New piece by JCF about Shaq, Yao and being true Centers in today's league. link in tinman fashion, my favorite part of the article:
I wonder what the reaction on this board will be if Yao flops while guarding Shaq. That would be interesting.
I def. want to see Yao face Shaq 1 on 1 and no help. Shaq always complains about saying he gets doubled, while he has to face his guy 1 on 1. Yao can take Shaq in my opinion, 1 on 1. Let the resemblance of Hakeem begin.
You really want Yao to only play 15 minutes because of foul trouble? Shaq's a bohemoth down there, even at 37. No one can guard him 1-on-1. Unless, of course, they're willing to use advanced flopping tactics. Even Hakeem didn't guard him 1-on-1.
I could see still see him playing 1 on 1.... It's not like Yao is incapable of getting Shaq in foul trouble either. Please tell me what happened during the 1995 NBA Finals. I need a recall about Hakeem vs Shaq. Although Stat wise, It was said that Shaq pretty much equally played him. It's just that the Rockets won, so It's considered a torch by Hakeem.
That was interesting wasn't it? Cato used to play Shaq one on one very well. One of the big reasons why a young Yao-Francis team tested the Lakers in first round.
good read. and i agree with shaq - rules are rules, 300lbs or not. the yao-style sense of humor was good, too. Then Yao jokingly suggested his new goal for the future: “My weight can change. I can get down below 300 and see if the rules can be changed.”
No. I believe we won 1 game in best of 5 series. In addition, two other games went down the wire, with one of them going into overtime. A big reason for that was that Cato did a very good job one on one against Shaq, thus limiting the number of open looks for Lakers. Kobe had to step up.
I think they can't guard each other one-on-one. The one who makes shot earlier and makes the other work on defense end will win the war.
Great article !! This one had me cracking up !! Deke is trying to get playing time by telling Yao to foul Shaq. Yao really said it himself with 'Deke backing me up' only doesn't realise the sneaky strategy by #55. Nice
I think it was called a sweep with Hakeem dropping a 3 pointer in game 4 to show the world and the NON BELIEVERS.. don't underestimate the heart of a champion