For now he is just going through a very good streak. It's different when you are the 1st reference over 82 games and still you can score +20 every night conditioning defenses.
I LOVE Scola, but lets revisit the comparisons to Yao when defenses start gearing to stop Scola. It should start happening soon, if he keeps the post-Landry performance going. Let's not forget Yao was double teamed BEFORE he received the ball and TRIPLE teamed after catching it. Also, the defense is allowed to be way more physical with Yao than other big men--except Shaq. Also, Yao got us past Portland! Nevertheless, Scola is a WINNER and everything a professional athlete should strive to be. He is my favorite Rocket, because he NEVER gives up.
Kudos to scola! He's superb tonight and what a great stamina running all over the place! That being said, Bill Worell did call him 'garbage/trash man' around the time he scored about 30 pts. If you saw the game, you wouldn't be surprised with that comment. The Nets really paid little attention to him around the basket.
Yao usually doesn't have the opportunity to score 40+ because he gets doubled every second of the game.
When did I walk into the twilight zone? Last time I checked, if someone puts up an asinine thread or post, they are flamed for it. The argument that [insert player name] is only good because he's big and tall deserves only a facepalm, and no appropriate response.
Haha, apparently some posters in here grabbed panties that were a size too small this morning. I stand by my response to the post in question. If anyone feels the need to be PC and waste time writing up a response, go for it.
Also, he said the same thing in the post game interview with Patty except for the Yao stuff of course.
I heard Scola went ape-s#it on the Nets, last night. Just heard it a few hours ago, totally unexpected, though not surprising he could do it. He's very good above average player, while being very competitive with a never say die attitude even against the best opponents. He's one of the major reasons the Rockets took the Lakers to distance last year, as well as beating Portland. If we had someone who was only slightly better than Scola without the work ethic and driven spirit. We would've barely gotten past Portland and lost to Lakers in 5 games after Yao went down. Comparing Scola to Yao is almost like comparing John Taylor (SF wide receiver of the 80s-90s) or Wes Welker to Jerry Rice or even a Michael Irvin/Torry Holt type player, talent wise. John Taylor was a very good receiver and at times definitely approached top 10 in his position. But his role in the game was mostly complimentary, given the opposite wide receiver (Rice). Scola is sort of like Wes Welker (also undersized for his position and not outstandingly athletic) or in the John Taylor role, he can make things happen on the other side of that go to guy, but in certain situations can be the go-to guy (when the other guy is hurt or not doing well). He's pretty skilled with great footwork, and is fairly athletic, though when it comes to actual gameplay . . . he is not the gamebreaker or the guy that entirely changes the complex of the defense. Both Welker and Taylor are very much in fact career pro-bowl caliber players, but they aren't the type of players who can carry the load of the team or be the person who faces consistent double teams. While, even possibly be guarded by the best defender on the other side. Though, you could and never can count these guys out, because of undying work ethic. With Yao, though many people question his toughness, fragility, and his production, like a few other superstar players out there. In context of the game, he's by far one of the most dominant players in the league, probably on his size and power alone (sort of like Randy Moss or Barry Bonds, circa 99-05). Though, Tim Duncan and Dwight Howard maybe more skilled and praised (and arguably better defenders). Offensively speaking, I'd would have to say most people would have to consider that Yao is tougher matchup, just ask the Cavs, Magic, Trailblazers, or Lakers. Yao is mostly an offensive nightmare every time he is on the court, as he outweighs most centers by a good 35 to 50 pounds with above average skill and shooting range (and also automatic from free throw line). So, you can't use Hack-a-Shaq against him, while he is about the same size as Shaq, yet taller. While also being one of the more efficient scorers in the league. Like Bonds and Moss, teams usually go out of their way to take Yao out of most games, using things that normally wouldn't use, even against the other great or top flight players. Also, he's probably a much better defender or at least effect defense more than people think. Houston through 3 regimes of coaches have stayed about the same defense, as Yao has been on the team in every single season, he has helped Houston reach the top 10 in defense and top 6 in FG% allowed in every season that he has played. Most teams can't say that about a single player, except maybe the Spurs and Magic. Though he has his weaknesses, which pertain to his athleticism, injuries, and inability to keep up with a heavy pace ... (not his fault right here) being taken out of the game by referees (and let other defenders play more aggressively, while he isn't allowed to do that). Luckily for him, athleticism has never been his strength, though it can hurt on more inferior teams that do not have the shooters, talent, or overall athleticism to keep with certain teams. People often point to fronting, but it has actually been a problem this year (with Landry and Scola) without Yao Ming. It's less of a problem, when all of them are on the court together, and teams are severely exposed in the paint, when their defense decides to front. That's ususally what smart (or very talented) teams will exploit as well.
It's true that it's a small sample size, but we were saying all last year that he would be a 20/10 guy this season. I could see him averaging that for the rest of the season.
