another thing is Yao is really improving his passing. Like JVG said, he has developed into a decent passer.
2002: Was Yao worthy of the #1 pick? ESPN: Oh no, he will never become a great player, Jason Williams should have gone first. 2003: Is Yao a good player? ESPN: He's better than Shawn Bradley but will never be as good as Shaq 2004: Will Yao ever be as good as Shaq? ESPN: Until Yao puts up a double-double with stats as good as Shaq and beats him one on one, he will never be at the same caliber 2005: Is Yao better than Shaq? ESPN: Despite having better stats, Yao isn't on a playoff team, so he's not better. He still needs to do better than Shaq one on one. 2006: Is Yao the most dominant center in the league now? ESPN: Not yet, while his stats are much better than Shaq's and he totally destroyed Shaq going up against him with a larger variety of skills, Yao still needs to win championships to be considered the best center in the league. ESPN: The plate of crow gets bigger every year.
I have always liked Yao but I didn't think he could develop the strength,stamina or keep up with the speed of the game. I also thought he wouldn't ever learn how to rebound consistently or keep out of foul trouble. I did feel that he could become an effective scorer but he used to fluctuate so much some years ago that I thought he was mentally soft but now I'm really seeing a very confident and dominating center. The most exciting part is THE BEST IS YET TO COME! GO ROCKETS! GO YAO!
I remember the posts from the last few years, people were saying "Fire Gundy, He's trying to turn Yao into Patrick Ewing, Hire Rick Adelman, Yao should be a passing big man, like Vlade Divac or Brad Miller".
I never thought this was beyond his capabilities...but I never thought he's actually reach them. I figured he'd be a Sabonis at best...and a bust at worst. Well, he's not just the best center in the league, he's quickly establishing himself as an mvp type of guy. Remarkable. Let's also give Tracy some credit for the numerous assists to Yao. Seems like this team is finally getting it that Yao is the goto guy. It's official - the torch has been passed. Shaq is the second best center and he knows it.
I hate to say it but it only matters if he carries us to a championship. The critics will never be silenced until then.
Defensively Chicago's interior defense may be the best in the league right now with the combination Ben Wallace and PJ Brown. If Yao can overcome them on Thursday, there is nothing can stop him in this league now...
Look at all the YOH turned YOF. Don't let Old Man Rock get a hold of this thread. He'll have it locked.
Goddamit!! I always believed in Yao so no Crow eating for me! I have always had faith in Yao! I am starving for chris sakes!!!! When will someone start a crow eating thread dedicated to Juwan Howard? Is it even remotely possible for Juwan to make it happen in the future? I will be feasting for years on that one! But more likely I will starve to death.
Jesus Christ, what is your obsession with Juwan Howard? Ever chance you get, you have to take a jab at him. We know you don't like him, WE GOT IT. Juwan is good for team moral, imo, and that counts for a lot in my book.
With all the hate that JVG gets, he should get credit for forcing Yao to be a low post player. Yao might still be a good player if he was a face up player, but he wouldn't dominate like he does now. Also, as a face up player, he wouldn't go to the line nearly as much. It's a huge advantage when your center hits FTs at at 86% rate and can get 8-10 "easy" points at the charity stripe. Can you imagine how much of the media would still be calling Yao soft as a face up player?
Ben Wallace is not a tough matchup for Yao. He's completely overrated. Chicago's interior defense is, however. As far as the Spurs go, I would love to see Yao matched up on Duncan for a little while, and I think that'll truly tell his progress. If he can dominate Shaq, then Duncan, then go to Chicago and do some damage - that couple with his game on Friday proves that he is the best big man in the league. The only other big man that's coming close right now, in my opinion, is Zach Randolph...
