As long as Yao continue to develop exponentially, the Rocks will have the best center for years to come. In my opinion, I think Shaq is slowing down a little bit in the reg. season but I still reckon he can turn it up a notch come play-off time if they make it.
I seem to remember about 1-2 years ago this kid was writing for a novice sports web site. He basically said inflammatory statements just to get people riled up. He reminds me of Chet Copock. He's talking out of his as* most of the time.
My reply to Mr. Collins: First and foremost, I am a New York Knicks fan. They are a pretty ****ty team, probably the worst Knicks team that I can remember since I started watching in the NBA in 1991. Anyway, I can't stand the Rockets, and I have a good reason for it. You might have to look up why though, you might have still been in your mother's uterus at that time. "Well, Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Dajuan Wagner, and Caron Butler are all playing better than him, have better numbers than him, are more valuable to their team, and have better potential to be more dominant in this league." You named 3 different players right there Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler, and Dajuan Wagner. Amare Stoudemire is the only player listed there that could miraculously steal the ROY award from Yao. The other two are secondary players just like Yao, but their teams are horrible. I don't care how valuable they are to their teams, if they can't help their team to win they aren't more valuable than Yao or Stoudemire. None of them have as much potential to dominate in the NBA than Yao Ming. Their positions are crowded, the center landscape is bleak. In a few years it'll be Duncan (yes, he's a center, you might have been still defecating in your diapers when he was playing at Wake Forest though), Yao, and Miller. Look at the 4 and 2 positions in the NBA and you'll see that is not the case. Now, on to Stoudemire. If you actually think he is more valuable to his team than Yao Ming, you need to get your head checked, or graduate from Junior High. Either or would do just fine. Stoudemire has Shawn Marion and Stephon Marbury, both all-stars, playing with him. Shawn Marion and Stephon Marbury are worlds better than Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobley. There is really no comparison there. Teams can focus on stopping Yao Ming because he doesn't have players like Shawn Marion and Stephon Marbury that demand A LOT of defensive attention. "Manu Ginobili, if he weren’t injury plagued, would be on that list, too." You must have something against this certain 7'5" center with soft hands, good footwork, a solid 15 foot fall away, and a great passing game if you think that is true. The last player to come out even remotely close to him was Ralph Sampson out of Virginia. He was on the Rockets too. Funny coincidence. "Why isn’t Shawn Bradley on the All-Star Ballot? Uhhhh? good question. Your guess is as good as mine." Because he isn't good, period. "He’s a giant stick who stands under the basket with his hands up, and when he’s at the top of the post he passes it back up top. That’s not talent at all. It’s called being tall. Wow, that sounds a lot like some 7'6" German born center, not some 7'5" Chinese born center. I forgot his name, maybe you could refresh my memory? "Because the only healthy big man we had was Shawn Bradley, and he had to rest. There is only so much you can do with one center, so when he came out Yao Ming dominated." He didn't "have to rest", as you said, he was "the only healthy big man". Yao Ming got him in foul trouble, early, and he had to sit his ass on the bench and watch Yao Ming dominate the rest of that sorry interior defense. Just because Bradley gets a few blocks doesn't mean he has great defense. His man to man defense is average at best. "but he should NOT be in the All-Star Game. He’s no where near as good number-wise, play-wise, or dominating-wise as Shaq. " Which two centers should be playing at the All-Star Game for the West then Doogie? Please don't say who I think you'll say. "You can’t be a dominant force if you’re afraid to turn and dunk the ball." He isn't afraid to dunk the ball. He dunks the ball almost every game, but it's only when he has to. This statement is asinine because there have been quite a few finesse centers that have been great in this league. " He’s from China and missed a training camp, so what? " That's where you learn how to play with your teammates. Teams need chemistry, and the Rockets still don't have it. "There are no rule differences from Chinese basketball to American basketball and he’s been holding a basketball ever since he was little." Different sized lanes, no goaltending penalty...... "“For a guy from China, he’s playing well. He should make the All-Star game,” because he’s putting up practically the same numbers as Shawn" Yao Ming at starting C: 24 games 30 mpg 15.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 2.43 bpg, 1.8 apg, .38 spg, 50% FG Shawn Bradley at starting C: 22 games, 27 mpg 9.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.95 bpg, .9 apg, .68 spg, 56% FG They are hardly the same numbers. "because for a rookie his numbers are good when facing teams with little or no low post presence." Isn't Shaq facing these teams too? "I can’t wait for Shaq to demolish him, so you will all see what I’m talking about. If he has more than 24 points in that game on January 17th (and you can hold me to this) I will say I’m wrong and apologize to Yao Ming and all of his fans. In fact, I’ll write a column about how good Yao Ming is because if he can do that to Shaq, he’s good, but he won't. I know, bets against Yao Ming don’t usually work out real well, but you can hold me to this because, you’ll see, Yao Ming is not a good basketball player." If he only gets 23 points you will still say he sucks? I can't believe I took the time to actually give you a reply. Just stay away from basketball, it's obviously not your thing.
Good reply NYKRule. This kid is basically a homer and not being objective at all. I bet the first time that Drew Gooden lays a hard foul on Dirk, Gooden will be this kids least favorite player.
Uter-what? I bet the little boy's biggest word is Uranus. Haha you said assnine. NYKRule-1 Little Boy-0 Woohoo!
OK Guys!!!! Take it easy... Believe it or not, we have discussed this before in the previous thread started by CY02. The kid received a death threat as a result of his comment. I mean... c'mon.... some people are sick enough about the whole thing to send a death threat letter to the kid. I am lazy to find the previous thread. But again no need to email or response to him. Everybody is entitled to their own opinions. And some people are just jealous, so you can't do anything about it.
Yao has better numbers then all above mentioned players. This is a fact, not an opinion. And plays many minutes less...Case closed. Ming 31 GP, 13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg, .560 FG%, 2.00 bpg, .786 FT%,, 26.5 mpg Stoudemire 34 GP, 12.5 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 1.18 bpg, .466 FG%, 30.5 mpg Butler 34 GP, 13.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.38 spg, .842 FT%, .379 3P%, 35.5 mpg
Oh, and i forgot, listing players twice does not make his comments more impressive. Otherwise he should have said Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Dajuan Wagner, Caron Butler, Amare Stoudemire, Caron Butler, Dajuan Wagner, and Caron Butler all have better numbers...Damn that's a lot of better players !
Well, if ya kinda think about it, he obviously has to say Caron Butler 2 times. Takes 2 of 'em to do a double team on Yao. Still might not work though.
