Forgive me if this was already posted... I dont think he really deserves to be this low... and this season will prove it... http://www.sportsline.com/nba/story/8895427 Cbssportsline ranked Yao is the fifth best center... 5. Yao Ming, Houston: We're still waiting on him to take his game to the next level. At 7-feet-5, he needs to dominate, needs to assert himself as a force, and as he enters year No. 4 in the NBA, he has showed only flashes of those abilities. Consider that in the Chinese League, he averaged over 19 rebounds in each of his last two seasons before coming over, scoring about 30 per game. While the level of competition is obviously much tougher here, he should still be breaking the 20 point-10 rebound barrier. With Tracy McGrady taking some of the pressure off him, he should step up and embrace the advantages his size and skill level afford him.
I can understand there being a case for Stoudamire and Ben Wallace, but Chris Bosh? He hasn't even played a season as a center, his team is TERRIBLE and a lock for the lottery, his numbers aren't as good as Yao's and his impact on the game isn't as great. I like Bosh a lot, but to put him above Yao on here is absolutely ridiculous.
Obvious case of height-discrimination. Another guy who considers Yao an under-achiever because of his stature while failing to point out any of his strengths. Bosh ahead of Yao at center is too laughable to mention. Yeah, I'll take him over Yao if i need a 3 pointer. maybe. Nevermind the fact that he has Jerome James in the top 15.
AS IF "For years, since past greats Hakeem Olajuwon and Patrick Ewing hung up their sneaks, we've been searching for a clear-cut No. 2, a Russell to the Diesel's Wilt." Was he implying that Dream was the 2nd best center in the league while SHaq was there or is he referring to Hakeems much later years? Why is Bogut there??? He hasn't played an official game yet...
i don't think many of you have seen much of Bosh .... the guy will easily average 20Pts 10Reb this season..... can't say that for Yao Ming.
Well I don't think we should use statistics to decide the ranking. But since you brought up the topic... 2004-2005 Yao Ming : 30.6 mins, 8.4 rebounds, 18.3 points 55.2% FG Chris Bosh: 37.2 mins, 8.9 rebounds, 16.8 points 47.1% FG I wonder what makes you think Bosh can easily average 20/10 this season but you can't say that for Yao. Is Bosh doing something really great in the summer?
Your Vince valued Bosh so much (come on, who doesn't want to pair up with a top 3 center according to CBS!) that he went to the Nets... Yao on the other hand, obviously inferior and ranked 5th by CBS only get Tracy in return Plus Bosh will lead the Raptors to another early pick! Can't say that for Yao Ming -G'day-
Tony Mejia is a scrub writer who doesn't have enough of an understanding of the NBA to write columns like this. I doubt he gets anything past point/rebound numbers and reps. Yao (and Shaq) struggle a lot with the NBA rules (zones, etc) that make it supremely difficult to run halfcourt offenses through the post. They don't dominate statistically because the rules allow defenses to hang all over them and deny them the ball. Ewing in his prime wouldn't have averaged 24+ PPG if he faced today's rules. On the flipside, Amare is quickly becoming the most overrated "center" of all time. If Shawn Kemp had been unleashed against centers like Amare was last year, you would have had the same result. Athletic PFs slashing to the basket from outside the paint are going to have 2-3 steps on halfcourt centers drawn out to defend them. His joyride is going to sputter some this year, now that centers can switch to the more guardable Thomas instead of someone like Marion. Plus, Amare doesn't protect the basket or rebound to a degree that would worry anyone. Mejia talks about Amare as the greatest guy in the playoffs, but he played right into the Spurs hands. Big scoring numbers, but he wasn't delivering wins. He was taking 30-shots in games and kept others from getting involved, while at the same time getting blistered on defense (Duncan was shooting over 52% from the field). Shocking stat to consider: Amare's Suns allowed their opponents to break the 100-point barrier in every single playoff game last year. Team defense, especially in zones, depends on a strong presence in the middle. Amare is anything but. Fools gold. Chris Bosh benefits from being the closest thing to a star on a hapless Toronto team. If the NBA were to press reset and hold a redrafting of its players, would any franchise pick him in the first round? The second? Who would nab him before Yao or Ben Wallace? Evan
