If Duncan and Robinson play, this game will be a good benchmark for Yao Ming. We will get a good idea where Yao Ming stands as far as the NBA goes. This is why I can't wait to see the game tonight. Go Rockets!!!!
I am corrected then, but I remember CD saying that you call him "Yao Ming" or "Yao." Can you clarify?
Although it is not based on the individual matchups of the teams, I have a bet riding on the season long battle between these teams and part of the reason I took the offer was my belief that both Ming and EG can play Duncan without requiring help. I expect Ming to be able to play either Robo or TD. I believe the Spurs have done a good job trying to maintain its position in the West but there is only so much you can do. I do believe that the SF position is a very weak one where they will have no matchup advantage all season long. In the case of the Rockets, Mavs, and Lakers, the Spurs will not have a matchup advantage at the 5 or the 4; and their 1,2 and 3 are not going to be able to pick up the slack. They should be able to get the better of the Kings down low but again will that be enough to carry the team. We will see.
As I posted earlier in another thread, "Yao" is equivalent to "Francis", and "Ming" is equivalent to "Steve". You can call him Yao or Ming or Yao Ming, just as you can call our starting point guard Steve or Francis or Steve Francis. Since most of us pretend to be Steve's freind, we call him Steve. Commentators often call his last name, Francis. One more thing, it is VERY UNcommon for Chinese to call only the person's last name.
101, Remember that Duncan was NBA READY; after four years at Wake Forest. Duncan reminds me of Gooden this year. Mature! Yao is doesn't have a mature NBA game yet. YET!
lol, i read the post first and that's exactly who i thought had said it. how come nobody calls people out when we just say francis? it's not a big deal.
101 6 7, it's not Ming tht you should fear. It's the Ming/Griffin combination that you should fear. They combined for 8 blocks tonight. Last season Griffin averaged 1.8, and Cato averaged 1.5 I think. Assuming Cato's minutes don't change (30 or less minutes), and Griffin's minutes increase, we're looking at this: Griffin increasing his blocks by 0.7 Cato keeping the same 1.5 clip Assuming ALL backup C's accumulated 1 block a game, Ming will add 1.5 to that. So if defense isn't our weakness, what is? I have a really good feeling that Ming, Griffin and Cato will average a combined 6 blocks a game. BTW, what's the deal with Ginobili? From what I heard, I was expecting him to do great, but he's not looking so hot. What happened?
Welcome, 101 6 7 (I feel like a computer saying that) good to have other basketball fans here. I second Sane's post. Yao can't handle Timmy right now, although if matched up against him, he should have more of an effect than most big men Duncan usually goes up against, but that's not saying much. Yao and Eddie however is already a combination that can give big men headaches. A 7' 6'' non-stiff is enough to make a big man think for a second. Add to that the already excellent weakside shotblocking of Eddie Griffin, and you have a combo that makes playing in the post that much more difficult for almost any big man in the league. But I don't think Yao will be able to guard Duncan one-on-one this year without getting abused. Next year it might be less one-sided.
I said the same thing in another post. I agree. What happened to BOTH of them? Oh, and Jay Williams is shooting terribly too. He's shooting more, but just as poorly.
How can that be. He is the instant superstar, the guarantee to walk right in and dominate. You know, the pick to push Francis to the two. Maybe, just maybe, even top college players take some time to get their feet wet and adjust to the NBA style and speed. A guy like JW hasn't faced a 1-12 team of even the Rockets caliber.
