And enough with the oh so demanding transition stuff. He wasn't the first foriegn player to play in the NBA. He wasn't even the first Chinese player to play in the NBA. Wang and Bateer had already broken that barrier.
no, you couldn't say that after EG had played one season and a month into his second season. He had a pretty good rookie year, and a pretty good Summer league showing. Yeah it's easy to look back now and say he would be a bust now that he's had all his off the court problems, but at the time his pro prospects looked very promising. Not likely to be a 10 time all star? yeah, but almost everyone in this league is unlikely to be a 10 time all star. Knowing he wont? BS.
No, he wasn't the first foreign player, but he was the first foriegn player in the nba under such a microscope. You didn't see Darko, Skita, Pau and their ilk being blasted on sportscenter every time they made a mistake or being labeled a bust w/o even stepping on the court. Yeah, Wang and Bateer really broke barriers playing scrub minutes for the minimum. They are merely footnotes, nothing more.
Did you spot TMac as a future superstar in his Toronto days? Did you know Dirk will be so good in his first two-year NBA career? Did you have no doubt of Shaq's domination in this league while he stayed in Magic. If so, you should apply for the position of a scout, even a GM; If not, don't jump to your conclusion on a second year international player.
I would say High School Kids are the one exception just because the are so young - 18 years old. During his second year, Dirk started being a star player. And by his second year we knew Dirk didn't play defense, didn't pass, and didn't like to play in the post. Guess what? Dirk still doesn't play defense, he still doesn't pass, and he still doesn't play in the post. You can't change who a person is. Shaq took his team to the NBA finals in his second year. Not to mention the fact that he averaged 29 points and 13 rebounds in his second year so I guess I knew he'd be pretty damned good.
Dirks stats in his second year were 17 points and 6 rebounds. Yao already averages 17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 blocks a game. These are stats from Yao while he's not even playing that well. They are only going to get better. Dirk may not play D, but the fact is Yao DOES. He's a huge presense on defense and is a major reason the Rockets have the top defense in the league. Dirk may not pass well, but Yao does. And I don't know what you've been watching, but Dirk does have a post up game.
more useless stats... Hakeem vs Shaquille O’Neal: 1995 NBA Finals Game 1: Olajuwon: 31 pts - O’Neal 26 pts Game 2: Olajuwon: 34 pts - O’Neal 33 pts Game 3: Olajuwon: 31 pts - O’Neal 28 pts Game 4: Olajuwon: 35 pts - O’Neal 25 pts livin in da past..ain't so bad
Sounds so much like your beloved SF's career. Doesn't play defense, doesn't pass, and you can't change who a person your SF is. Anyway, I really think you should project SF's career instead of spending so much effort trying to put down a 1.25 season player like Yao by projecting his next ten years is going to be like. SF has been in the league for 5 seasons. It should be easier. Oh well...never mind. It's just too painful for you I understand.
I like Steve Francis because he may not always play smart, be he will always play hard. He will always put his nose in the fray and try to make something happen. He plays with desire and passion and it ticks him off to lose. I am NOT ok with guys that basically say "Well, we lost but we'll just try harder next time." Like some 7'6 people I know. I like a guy who at 6'3 want to win bad enough that he puts his nose in with the big boys to help out his sub par rebounding front court. He turns the ball over too much. He doesn't set up his teammates enough. But he gives you everything he has every game. I frankly get the impression that Yao coast through large parts of games. I never get the impression that he's determined to leave every last ounce of effort out on the floor, and I definitely do know he spends way too much time flopping around trying to draw fouls and be bailed out by the refs.
You can't be serious... Lets remember this is Yao's second year and only a quarter way through it. Geesh. Alton Lister would give him fits? You and I must have watched a different Alton Lister. Tree Rollins and Mark Eaton would hold him scoreless? You are placing too much emphasis on blocks. You mean the SAME Tree Rollins and Mark Eaton that Joe Barry Carrol averaged anywhere from 18-25 pts against during the same era? The same JBC that you are comparing Yao to in this same thread? Add to that the fact that defense is better nowadays and your argument even becomes less credible. C'mon, lets focus here, I mean, it IS YOUR thread. The fact that you base it on stats and then pull out rap like this is a waste of time. Stuart
JBC was MUCH quicker than Yao in the post. Yao's moves are slow and deliberate aka easier to block. Just ask Kirelinko.
Yao in his 2nd year = JBC's best year Yao in his prime > JBC's best year I don't think Yao will ever be the player the "Dream" was.
This is exactly what is wrong with this board. Anytime anyone brings up a point that criticizes or portrays Yao in a negative light, the Yao fans immediately begin the Steve criticisms. Why is that? Is is because Yao fans can't take criticism of their god? This discussion has nothing to do with Steve Francis, so what exactly is your point? Oh and by the way, Yao would absolutely school JBC and is already at JBC's level with less than half of JBC's experience. Yao just needs to work on being more aggressisve and actually play up to his size... period. He has drive, he has determination, he has work ethic... he just has to want to be big.
