Wanna know how is Yao going to deal with the physical play of the NBA? Check out the following numbers. NBA centers' weight/height ratio(all data except Yao's from NBA.com), in terms of poundage for every inch in height: Shawn Bradley 265 lbs/90 inches = 2.944 pounds Dale Davis 252 lbs/83 inches = 3.036 Vlade Divac 260 lbs/85 inches = 3.058 Tim Duncan 260 lbs/84 inches = 3.095 Alonzo Mourning 261 lbs/82 inches = 3.182 Adonal Foyle 265/82 inches = 3.231 Yao Ming 296 lbs/89 inches = 3.325 Mengke Bateer 290 lbs/83 inches = 3.493 Shaquille O'neal 315 lbs/85 inches = 3.705 Adding 33.82 pounds to his body will put Yao at the same weight/height ratio of Shaq. Yao is not as fragile or weak as some people think. Contrary to the belief of some that Yao's gonna be pushed around, in fact he can make lesser powerful centers such as Vlade Divac his b*tches, even if he doesn't bulk up. Best of all, if he adds 30 pounds of muscle he can be like Shaq, with more skills!
Just because a guy is tall and heavy doesn't mean he will push people around ... pushing people around depends more on playing style, thoughness and balance ...
Interesting post. I was kind of thinking about this very thing the other day, I mean he is 300 lbs. The only draw back with your theory, is the strength factor and although Yao is strong in his legs, the arms look like chinese noodles. But I don't think he will be thrown around by most of the centers, just because he is 300 lbs, and that is alot of mass!
No. Yao seems hate to push his opponents around. His defense style is like Bradley's or Laerentz. They all put too much effort on block shot. Whiteboy style. Yao Ming is in need of being taught how to defense effectively.
Although it was not the potically correct way of saying it, it's interesting that we all knew what you meant.
I think Shaq weighed in at 384 lbs during the WCF. At least, "the coach Tom Nasalkey" (sp) mentioned something like that.
A couple of weeks working with Mr. Mean in practice should get Ming quite ready to push around 60% of the centers in the game. Hell, his size alone will intimidate 50% of the centers in the league just by walking on the court. It is a big difference being 7'5" and 300lbs( Ming ) from 7'6" 260lbs ( Bradley ). I seem to recall that Bradley used to give Hakeem fits when they played. Was Hakeem a more physical and stronger player than Bradley...of course he was. Then why did Hakeem have so much trouble against him? Could it be sheer size diffrence?
It could have been the size difference. I remember Hakeem had a lot of trouble with Mark Eaton, who played for the Jazz. He was 7'4".
Mark Eaton was one of the reasons Hakeem decided to pop jumpers and put up fadeaways. Eaton was about 7'4" and 290 lbs, and he was a solid mass, not some mountain of blubber.
If Ming can add 30 pounds of upper body muscle, then he will be the only hope agaist the Laker Monster known as Shaq!!! Ming is the last hope before, Shaq retires or gets out of his prime. Keep your fingers crossed the Rockets draft him, that Ming has a heart like Hakeem, that Ming is willing to put the time in the weight room, and that Ming can play as the elite center in the NBA!!!! A lot to hope for, but others have done it.
is "poundage per inch" even a stat that anyone in NBA circles takes into some sort of relevance when judging talent?
"is "poundage per inch" even a stat that anyone in NBA circles takes into some sort of relevance when judging talent?" No, its just another ploy by panda to prove that Yao Ming is infact the greatest basketball player in the world without playing in an NBA game. Under your "formula" Shaq would be about 4.3-4.4. No one knows the exact figures on the "new tire" around his waist.