If Yao Ming was 6 inches shorter, would he be a power forward?

Lol, this thread cracks me up.

 

See someone appreciates the fun I bring to the board.

Panda - KEEP ON POSTING!!!!!

 

Trader_Jorge, perhaps you're overstating a bit here and this isn't actually a stimulating thread, so no offense here...

Yao might not have been a first round pick if he were 6'10 (like Dream was), but I guess I have a very different impression about this guy than you do. The thread was about him being 6" inches shorter (in shoes) so that puts him at 7'0, and I'm shocked anyone thinks (if you indeed do) he couldn't play in the NBA. He has unusual skills for a 7' player, and this kid's learning curve has impressed me more than anybody has.

Of course, Yao's 7'6 (in shoes), so this thread is trying to suggest that since he doesn't have great upper body strength and since he can shoot it may be better to go with the current NBA trend of making a "skilled" 7'0 player a power forward. After all Ralph Sampson was the 1st 7'4" pf. I personally think it's garbage and I bet Yao by himself reverses the trend, that is if Hakeem didn't debunk the theory by himself. Shaq's completely right about complaining that "skilled" centers who play center barely exist. Yao is the enema the NBA needs badly to relieve themselves of half the starting centers in this league: it's hurt the game. So, would many coaches be playing Yao at pf w/ Cato at center? A few would, no doubt, but Yao'd be out of town when his rookie contract expired.

What's really refreshing about Yao is his dedication to the center position itself at a "paltry" 296 lbs. He wants Shaq, he wants Dream, he wants Russell and he wants Wilt. If I hadn't been watching this guy, I'd think him insane.

 

Let put things in perspective. If Yao is 6 inches shorter, may be he could be even more agile and has more vertical leap. He could even play more like Dirk. Image what Shaq would be if he was 6 inches shorter. With the kind of skills he has, Shaq would be an average joe in NBA.

 

I think someone is going to start another thread with this title soon:

If Yao was 1 foot 2 inches shorter, would he be a point guard?

 

or this thread

if yoa was 5"5' would he play soccer?, or if yoa was 6"3' would he play baseball?