Lebron or Yao? RealGM site's take on the issue

I would choose Yao over LeBron too...many people would. A center of his caliber doesn't come along too often

 

Lebron is a great great talen, but so is Kobe, T-mac, KG blah blah


it is much easier to believe that YM will win a championship than LBJ

 

I like the way Jack Ramsey put it: "LeBron is the better player, Yao is the more valuable."

D R

 

Wouldn't the "more valuable" player by definition be "better"? This is one of those statements I can never make sense out of.

I think Dr. Jack wanted to say that Lebron puts up better conventional stats, but Yao provides more positive impact on the game in ways the box score doesn't indicate. Which would be true. But it certainly doesn't make Lebron a "better player".

 

Same argument between Shaq and Kobe. Shaq's more dominant and dependable to rely on with high % shots. Kobe has the better all around game that does everything. Yao or Lebron is a tough decision where I honestly don't think you can go wrong. With Lebron you have a guy who could easily play 18 years and just go barely over his mid 30s. Yao has atleast 10 good years though in him so it's all a washup. A dominant center or low post presence is a rarer commodity than a phenom guard. If Lebron does get a consistent low post game to compliment him in crunch time though watch out. That's really when Jordan started getting his rings once he learned that post up fadeaway jumper he ripped from Hakeem.

 

I like James, but some people are getting too caught up in the whole hype - Yao can change the dynamic of the team around him - James can put up good numbers.

you take Yao and hope to get a couple of good shooters around him

 

I wasnt too big on James because of all the hype. But after watching several game of his recently, I really think the Kid can be something special like MJ. Also I think he has a better game than Camelo right now, Melo needs to cool down sometimes. But Melo is in the west though.

However, I will take Yao over James right now. Yao's the bedrock of this Rox team on both ends. Yao's impact is huge. We all saw yesterday's game against Bucks. How we struggled against Bucks when Yao was out, and How we opened up when Yao's in. Yao's presence is not only scoring. Only him standing there putting up arms is already impact, and this is why Bradley is still in the league.

 

Just because someone is more valuable to your team doesn't make them a better player. They may be "better for your team", however. On the Lakers, Yao would probably be less valuable a player, yet he's still the same player in terms of umm... "betterness".

 

I don't get what's the argument is... even a poll on this??

It's Yao Ming all the way.

 

Well, surely when you compare two players in a vaccum, teammates shouldn't be a factor. I mean, I could say that Lebron wouldn't be a good fit in Philly with Iverson.

 

you can't teach 7'6". 'nuff said.

 

L. J. is younger, and since guards typically have longer careers than centers, I'd go with James.

I'd say YM has 10 (33) years of dominance in him, but LB maybe has 15 (34).

Raven

 

I would like to have both Yao and Lebron, if I can only have one player, I would go with Yao. How about Lebron and Yao together? game over?

 

I'd probably have to agree with Raven (even though I love our Yao). LJ will have a long career, earmarked with several playoff and probably championship series. Veteran PG's, PF's, and centers will for years flock to play with LJ (similarly to MJ).

Yao - on the other hand - may never be as fortunate as Shaq was (sic) teamed with another bonafide superstar. Our ownership might feel it unwise to spend big $ and bring in the final pieces of the puzzle to make us a championship-caliber team.

 

good idea! Though only 18, James is a born team leader, who already know how to get his teamates involved. As for Yao, it is only the matter of time for him to be the next "MDE" . If such dream comes true, we can expect 6+ titles for Rockets

 

i feel the total opposite. I think that a dominant yet unselfish center is more likely to draw free agents. a dominant post game is the key to playoff success, yao is the key to championships.

and the whole 2nd point is all reckless speculation. you dont think the rockets org. want to build a championship team???? the rockets are not a frugal team, they bring in free agents, and reward them.

 

I don't know if that's true. Do you have proof?

Somehow I feel like centers have longer career if they can stay healthy.

Robert Parish had about 20 year career, longest in NBA history.He is also the oldest to ever played in NBA at age 42 and more than two hundred days.
Jabbar left at age 42.
DROb played till 38.
Hakeem played till 40.
Ewing played till 40.

Oldest center at this moment is Kevin Willis at 42.
oldest guard at this monent is Mark Jackson at 39.

 

To be worth more than a great center, a guard or small forward would have to be one of the greatest of all time at his position.

Maybe LeBron will become that. Otherwise, it's YM in a walk.

 

It is guards that have shorter shelf life than centers. Lebron relies on phenom athleticism, when that goes he may only be a 3rd team all-NBA or something Assuming no major injuries, I would guess they would start being merely "good players" about the same time given Yao's what 5 years older.

Pretty much true.

I'd sure like to have both.