Another point is the size/injury factor of Yao. No player over 7'2" has lasted long enough to play 82 games. Yao is a freak of nature that will continue getting injured because his body cannot stand the rigors of 100 game schedule plus summers with Chinese Basketball. His body is begging for a rest.
This is SPOT ON! Every instance of TEAM should be capitalized. And it's precisely for this reason - TEAM - that we are doing so well this late into the season. It ain't about just Yao or just T-Mac. The TEAM supercedes any one player. And so, unlike the Rox of old where we were overly Yao-centric, we are indeed a better TEAM today b/c we don't need to rely on Yao as much. Accept it. Yao isn't as integral to our winning AS A TEAM as with teams past. theSAGE
Agreed. Heck, since you mention it, how few people have talked or compared the quality of durability of Yao against centers of old? I'm scared to think it, but I really hope it doesn't come to Yao being a regular on the DL this year and next. I mean, if you think about it, Smits, Parish, Oden, Vlade, even Mark Eaton did serious time on the DL being the freaks of nature they were. The consensus opinion had been that Yao was different. That somehow, while being HUGE, he was NOT a freak of nature the way Muresan was. Yet, I wonder... For the same reasons and to be fair, I think T-Mac likewise hurts his "greatness" status for his chronic injuries. Kobe, MJ, Hakeem, Duncan... I mean, every time we turn(ed) on the TV, there they were, playing their hearts out. Let's hope we're not going down the path of nondurable players with Yao. Yet let's also recognize that, as a team, we're better off learning to adapt and to COMPENSATE for Yao's absence by playing a more balanced game as a team. Same is true with T-Mac with the exception that short of the super clutch plays and crazy 3 point shooting, we have exceptional atheleticism now to be found with swingmen. theSAGE
Now we talking,doesnt matter w/o Yao or Tmac, as long as team is winning.this is BB and all about teamwork.so far, ROX looks great. we are winning and we will continue doing it.Let us just relax and enjoy it. I came from china and being Rox fan since Yao got here. I and many friends root for Rox not just bcz of yao,bcz Rox playing great these days, we are so proud of this team.we love yao being part of this team and doing teamwork. even he is on the sideline.
Lets be honest, shaq as a 2nd yr player was much better than Yao is now. I'm not going out on a limb, but 27 yr old shaq, destroys 27 yr old yao. Its not fair to even compare Shaq to Yao. Shaq was dominate and great as a rookie, Yao is good now. There is a big difference. This team just has to win differently. I think when they were struggling earlier in the season, their defense was struggling a bit also. They weren't closing on shooters and turned the ball over. Now they're playing great defense ad efficient offense.
Shaq gets beaten defensively all the time when he's pulled out of the paint and a faster guard or forward burns him on the way to the basket. That said, I'd still rather have the young Shaq than not on my team. If you had the choice between having Yao for your championship hunt and not having Yao, and you chose not to have Yao, then I question your sanity. A while back somebody on this board suggested a trade that would end up with Kobe, Yao and Gasol in LA. Be honest--what do you think would happen if you proposed that trade on a Lakers board?
Why are u guys arging over nonsense?The team is obviously greater when Yao and tmac play together.Look we won 12 in a row with them togother.Stop complaining.We are not better without yao.This is so dumb.MT plays like 15mins a gm and if we had yao we would still have a shot blocker on the court.U guys no noting.All u care about is Yao vs tmac STF^.
In different areas we are.........But in different areas we arent............dont wanna explain.......because who cares im like number 700.......
Why are you guys so serious? Deke is a legend, a myth! People are willing to believe that he is still able to do everything now. He is Yao's teammate, friend, and mentor. I don't think Yao would mind people who are saying Deke is a better defender.
It's so said this is even a debate. Look, the winning streak is wonderful and I hope it just keep going. It's fun and feels great. But the true test is in the playoff where you play the same team perhaps 7 times. This team lost it's #1 scorer and #1 rebounder, it's hardest worker (there is no debate here) and the focal point of the offense and there is even a question this team is better without Yao? Who is kidding who? If Yao was here for the last 7 games and the team shot the way it did, the wins would have all been super blowouts. The team is playing great with great ball movement. Deke can't play the minutes of a starter so his defensive presence, while substantial, is not long enough. You are also short a sure fire double team requirement (Yao) which is another weapon to have. I have no doubt if TMAC is doing what he's doing in the NO game, they can beat anybody. But instead of wearing out TMAC, having Yao would give everyone so much more breathing room. Answer this question: If Yao was not hurt would there be even the slightly doubt that the Rockets IS the team to beat? Even Sir Charles would have to change his tune because a healthy Yao and this current team would have crushed, crushed all comers.
Admittedly, in a game like tonite, we could've used Yao to expose the weak underbelly that is the belly of a Hawk. Would've made life a lot easier. Tonite's game made this apparent to me where some young athletic hyper-rebounding team withi speed could give us grief short of punching them in the belly first. For similar reasons, looking forward to other contending teams in the West, the absence of Yao hurts us most in the following matchups imho. New Orleans w/ Tyson Chandler - hurts b/c they are kinda like ATL Lakers w/ Pau - hurts b/c Pau is a forward in disguise Phoenix w/ Shaq - hurts b/c Shaq is Shaq vs. these teams, I think Yao's absence is neutral b/c I think we can compsenate for him in other ares like rebounding or where the opposing center isn't that strong. San Antonio w/ Kurt Thomas (we can match up with him) Utah w/ Mehmet Okur - (defend the 3) Dallas w/ Nazr Mohammed (Deke has his #) Denver w/ Marcus Camby (Camby poses no offensive threat) theSAGE
I think Chuck Hayes will get more minutes in the post-season at the "center" position to relieve Deke. Scola might get some minutes there too. theSAGE
I would rather have laundry in then scola.The big 7ft centers can get rebs ovrr him.Diop showed that in the nets gm.We need to start playing williams seriously.
