The title is a little cheesy too me. http://www.nbclosangeles.com/sports/basketball/The-Best-Center-On-The-Planet-Is-Named-Yao.html The war of 2010 starts now?? Anyway, here it is. Basketball’s two best heavyweights went at it again Tuesday night, the two best centers on the face of the earth. The 2009 NBA All Stars represented a mix of wily vets and the leagues rising stars. And again, Yao Ming dominated Dwight Howard. As has been the pattern when these two meet, Yao had his way, scoring 20 points on 8 of 13 shooting and grabbing a game high 16 rebounds. Howard, on the other hand, was 5 of 11 for 13 points and 10 rebounds. Yao’s domination of Howard is not the exception, it’s the rule. In their eight head-to-head meetings, Yao has averaged 24 points on 55.6 percent shooting, with 2.1 blocks per game. Howard, on the other hand, averages 12.1 points on 45.1% shooting and 1.5 blocks. Howard’s numbers are across the board lower than his season averages against Yao, Most importantly, Yao’s team is 7-2 in those contests, including Tuesday night, when the Rockets won 93-85 and cotrolled the game throughout. Yao’s game plays to the weaknesses of Howard’s. The Magic’s center doesn’t like to stray too far from the painted area on defense, and Yao has a pretty polished game and shot out to about 15 feet (he often shoots technical free throws for the Rockets). If he gets the ball in the high post or out on the wing, he can turn and face up and Howard is not comfortable coming out on him. Plus, Yao is the only player in the NBA who can actually shoot over Howard if he wants. Yao is a fundamentally solid player, he boxes out fairly well and negates (as much as anyone can) Howard’s ability to grab offensive rebounds. Plus, Yao is one of the few centers in the league strong enough to body up Howard on the low block. The one difference:Yao is at the peak of his performance and Howard is still maturing, his game is developing and improving. In a couple of years Howard will be the better player. But today, Yao is still the heavyweight champion of the world.
Finally Yao get's some credit. I will be interesting how some of our fellow Clutchfans members find a way to hate on Yao and choose Dwight over Yao.
I'd give the edge to Yao, but are you saying there is no logical reason to pick Dwight over Yao? Is Yao soooooo much better that you have to be a hater to pick Dwight? Get real.
Dwight is up and coming..but no YAO!..u seen it in the last 9 times they have met!..soo come on considering that we are all rockets fan, and sorta bias wit the rockets, picking D-howard over YAO MING is kinda hatin on him!
Everyone has his own advantages. But it is absolutely true Yao owns Dwight Howard right now. And I am so enjoying it.
where is the guy who started a thread for DH over Yao specifically while denying the facts ? i can't remember
I'll celebrate if they meet in the finals and Yao dominates, otherwise 2 games during the regular season isn't really worth much. I'll still take Dho because Yao and Rox can't solve the fronting D that takes him out of games
What's the possibility of Magic going to the finals, with 3 pointers only and zero bench? I would say it's even lower than Rockets.
While the Magic are one of the elite teams in the East record-wise, I think they are further away from the top 2 teams in the East than the Rockets are from the top team in the West. That might be a home cookin opinion though.
Yeah, I forgot. Many people aren't interested in having rational or thoughtful discussions on basketball around here.
The Rockets got swept by the Lakers, even when they weren't at full strength. Haven't the Magic beaten both Cleveland and Boston convincingly this season? I like their chances much more. Boston could struggle without a full strength KG, and they beat Cleveland pretty bad recently.
Yao never has, or ever will get due credit of the hyper-ESPN era of Superman. It does make you yearn for Shaq's early years - he was skilled. You get the feeling Howard is too full of himeslf (and physique) to learn the game. He does shoot FTs like a young Shaq though.
Most importantly, Yao’s team is 7-2 in those contests, including Tuesday night, when the Rockets won 93-85 and cotrolled the game throughout. WRONG. Try again.
