Somehow, I have the feeling that had the first pick gone to Chicago or New York, we wouldn't be getting these negative articles. Yao Ming could be another LaRue Martin By Dick Vitale SPECIAL TO ESPN.COM May 22 The Houston Rockets have the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft, and Rockets fans are getting excited about the possibility of improving their frontcourt. The Rockets have a talented backcourt with Stevie Franchise -- I mean Steve Francis -- and Cuttino Mobley. Now coach Rudy Tomjanovich and company can pick up a big man. Will Yao Ming be a slam-dunk NBA success? Or will he be another LaRue Martin? Do I hear the name Yao Ming in Houston's future? Can you see another big man in that Rocket uniform at 7-foot-5? To me, this has the potential to be a pick just like one the Portland Trail Blazers made 30 years ago. That's right, back in 1972, the Blazers drafted a young big man named LaRue Martin from Loyola of Chicago. The selection was based on potential. Boy, did that pick fail to pan out. My gut feeling watching Ming is not positive. Maybe I'm not being fair, but I see a player who won't have the body strength to endure the kind of physical contact that takes place on the interior. He will face superb athleticism day in and day out in the NBA, especially if he's in the Western Conference. I feel he will be abused inside. Some say Ming can handle the basketball well and shoot 15-foot jumpers. But is that what you really want from a player his size? Hey, could this be another Sam Bowie? It seems like I'm picking on those Blazers, but Martin and Bowie were two big men who didn't make the impact desired for such an early draft pick. Even if Ming develops, it could take several years and he could end up as a free agent by the time he becomes a star. He's also a risky proposition because of contract negotiations with his Chinese team. Will the Rockets or someone else (if Houston trades the top pick) make a mistake by passing on J-Will? Jay Williams has superstar written all over him. Fans of the Chicago Bulls, who have the second pick, must be hoping and praying that Williams becomes their point guard for the next 10 years. With J-Will, the Bulls would have no problem at the point-guard slot, and that's an area where every team needs consistency. In last year's draft, Chicago selected Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry, two high school kids with potential. GM Jerry Krause figured the Bulls wouldn't win for a while, but these two big guys could develop into potential stars in the long run. The people of Chicago deserve better. Look at what has happened since Michael the Magnificent, the great Michael Jordan, left. It's sad. I firmly believe they need some instant help to get to the winner's circle. Remember, the Eastern Conference is not as strong as the West, so the Bulls could get healthy in a hurry. It will be interesting to see what happens with the first pick of the draft. Will the Rockets trade down and get some help with veterans? The top pick is truly desired, and not just for Ming. To succeed in the NBA these days, point-guard play is so important. You'd better excel in that area if you want to excel as a team. Look at what the Nets have done with the addition of Jason Kidd, baby! And Jay Williams will be a dominant point guard. Would Houston trade Stevie Franchise to get help in the frontcourt and then use the top pick on Williams? Imagine getting a lot of help on the baseline in a deal for Francis! There are many intriguing possibilities. The NBA draft should be interesting. But something tells me Mr. Ming could be another LaRue Martin.
I posted a new thread on this, but I don't think this author of the article linked to below has an agenda, and I can't stand Dick Vitale, he's a ninny who's in love with the sound of his own voice. http://slate.msn.com/?id=2066122
While Vitale can be funny, he's about the biggest Duke homer on the planet. More than likely, he's just frustrated that Jason Williams won't go number one.
Vitale is an over-rated moron. He wouldnt know talent if it sat on his bald head and wiggled. Vitale is involved in the conspiracy to get Ming to play for New York or LA Clippers.
Vitale called the guy that played fo Umass with Camby the best player in college basketball because he laid 35 on Arkansa the yr after they won the title. Following the season, he went 2nd rd. Willie Roe. Vitale has had his share of sorry insight.
