I think if you were to ask Steve Nash which big man he would rather play with, the answer would probably be Amare. Just because Amare will do all the dirty work, he can run with Nash (you’re not restrained to just a slow half court game), he’ll make all the tough catches (throw the ball anywhere in his vicinity and he’ll get the ball), and he’s much more consistent. He just makes it so much easier for his teammates. I know a lot of people are going to say, “Well, Yao draws all these double teams and gets so many open shots for his teammates”. Well most players in the NBA are not comfortable being just spot up shooters. Ask Steve and Cat if they’d rather be in a slow half court system where they just throw the ball in to Yao and spot up OR if they’d rather be in a system like the one in Phoenix with Amare. There are just so many restrictions when Yao is the centerpiece to your team.
Yeah, I am sure that Kenny Smith and Mad Max (not the one who posts here) were devastated at having to stand back, watch Dream get doubled, and nail three after three.
That was a long time ago. The NBA is not full of jump shooters anymore, in case you haven't seen an NBA game in a while.
yao would actually pass to nash. amare is averaging something like .8 apg on the season. it took him his first 8 games last season to register his first assist.
I would argue that the NBA wasn't "full of jump shooters" in the 90s, either. There were notable exceptions, but this has been a league of athletes over shooters since Bird retired at least.
1. Yao draws a double team before he gets down the court - because it is possible to do so since he plays in the ost, and because it is a very effective way of shutting him down. If teams could do the same to LeBron, they would, but it would be suicide since that would leave a man open underneath, and even more dangerous once he gets the ball given that he plays on the perimeter, can explode past a double team, and is a very gifted passer. 2. I don't know what these magical techniques are that we have to wait for Yao to learn so that he can beat a double team; The guy works on basketball skills 300 plus days a year. He's very intelligent, and a quick study; If there's any vital knowledge that was to be imparted on him in this area, I would think that it was imparted on him by now by either the ancien regime or the current coaching staff. His problems, when they occur on the court, don't seem to be for lack of effort or lack of trying, like rebounding, just lack of the physical tools. Shaq had quick feet, Hakeem had quick feet, Robinson had quick feet, even Ewing had quick feet. Yao - does not have quick feet. THese other guys were able to dominate as soon as the came in the league - there was no "this is the year he gets 20/10!!" They just came in and did it. 3. I don't know where or why you decided to compare LeBron and Steve Francis. Anyway, the reason why I questioned his shot selection is because he isn't the worlds greatest jumpshooter and struggled at times shooting 3's last year. But for the record, he's hitting 47% this year, and 37% from behind the arc. Not Wilt Chamberlain or anything, but pretty damend good. This is comparable to Francis how? (and by the way, how does the fact that Francis had 1 lousy shooting year out of five point to the fact that shooting percentage is not capable of changing? If anything, it points to the opposite - as appears to be the case thus far in the early season). 4. As far as who's in a better position to win a championship - who cares? Both the Cavs and Rox are nowhere close to winning either right now so it's not really worthy of discussion. It's like two homeless guys arguing over who picks the best lotto numbers.
Some need to stop looking at purely the fantasy numbers. Sure, LeBron and Amare are putting up nice numbers, but you have to look at the big picture. LeBron is the ONLY true scorer on his team and looks to score 20+ points a night to help his team win. Amare is on a high scoring team with a PG who plays well in that system. Amare is the perfect big man for this as well as he can get out and run with Nash to get alor of easy baskets. Yao may not be putting up the gaudy numbers but he is playing with more guys who contribute, especially with TMac offensively. Yao doesn't have to put up 25+ points for the Rockets to win. IMO Yao has a taller ceiling in terms of how good he can really be. A 7'6 player center with a great feel for the game, good agility for his size, shooting touch and basketball IQ is a big plus in my book. Once he clears the mental aspect of playing in the NBA, he is going to a superstar. Besides, I don't see Amare as anything more than a less-talented Kemp clone. Yao, now and forever, hands down!
look lebron is better than yao now and is only 19, amare is better than yao now and is only 22 both are younger, so it seems they would have just as a high ceiling as yao.
The only advantage Yao has is height, but he is not exactly playing big. Heck, he had less rebounds than Francis. I would take Amare over Yao right now.
People, people, Yao is the 2nd best Center in this League. Amare is , maybe, top 5 PF in this league. You dont trade great Center for a great PF, no matter what, period. Yao's position takes YEARS to perfect. People are spoiled to see Shaq type of performance, expecting every center should dominate like Shaq, otherwise he is a failure. At the end of the day, Yao still plays his back to the basketball and Amare doesnt. Imagine Nash slows down or gets injured, can Amare still produce like he is right now. Yao plays back to the basket!!! He only needs an entry pass, then he makes things happen(of course he isnt quiet there as we would want him to be, but not bad), he will make everybody surrounding him look good! Now can Amare do that. Dont be near sighted!
I would take Boozer over Yao right now. But I would take Yao over any undersize PF/Center-wannbe for long term.
If Stoudamire can score 28 points a game without a back-to-the-basket game, think of how scary he will be when he develops a back to the basket game, which I have absolutely no doubt he will develop considering how hard the guy works on his game.
again, he is scoring 28 per game because of Steve Nash... that guy is averaging nearly 12 assists per game Lue and Ward couldn't hit sand if they fell off a camel in the desert
Y'all need to stop with the stupid trade threads, there is no way Phoenix would trade Amare for Yao Ming What's next, Mo Taylor for Steve Nash Or maybe, Boki for Marion Y'all need to stop dreaming up these ridiculous offers that would get our GM laughed at, I mean, offering our garbage for a stud like Amare: I bet noone even tested it on realgm to make sure the Suns would do the trade
