[ESPN Daily Dime Poll] Best center - Yao or Dwight?

It probably has to do with the fact that you continue to downplay the fact that Dwight Howard leads the league in rebounding and blocked shots by large margins. If Yao led the league in rebounding and blocked shots by similar levels you all would be annointing him the greatest center of all-time.

This question about Howard and Yao is only really a question in Houston where Yao's fans find ever more creative ways to excuse his production.

 

You're comparing a world class city like Houston to Orlando? Your town and your basketball team is just like your most famous attraction, it's Mickey Mouse. While I enjoy Miami as a vacation destination, it was built on cocaine money, and central Florida is the only place on earth with worse summer weather than us.

 

The reason these Yao vs. Dwight debates rage on for so long is that it's comparing apples to oranges. If they had the same skillset then anyone could just do a straight up comparison. Yao's the total offensive package. Dwight's the athletic prodigy. Yao can shoot. Dwight's got the lateral quickness that Yao lacks which is why he can run down rebounds at a rate Yao can only dream of. I'd rate their post defense as a draw because Yao, while he doesn't get the blocks that Dwight does, changes a lot of shots just because he's so danged tall.

Me, I prefer Yao simply because he's a guy that can create for himself. With his offensive skill set you can build an offense around him.

One last thing about the scoring averages for both players this season--don't forget that the Rockets' offense has been misfiring horribly. Note that T-Mac's and Artest's numbers are also way, way down.

 

Can somebody who was dominated by Jason Maxiell and Antonio McDyess in a 5 game series really be considered the "best center in the league"? Thats what happened in last year's playoffs, when he had to play against actual power forwards and centers.

Yao would average monster #s against Nesterovic too in a series.

Dwight can't dominate a 6'7 Maxiell who is a power forward. He can't match up with the best center in the league in Yao.


Dwight's numbers are really inflated due to the makeup of the team and their style. His blocks are the only numbers which are impressive.

His team has no other rebounders, therefore Howard has to get 14 rpg. Yao on the other hand is part of one of the best rebounding and defensive teams. He has good rebounders at every position except point guard. He has 2 of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA. He will not get as many rebounds or blocks because of that.

Another reason why Howard gets so many rebounds is, his team shoots so many 3's. Howard is usually not a post up option, so all he has to focus on is boxing out for the rebound. Yao has to get position to score down low, AND then he has to box out for position. Luckily Scola, Landry, and Hayes takes some of that burden off of him.


Also, when you are in a tight game and you need points, you can be confident that Yao either gets off a high % shot or he'll get to the free throw line (where he shoots 85% compared to 58% for Howard). If those things don't happen, then Yao will draw a double team and he'll be able to spot an open cutter or 3point shooter. Dwight can only do one thing down low, dunk over a smaller and weaker opponent or run the floor on a fast break. However, in the playoffs, its a slowed down game, and Yao's skills will help much more than Dwight's athleticism.

They are both talented, but I think Yao is the better basketball player where as Dwight is the better athlete.