins, because he has less blocks than previous two. Although, Perkins by far, a much defender and has steadily improved over the last 3 seasons. Perkins was even great on the big stage, he didn't have flashy defensive numbers or even great big total of defensive rebounds. But, he played great one-on-one defense, rotated, and deterred the Lakers' wing players away from the post.

You can't measure defense by blocks and steals alone. Iverson used to be a consistent leader in steals, but he was never a great defender.


Again, Camby is a good defender with good stats, but I doubt he makes the top 5 to 9 defenders in the NBA. I saw this especially in last year's playoffs, the Lakers had field day with him in the paint, while their production somewhat dropped against the Jazz and Spurs. He couldn't defend Gasol or Odom to save his life, even though some unhyped center like Perkins did a pretty good job against the same Lakers.

 

That doesn't matter, we're talking all defensive team, not the top 5-9 defenders. He's made like 4-5 all defensive teams in a row, I don't see that changing this year whether it should or should not as long as it puts up blocks, steals and rebounds, which is all the coaches (or whoever votes for the coaches) look at basically, he'll get the votes.

 

Well according to Basketball reference dot com, Camby's defensive rating is slightly higher than Yao's. So, with these stat geek stats and traditionally stats, Camby has the edge.

 

no chance.

don't care.

 

I love Yao Ming but I think the real question is...do you want an honest answer or is this meant to be a Yao Ming love post?

Yao Ming has no chance IMO of being on the All NBA Defensive Team. Yao is one of the most limited players in the league when it comes to defense. He has zero transition defense and almost never even makes an attempt to get back on defense. He simply can not guard players on the perimeter...at all. Yao is extreamly weak on help defense and does not have the athletisism to get back when he does help.

Yao is best playing against players like Shaq who like to play with their backs against the basket and in the post. When Yao is able to sit in the paint or stay close to the basket he is a very good post defender when he is facing his man. Yao alters a ton of shots in the paint but gets dunked on a lot because of his lack of athletisism.

Overall Yao is a good defender just based on his man to man half court post defense. Unfortunately, Bill Worrell has to talk about how much less talented players are a bad match up for Yao because he does not have the athletisism to effectively guard them.

No defensive team honors in his future.