Another factor you have to look at, is how much BETTER is he making his team. Apparently Shaq has been a NON-Factor since they are 8-9 since his return! He isn't making his team better and they are nowhere they used to be last year. Now Ming on the other hand, has dramatically improved the Rockets team. He has drawn double teams, passed the ball (and they shoot and miss) But the whole point is Ming makes his teammates better. I dont see Shaq doing that this year. And secondly, the Fakers have beaten ONLY 3 teams with a winning record. So it goes to show, his time is done.
You remember our last playoff series against the Lakers and how Shaq made Hakeem a non-factor because of foul trouble...yes, ticky-tack calls but they were legitamate. If you play Shaq straight up, he can take your center completely out of the game because of foul trouble. Nobody is tougher to guard than Shaq in one game. Could you imagine having to guard him in a 7 game series. That's why the teams you see trying to dethrone the Lakers stock up on centers. Maybe the Lakers aren't doing it this year, but there's still a reason why nobody wants to face the Lakers...Shaq!
That is like saying Yao is only a good scorer because he is 7'6 and if he was only 7' then he couldn't shoot over people like he does. Shaq is a bad ass. Sorry if you don't see it but he is. He can't shoot free throws and he doesn't have range, but since when does a center need range? Why do you want a center shooting from 20 feet out? You don't! Yes his size is what helps to make him great, but the same can be said for Yao. Yao would be a nice player, but he certainly wouldn't be dominant if he was 7'.
Actually, if Yao were 7' he could possibly also be faster, be a better leaper and would dominate as a 6'10 Olajuwon did. Since Yao has moves like Olajuwon, can shoot at a good range. And with his 7'6" height no longer being there to weigh him down, his leaping ability would help him block shots and not to mention his new found lightness would make him have better lateral movement, which would make him a better defender. Shaq on the other hand, without his height and weight. Well, he'd have trouble getting in those dunks, but still would manage to be a good center, but he would have trouble and take 2nd place, with a quicker, talented 7' Yao Ming. Just my opinion.
Shaq is better right now, no doubt about it. But Shaq's game is BORING!!! The dunk can be fun once in a while, but if there is no variety, it is just plain BOOOORING!!! MJ and Kobe's games are much fun to watch, and Ming's.
his game is boring . . .that is always a defense Hell everyone complained that the 93-95 rockets played a boring game. Dump it in . . .send it out the 3 pt shooters. . . . people hated it [outside of houston that is] Boring or exciting . .. Good Basketball is Good basketball. Rocket River
For me, there are 2 reasons to watch a game, one you hope your team can win, two, you want to enjoy watching it. I would watch a game when my team is in even it is boring, but I won't watch a game when my team is not in and the game is boring. I think one of the reasons that the TV ratings are down for the NBA is that Shaq is boring to watch. For the Rox from 94-96, at least Dream finished with his dream shake, fadeaways which are fun to watch. But Shaq? unbearable!
Actually there is no point to argue.... If Shaq is still in the league, with good physical conditions, it is highly probable that he will continue to dominate the center. It is meaningless to argue who have more skills than the other. The gospel is: the better center is who can dominate the game and lead the team to victory. From this line, Yao still have a long way to go, when compared with Shaq.
I cheered for the Lakers against the Kings... Shaq is just big and strong. I guess it works. He'll get old...We'll get old... Isn't it unfair that the referees almost always call fouls on Eddie Griffin and Yao Ming when they perfectly block people? They don't get any respect...and Jermaine O'neal's complaining about not getting respect.
Asking whether Shaq or Yao is the better center is like asking whether Eric Heiden or Michelle Kwan is the better skater. The answer is: depends on what you mean by "good." If fast is good, then Heiden is better. If twist and flip is good, then Kwan is better. So if "good center" means the ability to win games, then Shaq is better for now. If it means being skillful and elegant, then Yao is clearly better.
HAHAHA!! You just got the point! Regarding this concern, it seems that Yao is a better center now. Rockets's standing is much bether than Lakers
If that's your logic, then Bradley, Vlade, and Admiral are better than Yao. Also, 6 centers in the East. But don't worry, I think by the end of the season, only Bradley and Vlade will be better
Assuming you are asking a real question: Heiden is the legendary speed skater--the best ever, hands down.
Thanks for your understanding of my viewpoint! And I strongly support your anticipation about the level of those centers' supeority in the end of this season. The only little concern is, can Shaq succeed in joining this list. Personally, I hope so, as a Lakers fan, but I don't hope so as a Rockets fan.
Not right now. But in two years, a Yao who is not quite in his prime yet will be better than Shaq in his prime.
Shap's upper body is too heavy, lower body is too light, just like a upside dowd triangle. It's not steady. Yao have the stronger lower body so he can stand much more steady.
here is my 2 cent. If i were Ming. when I face shaq, In 1q, I probably let him smash me all the way down, as long as I can keep my attitude and postion, everything is fine. Dont forget that ming is about 250 lbs and handle such a mass cost a lot of gas. in the second round, I will follow the same pattern with little bit aggresive. at the end of the round. 80+% enegry of shaq should ber cosumed. Man , here the 4q comes. We gonna play a video game called TA. beat him and lakers. destroy their confidence and for sure win the game.
