Let's face it: this team isn't that good even with a healthy Yao.

I'm LOL @ Gasol is a better defender than Yao. Yao in a wheel-chair can defend the paint better than Gasol on his best day. I've never seen teams be drawn away from the paint, because of Gasol. Pales in defensive efficiency by a good amount. Yao has gotten his team to 2nd Round as the main guy and won a few playoff games in his career as the main and secondary guy. Gasol did not win one single game in the playoffs, during his stay in Memphis

Gasol amazingly averages more rebounds than Yao, even though Yao's career average is 9.3 vs. Gasol's 8.9.

Gasol has also never average 20-10 in one season, and has only average over 20 points twice in his career. Nor has he ever averaged any where near 22 - 25 ppg or averaged two blocks a game in season. Over the last four seasons, Yao is averaging about 22.25 ppg and 10.0 rebs with his team making the playoffs, each year, except one.

Gasol missed the playoffs several times with Grizzlies.

I should also point teams do not (and never have) given Gasol the same kind of attention on defense that they give to Yao Ming.

You could argue that Gasol is a better player, but not on the merit of overall defense (post defense being a big factor), scoring, shot blocking (and shot altering), intangibles, and defensive schemes used by opponents.


http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3599/career;_ylt=AlXNdpZJk_SbvAY5PhgSlHesPKB4

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3513/career;_ylt=AlXNdpZJk_SbvAY5PhgSlHeOPKB4

 

OMG how can we possibly stop the bobcats next year?