ALWAYS! Yao not only beat Dwight Howard tonight, he also beat the refs! YAO MING >>>>>>>>>> Dwight Howard + refs
There's something about the way Yao plays, I could be way off, but... Obviously, when every team in the league gets to play Houston, their players and coaching staff must really try to motivate their center, who's probably either geeked up or nervous about playing against Yao: "Come on, man, you got this, use strategy; get him tired, flop, do this, do that, you can OUTPLAY this guy, man." You can see it whenever the opposing center gets "hot", they really wanted to bring their A game, and Yao sometimes needs part of the game before his motivation matches that intensity. Enter Dwight Howard, proclaimed by many to be the best center in the NBA. Maybe he believes it too? Until he plays against Yao. Because Dwight Howard is the one guy that Yao gets motivated to beat---well, and maybe Shaq, since Shaq also tries to bring his A game against "the best".
Couple of years, his vertical leap will decline. He won't be on the juice no more, and he'll just be another poor man Shawn Kemp. At least Shawn Kemp had a jump shot!
Yao has trouble against speed. Howard doesn't. Most teams in the league use speed to play Yao (with doubles, or just meddling with him). Yao doesn't "dominate" because he doesn't have the speed to keep up. Once you get a center to start playing Yao's type of ball, he starts dominating. Shaq does, Kaman does, Dampier does, Howard does. The second you conform to Yao's style, he'll destroy you. Dwight does well against speed and can overpower most guys, but not Yao. I think Howard is the best center against most teams in the league, but Yao doesn't need to be the best center against most teams. If you put them head to head, anyone that picks Dwight is insane. So in short, Howard > League. League =< Yao. Yao > Howard.
sadly, what you said is true. as to "a 7'6"guy is supposed to slam and block shots", yes it's a common perception - but only suitable for those who don't really understand bball (in other words, casual fans). to the contrary, for a 7-6 and/or 300+ lbs guy, only bradley has ever come close of being decent, in the history of the game. the sheer fact that yao is even constantly in the best center conversation is amazing in and by itself. it speaks volumes.
Yao will not be the best center except the league give him half of the calls, which Howard or other league baby usually obtained. I don't care about it. The most important thing for the Rocket now is to keep healthy.
Yao plays well against players who are "right there" in front of him. His problems are with the Okur/Brad Miller types who can step out and shoot. He normally play well against eddie curry,howard, and even shaq.
true. the blunt's or al jefferson's have given his fits. it's a balance in between protecting the paint and coming out on a big that can shoot from 15ft.
Mr. Pink vanished into thin air tonight. HAHAHA a Yao Ming that's not 100% healthy STILL owned Dwight Howard + referees !!!!!!!! YEEEEAAA YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEA! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE HAW!!!
Dwight is not a true center and Yao proves that to him in the head to head meetings. Dwight is PF and Yao is the true Center.
I agree, although I've heard ex-NBA turned commentator types say that a player as large as Yao should be more dominant and by that they generally mean blocks and dunks, so I'm not sure its just a casual fans misconception. Just to make it clear, I'm pointing out why I think he loses out in the hype department to guys like Howard. I don't think Howard is the better center. Of course I only see him when plays against Yao so I have a fairly slanted view of his ability. Still, Yao has been really good for longer than Howard. I like the Shawn Kemp mention someone made. Play at a high level for several season and show that your not a Shawn Kemp. Dominate or at least play even with all the other premier big men for several seasons, then maybe I'll give you the nod. I feel Yao has done that, but not Howard.
is it just me or does it seem that when there's a game with a big name center, be it shaq, howard, etc , yao always brings his A game?
Because these big name centers play Yao behind the back, without double teaming. That's when nobody can stop Yao. Howard is always limited by Yao because he can't get the easy baskets that he usually gets from scrubs.
Yao needs to stay healthy for a season and into the playoffs, and have a successful playoff run. Fit and healthy, he's the best big man in the league. If he manages that feat this year, the talk about "whoever" being better than Yao will end. That's all he has to do. Keep your fingers crossed.
yao was more highly scrutinized by an opponent's defense than howard is; yao simply is harder to contain. but fronting him and using quicker players are good strategies; dwight doesn't have nearly as good a offensive game so most of his points come off dunks and layups and putbacks. however, without a big body guarding him, dwight will dunk over anyone.
i want to believe what you just said, as it makes a lot of sense. i think it's kinda what the other member was saying. the nba has worked that way for quite some time, like it or not. but something tells me it's still possible that even if we win the title this year, the media bias and the ref'ing treatment won't change much for yao.
