Guys! Let's not forget this is a "team" game. Think abou this angle, when Yao gets 20 shots ( with a 50% shooting advantage) and atleast 3 blocks Rockets win. Steve's scoring alone did little in crucial games. Yao' presence in the middle - especailly the shots not taken because he is there- do not find their way on to the Stat sheet! Steve had a great night- the question is can he be consistent in big games. IMHO Steve should ahve passed to a streaking Taylor right under the basket, than take a 3 point shot- Steve's decision making is really debatable in clutch situations- but to me he still is the Franchise. I really think we need a "pure" point guard and trade cuttino- if this team want to go anywhere at all!
From a total team perspective, I've got to say Yao... No disrespect to Franchise, but Yao has been superb this year under all of the spotlight and bringing the spotlight back to the Rox... I would prefer Co-MVP though...
There is truly no outstanding player in the Houston Rockets 2002/2003 season. But I voted for Yao because he is my favorite player. Without him, we would have ended up back in the lottery and our games would have been very hard to watch for more than 3 minutes. Without Francis, we could have picked up a Billup or Slater or Avery Johnson or Kevin Ollie or Bimbo Coles or Marteen Cleaves or any other scrub, the Rockets would have still done as well even better. Heck the Rockets would have done very well with Tierre Brown or Tito Madox as our Starting PG. But there is absolutely no one available in the NBA that we can substitute for Yao the great. We would have sucked extreemly badly without him. QED.
I agree, This is a difficult choice. However, I have to go with Yao. Few Reason: 1) Yao, Ranks #9 in the NBA in Efficiency Ranking Per 48 Minutes(29.81) 2) Opposing teams focus on stopping Yao. He commands double/triple teaming. Yet still manages to Ranks #6 in the NBA in Field-Goal Percentage(0.518) and Ranks #14 in the NBA in Double-doubles (25). 3) Yao's defense is in a class of his own due to his height and mobility 4) High basketball IQ, the kid knows how to play. Makes few bad plays
I'm not so sure about your statement. I could see Yao scoring over Cato at will. Mobley taking the offensive burdon of a Francis-less Rocket team and Moochie Norris playing the point. Compare this to the Yao-less team which would generate its offense from the guards Mobley and Francis with little low post threat. Is the Rockets that good of a perimeter team? I'm not sure why you think a [Rockets - Yao] team would beat a [Rockets - Francis] team.
Ok, that makes no sense whatsoever... So without Francis, even though as you've stated he's our best player, we would still be in the playoff hunt? That's like saying "Well Tracy McGrady's their best player, but without Gooden, they wouldn't have been winning the way they have been lately, so he's their MVP".
Yao's better. If Steve's not scoring, he's not contributing much. He's a sieve on defense at all times. Yao rebounds, plays defense, and passes well even when he's not scoring.
Makes no sense. IF Stevie's not scoring -- like he wasn't in the GS game -- he's getting boards, assist, and steals. He's one of the more well-rounded players in the NBA.
