Orlando Sentinel: Big man too much for slipping Magic

That drives me crazy. Yao was dominant.

/anal retentive

 

Starting forward Keith Bogans played only 18 minutes, leaving the game with a bruised right quad after colliding with Yao.

Oooooooops!

 

I love the below quote from T-Mac. The "unfair dominance." Like Shaq did to the league...

The difference between Shaq and Yao is that Yao actually is BIG and SKILLED. At least more than Shaq. And that's something they can't attribute "size" to.

So, if you start hearing opponents say, "It's not fair, he's too big..." Tell them.."If he was 6'10" he'd still be an elite player."

I bet Yao could shoot 40% from the 3 point line if he worked on it. And size wouldn't have anything to do with it.


"He's so big, it's scary. It doesn't seem fair because he could do anything he wanted with his size. Yeah, they have an advantage with him.'' T-Mac

 

I know I've said it, but it's downright scary to realize the moment when Yao reaches his peak...

 

and thats gonna be awhile

 

I sooo wish Mcgrady was on our team. He seems like such a nice classy guy in all his responses, it sad to see him lose playing with the tragics. Anyway, just my own pipe-dream.

 

just like Neo in Matrix, yao finnaly figure out NBA. tonight's game is like a replay of yao's CBA game.

 

I would have to say that Yao has really got into his groove the past couple of games. Everyone else numbers arent as good as they have been in the past but to me that doesnt because everyone is finally realizing where the ball needs to go. I would much rather see everyone average under 20 points a game and see us win. Thats how its been lately. Well actually i think Yao is the only Rocket averaging over 20 in the past couple of games. I think Mo too but i am not sure after the Pacers game. Oh well who cares the Rockets are really coming into there own. All they need to do is cut down on some of those crazy dumb turnovers and have come consistency in there game.

 

That's true, it is a shame about McGrady. I want nominate him for sainthood but most of the time he handles himself well but he is absolutely shackled with a sorry-a$$ team.

Imagine if Orlando hadn't tampered--er, signed Grant Hill (who, when healthy, was well worth the max). Hill had obviously been promised max money by Orlando. Otherwise, why throw all that money at a man with a screwed-up ankle? Roll the dice, I guess; but they could have kept Ben Wallace.

Imagine Ben Wallace on Orlando with McGrady. That team would be a lot more fierce.

 

Why denigrate SHAQ to prop up Yao?

Shaq does have skillz . . . they have developed since the 94 finals

May not have the array as ming but to classify him as a bull in a china shop is unfair and inaccurate

Rocket River

 

Reason #111 why teams can thrive despite a players shortcomings.

No trade needed here.

 

"You can't stop him from getting his position," raved Magic guard Tracy McGrady, whose 31 points and five 3-pointers were rendered meaningless by Yao's dominating performance. "Wherever he wants to go on the court, he's going there. He's that big. I don't even think Shaq (O'Neal) can stop him from getting his position on the court. The guy is a beast."

i love this -
this article is great - McGrady knows

 

Let me put it to you this way. The one thing that Hakeem had on Shaq (I've always felt this before the 1995 finals started) was that Hakeem could go out and hit the 18 footer if he wanted to. He had the ability to hit that shot on a consistent basis. Shaq does not. Sure, over time Shaq has gained more and more post skills. And he's great on the pivot. Excellent moves in the post. But most of those skills are predicated on the fact that he just needs the position for the dunk.

Hakeem and Yao have real outside shooting skill. Yao knows how to use the glass like Duncan. A skill that seems to have gone from the league.

I'm not saying Shaq is void of all shooting skill. But that "bull power" is his strong point. So, that being said, I'm not denigrating Shaq. It is what it is.

So, there will be people that say that Yao is dominant only because of his size. But I'd say that if Shaq was 6'8" and that Yao was 6'8" who would be better off with their given shooting skills?

By the way, my original post was about how both Yao and Shaq experienced the "he's too big to defend" statement. And that the advantage for Yao is that he'd be good even if he wasn't big.

 

Any chance we can get T-Mac without giving up our franchise players. I don't see how T-Mac will stick with Tragic if they continue to play like Loser. T-Mac is a great player with skill and heart. I really like the guy but their team doesn't do much to help. Image Yao and T-Mac play together, Inside out, Outside In, whatever. I must be dreaming!

 

Isn't this T-Mac's last season with the Magic?

Also,
Shaq has very little skill - he has bulk. It doesn't take skill to bowl over defenders and dunk, or shoot from 3 or 4 feet - it takes size. That's why they're called 'high percentage' shots. If you're big and tall, those shots are easy.

put shaq out farther, and he couldn't hit the ocean from the beach. Even his free-thow shooting is still bad (worst center in the NBA in free throw shooting)

And thank God, too, 'cause if Shaq had Yao's skill, he'd be dangerous from anywhere.

-- droxford

 

well said!

 

From the Sentinal's Tim Povtak:

McGrady had 31 points -- hitting 5-of-9 from 3-point range -- but he never drove to the basket. And with good reason. Yao looked like a cruise ship guarding the lane.


That's great reading. The Rockets are cruisin' through the Eastern Conference. What a stretch of games for Yao. This has been fun!

 

First off the reason Hakeem dominated Shaq in 95 was because he outran Shaq. Hakeem hustle up court the whole series beating Shaq to the spot on offense and defense. Shaq makes all his shots from in close, but he makes them look easy. Hey don't be fooled...they are not easy, he just makes them taht way.
And second...I would love to get McGrady in a Rox uni...how bout, shall I dare say it? Trade Francis!