Last game played: Dwight's number- 17 pts, 8rebs, 5blk,6-11fgm= won against lakers.... Yao's number- 29pts, 11rebs,2blk,8-15fgm,13-13ftm-a= loss against kings.... Yao has caught on and come Dec. 19th the Chinese Godzilla will burn em up!!!!
I disagree. Yao's problems are both physical and mental. Yes, he is slow and he can't jump. But it is a fact from day one. We all know that for years now. However, we also see how he mentally approaches to the game made a huge difference during his 5+ NBA career. There are really two Yao existing in the NBA. When that passive, overthinking Yao shows up, he is often toyed by midgets. He does whatever to embarrass himself. However, when he is aggressive and assertive, when he attacks the opponents whenever he gets the ball and never even thinks about passing (he is not a great passer anyway), and doesn't even care about being embarrassed, he then becomes a beast. When that happens, he seems a lot quicker and more active too and nobody has a slight thought that he is stiff. As much as I like JVG gone, I have to admit he is better suited to coach Yao and Rick Adlman is. Yao is a Mr. Softee so JVG often pushed him to a corner and forced him to be tougher. When VG left and nobody became the enforcer, Yao just rolled back to former self. Aldman is just too much a player's coach to be the enforcer and he is very passive too. I think he is not a good fit for Yao and this team.
all that matters to me the magic have one of the best records in the league, an insane road record and they also have a new coach and a new starter/major contributer on their team in lewis. last year i would have balked at howard and yao, but howard has made me a believer, if he can develop his shooting touch he can be a total monster. i love yao too, his non-stop hard work and desire is amazing i wouldnt want to trade him at all, but with the way the league is set with their zone rules now, the league favors faster players and mobile "centers" there is no way you wouldnt want howard over yao. if the league still had its rules pre 02 then yao would be an absolute offensive monster and it would be a wash between the two players. also both guys are both ideal citizens off the court too makes them both so damn likeable
One thing that both guys have, is a a good demeanor. They both keep out of trouble, and are decent people. I believe that Howard is a religious person, if I'm not mistaken.
actually,i would say,which one is better?it do depends on the coach,last year Jeff Van Gundy made Yao really dominated in the paint!now?im not sure,Rick is making him like Divac?oh my god,Dwight is better right now
i believe they are in the same class skillwise dispite their skillsets are very distinctive from each other. Both of them IMO are, i wanna use the word "TOTAL PACKAGE". It's like comparing halo 3 to call of duty 4. u pick based on your preference.
Dwight Howard always gets single coverage cause everyone on the Magic can shoot. If Yao gets single coverage and is guarded legally (no grabbing and no tangling), just watch out! Yao will light teams up if he gets single covered and if the refs will actually call those grabbing/tangling fouls on opposing players guarding Yao.
Howard doesn't "always get single coverage". In fact, he was doubled quite a bit last night, though not 100% of the time.
If either guy has the ball just outside the paint, Yao demands more attention. Howard's dangerous when he gets close to the hoop, so the doubles aren't required until then-when it's too late.
Even in the midst of Dwight's breakout performances and leading the Magic 10-2 road record and being 23, I would still take Yao.....even though he doesn't have the athleticism....he's a 7,5 man, who is at times very unguardable simply because he's so tall and has soft touch. When Yao is over 30 and past his prime, I would take Howard, but I think Yao still hasn't reached his ceiling of potential, especially when he dominate on the post and shoot and outside shot.
Yao gets double covered WITHOUT the ball. Dwight Howard doesn't. And Howard ALWAYS get single covered. Imagine if Yao gets single coverage with and without the ball more often. He'll tear the league up!
Your statement about Howard is false. He DOES get double and triple-teamed. Check out a few more Magic games and see for yourself. While fronting and doubling will slow him down just like it does Yao, it's still a LOT easier to get him the ball because of his mobility and leaping ability. For the record, I still haven't conceded he's better than Yao, yet. After the Magic hit some adversity and after Yao figures out Adelman's offense, then an accurate comparison can be made. The circumstances are very slanted towards Howard right now.
I think your thinking is flawed. I think in the long run it is Howard who he is going to regress quickly after his prime years and not Yao. Yao doesnt rely on athleticism to score. He barely jumps now. Kareem was highly effective well into his 30s because he was highly skilled. Dwight will be like Shaq. After he loses his athleticism, he will no longer be able to physically dominate his opponents. Skilled players ALWAYS last much longer than those who rely on pure athletic ability.
This is like Apples and Oranges to me. On one hand, you got a player that can hit jumpers pretty much from anywhere on the court and has a damn good low post game. On the other hand, you got a player that pretty much owns the paint. Then again, you got a player that can go to the charity stripe and make free throws down the stretch, thus, not having to make the decision whether or not to sit him out for fear of being fouled. Then again, you got a player who will defend and block anything and everything coming at him. The only thing that can tip the scale one way or another for me is how their respective teams fair in the playoffs. And it's not easier for the Magic considering that they're the 2nd best team in the East right now. If that continues, then anything lower than a ECF appearance is kinda disappointing.
Um...Shaq didn't really start a dramatic drop until he went to Miami..which gave him about 11 years of pretty damn good basketball.
Ummm...Look again. He had a big drop off during his last year with the Lakers. He went from almost 28 pts a game to 22. And where did I say he didnt have a good long career? I said players like Shaq would regress more quickly than guys who didnt rely purely on athletics. Shaq's game started dropping when he was 30. Conversely, Hakeem didnt peak til he was starting his 30s. Also, take a look at Duncan, he is still highly effective.
