[Orlando Sentinel] Dwight Still Can't Mount His "Everest"

Maybe we'll see the Magic in the Finals.

I can see it now: they will be ahead in game 1, and Rashard Lewis will have a chance to ice the game for them at the line at the end, but he will miss 4 straight free throws, allowing AB to tie it up from 3 land. Houston wins game one, and goes on to sweep, with Yao schooling DH the rest of the way and getting series MVP.

 

houston is one of the top defensive team, too. have been for a number of years. that has to be attributed largely to yao's inside presence. yes?

 

same to you, but for different reasons.

that IS a lot things for dh. he's been in the league for 6 years now? what type of move has he developed?

in any case, to put someone who almost doesn't have any offensive moves as the #1 center just in no way holds water. it's bs. i say even al jeffferson is ahead of dh.

 

You act like the guy is old. What is he, 23? When Yao and amare came in, yao was the better shooter, can you say the same now? It takes a little time and confidence. He can never be a great shooter from 16ft, but look at what landry did in a summer. He's a work in progress, but regardless of how he scores, he still manages to defend and rebound which is what big guys are supposed to do. If a guy like marcus camby can learn to knock down jumpers, shawn kemp turned into a good jumpshooter, if howard puts in work, he can do the same.

 

so the delta in defense b/w yao and dh is a lot smaller than the delta in offensive skills b/w the 2, hence making yao a better overall player?

 

i thought it's always a comparison of yao and dho in this thread. and i figure it's yao who is better. but i'm okay with ppl saying "too close to call" or simply idk. i just have problems with ppl who say dho is clear cut better than yao.

 

No way magix are getting to the finals, enless they shoot lights out the entire playoffs

 

I see ibm's pager is going off again.

I think both are good players, not great. I think both can play great for stretches, but both have flawes that keep them from playing great for long stretches.

IBM, you said Howard probably won't ever develop the offensive game because he has done it yet. That may or may not be true, but how long do you think he can produce at this level with his offensive limitations? A few things that he will always be is a good rebounder and shot blocker. So its safe to say that barring a catostrophic injury, he will produce like this for 5-7 more years. I think most gm's see him as a upward guy and yao as a flatliner. That's not anything to be ashamed of, but the key is how long can Yao stay flatlined and how quickly howard can curve up? I think a lot of people on this board hate to give other players credit because it seems like its a knock against a rocket player. I don't think that has to be the case. Anyone with any sense can see Yao as the more polished player just as anyone can see Howard as the work in progress. Those same people can see Yao anchoring the defense and howard more of a shot blocking type on defense. Those same people can see howard struggle against a yao type and they can also see Yao struggle against okur,jefferson, brand types. If you build a team, its easier to build around howard than yao. That's not a knock, its just the truth. Howard would play well in phoenix or gsw, he would also play well in houston or San Antonio. Yao is limited to basically a half court team and its nothing wrong with that, but coaches and gm's love flexibility.

 

Dwight Howard can't shoot the middle range jumpers, so he has to post, but Yao is so strong (in terms of his lower body), Dwight can't get a good position for the shot. Yao always box out his man, so Dwight doesn't have much of a chance to get the off reb. It is a match up thing. Like Yao can't defend well against Okur and Boozer, but he defends well on Dwight.

 

Dwight has yet to climb the Mount "Everest" that Yao is a player that's not known for much of a blocker. I wonder how he would of had done with a Hakeem or a Mutombo in their prime. That would really be interesting.

 

The Gundy part about how Rockets defend Howard is incorrect. Historically Yao has played man to man defense on him and shut him down.

Considering that the Gundies are good at scouting plays and do their homework, that statement reeks of dishonesty.

 

i don't have a pager (used to), only a cell phone now.

what you said there is nothing wrong. i think, seriously, the main difference in b/w and me is i acknowledge all fans are biased one way or the other, myself included, especially when it comes to player "ranking"; and you probably don't. seems to me you tend to think your ranking is the absolute reasonable and best, most fair "ranking".

and i take skill set as the most important criterion to value bball players instead of, or way before athleticism (not to say it ain't important). after all, this is a ball game, not track and field. when you get some one that has perfect mix of skill sets and athleticism, you get jordan or akeem.

 

Whoever this Everest is, she must be very big.