I think David Dupree is the most intellectual bball commentator and not because he praises Yao: Singapore: Hi Dave, wow, Yao's really turned it up a notch. Do you think that this will quiet some of the idiotic criticisms about him? I still think that the problem with the Rockets ain't Yao, it's Tracy's back and the cruddy and inconsistent supporting cast around them. Your views? Jeff David DuPree: Yao has been the most dominant player in the league since the all-star break, and he's made believers out of a lot of people. He will only get better, too. What has been most impressive is that he is getting to the free-throw line more, too. He's really being more physical. When you talk about one guy to build a team around, taking age and everything else into consideration, I think you have to consider him in the top four along with Tim Duncan, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. manila, Philippines: Hi David,i admire you as one the most objective and intelligent writers out there. My question is, what do you think of yao ming's suddenly great performace and do you think he can sustain it? Danny David DuPree: Yao is healthy and well rested, and is comfortable in his role. He is a very intelligent player and knows how to use his size as well as anyone. I love the way he plays. keith, towson MD: Hi Dave, You're one of the few sportswriters who has praised Yao. Why do you think so many people still continue to criticize him, even after his dominant play over the last month and a half? For example, a recent ESPN highlight repeatedly showed Yao getting dunked on (leaving one head to say "Yao is turning into the next Shawn Bradley") even though he dropped 25 and 10 on the Spurs WITHOUT T-MAC! David DuPree: Some people hold it against him that he is so tall, and others felt he was so hyped they were expecting him to be Wilt Chamberlain. He had to learn the nuances of the NBA game and get used to the players being so quick and strong. I look at the potential and still feel he is only tapping what he can do. In two years, he will be the most dominant player in the league.
Right now at RealGM, there's like 16 pages of debate of who should you start a franchise with....Lebron or Yao? It got pretty heated with both side making good cases for each payers.
I am glad that not only we Rockets fans are pissed about the BSPN biase. Even someone in MD is speaking it out now.
Yao is just too kind and gentle towards his teammates. It's laughable that he was blaming himself for not having created more for his teammates in the loss against the Nuts. Come on, big fellow, you should never blaming yourself for your teammates laying bricks on open jumpers and going 28% from the field. If it were Kobe, he would have torn off the nuts of his teammates for playing like that.
kanevil, you rock. Thanks for the quotes. There is such a huge disconnect between reality and perception concerning Yao that the idiots must be almost as confused as I am right now (big Yao fan). I wanted the Rox to draft Yao and hoped: 1) He'd be the best center in the league once Shaq's bulk took a toll on his knees. 2) That he'd evolve into one of the best players in the league. 3) Prove worthy of Dream's steady discourse about a dominant center being able to affect the game in which ways the best pfs and perimeter players can't. (I wonder if he mentioned that to Timmay! when they hooked up.) 4) A good overall #1 pick specifically because so many people thought Yao was a ridiculous risk. The last month and a half, well I'm thinking Yao has his own agenda that oddly enough fits the team concept and is doing things in his own time, in his own way. In short, I think he must be remembering what it was like when he had to be the best player on the Sharks. I guess it can be analyized in hundreds of ways, but I do think Yao's play as of late isn't about incremental progress. I'm currently waiting for this thread: Who took Yao's cheese?
I like the article although he says that considering age and everything else he would build a team around TD? I dont think SA has too many more years as an elite team. TD has been injured and he will only decline more in the next couple years.