Vitale is more of a character than a sports analyst - he's famous for having a goofy signature style of calling a game, not for any particular insight into the game. He's not much of a writer either. In the article in question, he uses anecdotal evidence to support his argument: "These two centers were drafted high and they turned out to be busts. Therefore, the Rockets shouldn't draft Yao Ming." This argument ignores the fact that many centers have been drafted high and have gone on to have great careers (I don't have to name them, do I?). You could make a similar argument about movies: "Tom Cruise was in 'Days of Thunder' and 'Eyes Wide Shut', two movies that were busts. Therefore, 'Minority Report' will probably also be bad, so you shouldn't see it." It's really idiotic to make judgments in this manner. In addition to being an idiot, Vitale is obviously biased towards college players - he disses not only Ming, but the Bulls' high schoolers. Could this be because foreign & high school players don't have good track records? That can't be - they're some of the biggest stars in the NBA. What's more likely is that Vitale is simply worried that, with the massive influx of high school & foreign talent, his position as a COLLEGE broadcaster becomes more & more irrelevant. I myself am among those who no longer follows the college game, as I believe that the best players don't stay in college for very long (or, nowadays, never go at all).
Don't badmouth Days of Thunder or we'll have to squabble..... LOL, Vitale doesn't know anything about foreign talent. He's been known to be way off base with college players (whom he sees all the time) so how would he have a clue about foreign talent? I bet he wasn't high on Gasol last year because he thought his good buddy Battier could wipe the floor with him....
wasn't this the same dick vitale that got raped by red auerbach into giving boston those picks that eventually became robert parish and kevin mchale??
can you honestly say you know better than him though?? do you disagree with his assertion that you don't want 7'5" guys shooting 15' jumpers on a regular basis?? i can't believe how ready people are to spend the very first pick in the NBA draft on a guy like this....he MIGHT develop, sure. But to say that Vitale is just being biased by writing this is silly, in my opinion.
AMEN I know we should take Yao (unless we can trade it for a super veteran), but man, it sure seems he could be a bust...I just hope the boy can be a man and play some ball!
Yes. I think many people who have written in this thread agree. There is a reason he ended up broadcasting college basketball. His success thereafter is based on his character. What he does have, then, is more resources at his disposal, but given the situation with Ming I honestly believe we know as much as him. Yes, I disagree with this as well. If Ming shoots 50% and scores 14-16 a game mainly on 15' jumpers (with some offensive rebound putbacks and fast break slams mixed in) then that is fine with me. As long as he grabs his fair share of boards (10+) and plays good defense. Kareem shot 10-15' hookshots nearly his entire career and he did fine. Vitale pretty much asks for people to call him out with this article. Will the Rockets or someone else (if Houston trades the top pick) make a mistake by passing on J-Will? Jay Williams has superstar written all over him. The people of Chicago deserve better. Look at what has happened since Michael the Magnificent, the great Michael Jordan, left. Would Houston trade Stevie Franchise to get help in the frontcourt and then use the top pick on Williams? Imagine getting a lot of help on the baseline in a deal for Francis! The article, entitled Yao Ming could be another LaRue Martin, mind you, is as much, if not more about Jason (Jay) Williams and Chicago than it is about Houston or Ming. He resorts to using his trademark baby and adding exclamation points at random spots (he could have put one anywhere), claims without a doubt that Jay Williams will be a superstar and that his addition to a team like Chicago, where the fans deserve better (haha) will catalyze them to greatness again. All assertations backed with no analysis of either players' (Ming or Williams) strenghts or weaknesses nor proper analysis of either NBA team. Regardless of his opinion, Dick Vitale, quite obviously, is an idiot. Now his opinion (really just a guess here) may be right. There may be too many loopholes and too little talent on Ming's end to justify jumping through them, but I can honestly say that I am in as good a position to make that call as Vitale. At least I'd be objective about it.
I'd rather draft Williams and package a deal for a higher draft pick and Mc dyess or someone of that caliber. Pick up Caron Butler and Antonio.
