After seeing that video of Mings Highlights, it kind of remided me of how Dirk plays. Almost ha the sme type of sweet shot dirk has, and also did u see him steal the ball and take it all the way back for the dunk, he outran everyone jeez this looks good for us. Imagine a 7'5 Dirk Nowitzky with DEFENCE!!!!! AHH!!
After reading all the quotes about Yao Ming on this website -- www.yaomingmania.com/quotes.html -- I'm sold that Yao can be the next Dirk, Smits, and Pau rolled up into one (someday).
From what I've seen and heard I agree, he could be another Dirk. That's the only player I can see that we could compare him to. It took Dirk about a year or so to make an impact because he's mainly offense and it took his offense time to grow. It will take Yao Ming's offense about the same amount of time to grow, but the reason he will make an impact his first year, unlike Dirk, is because his defense and rebounding should be able to pay immediate dividends. Dirk didn't have that luxury.
I too have mentioned this in a few threads. I think comparing Yao Ming to Nowitzki or Paul Gasol is a much more accurate comparison than Shawn Bradley. As mentioned above, Ming moves VERY WELL, almost effortlessly, with the ball, has great footwork and skill and has a good offensive and defensive game. Chris
Nowitzki and Gasol are very comparable to Ming's game. I don't think that Ming will ever have as nice as jump shot as Nowitzki or be the run and jump athelete that Gasol is. But neither of them will ever be 7'5.
And neither of them will be the defensive force/presence that Ming will be. That will make the difference. The complete package. And it is because of all that is being said above why the Rockets are excited about Ming and why they want him with the #1 pick. That is how THEY see Ming in the NBA and NOT as some Shawn Bradly type person. Chris
Nowitzki is not a good passer and refuses to play defense. He is a fundamentally strong offensive machine like Kiki Vandeweghe was with more heigth and athleticism to get a lot of rebounds, but that's it. I don't understand this comparison at all. Ming will be a completely different player. Duece, What you wrote there, don't you think that is a description for Tim Duncan, not Nowitzki? By your definition, a Duncan comparison seems much more accurate. Duncan is fundamentally strong in all aspects of the game, and moves "effortlessly with the ball." Duncan is a good high-post passer, too. You can run the offense through him. While Nowitzki sure can score when given the ball, even Nellie has has been saying that he can't really run the offense through Nowitzki (due to lack of passing skills) any more than Kevin McHale could run an offense. By Rudy's scouting, Ming is a "great passer," so I expect us to run much of the offense through him in the high post. That is closer to Duncan's game, not Nowitzki's.
I have no problems with the Duncan comparrison. I was just using Nowitzki as an example compated to Shawn Bradley. I was just making the case that we should compare Ming "skillwise" to someone skilled like Dirk versus someone who is basically a stiff like Bradley. But your Duncan comparrison is not far off. I think we CAN eventually run our offense through Ming as he IS a good passer and like you said, he can find the open cutter or what have you versus Nowitzki who basically is looking to score. If Ming ever gets to the point where Duncan is now then I think the Rockets will be EXTREMELY happy and we will be close if not already winning NBA championships. Chris
After reading a thread like this I almost feel sorry for Ming ... the expectations on him seems enormous ... comparing him to Nowitzki, who is arguably the best offensive player in the game right now, even before he has played a single game ... while I belive he is a very intriguing prospect I feel its unfair to make this comparisons and have these expecations on him especially for his first years ... If he was on my team I would be happy if he showed occasional glimpses of greatness during his 2-4 years in the league and hopefully beeing able to contribute regularly offensivly while not beeing a defensive liability ...
I want to point out that the comparrisons being made (at least from my point of view) are being made with the FUTURE in mind. I certainly DO NOT expect Ming to come in and dominate and put up numbers like Gasol, Nowitzki or Duncan. I would think he is a few YEARS away from that. I think we are talking about his overall POTENTIAL not what we expect NEXT season! I think there will be some that will expect TOO much from him. That is bound to happen. But I don't. Heck, Ming won't even start at center. I am sure Cato will. In fact I doubt Ming will even start (baring injures to starters) all year long. I see him as a bench guy all next year. Then perhaps after NEXT summer working out with the Rockets and getting the system down he can come into training camp and COMPETE with Cato for the job. Which at that time I feel he has a chance to take. A lot of us feel Griffin has a TON of upside but if we did not have injuries last year he would not have started. And this year I expect him to come off the bench as well. I see Ming on this same track. I think people need to give Ming time. He is only 21. I would treat Ming like a high schooler in terms of needing some years to mature and learn the game. Patience will be key. Chris
According to the Grizzlies official website, Paul Gasol is 7'0" & 227 lbs. Yao Ming is 7'5" & 296 lbs. I guess Ming can definitely run him over in games.
And Gasol didn't have problems in the post being ONLY "227 lbs" against bigger PFs so I think Ming's 296 lbs will be just fine at the Center spot. He will gain more weight for sure but those that think Ming will be pushed over I think are overstating it a bit. Gasol did not have a problem and I don't think Ming will have a ton of problems either. Chris
He will eventually. Center is his future position. Also before you start saying he is too small to play center. Theo Ratliff 6'10 230lbs Tony Battie 6'11 240lbs Raef LaFrentz 6'11 240lbs Jermaine O'Neal 6'11 240 lbs (played center) Marcus Camby 6'11 235lbs Keon Clark 6'11 220lbs Pau should end up in the 245-250 range in about 2-3 more years. More than adequate for the center position.
As far as speed goes the NBA has Dirk at a 9, whereas Ming is only at 7. Dirk doesn't refuse to play defense he simply can't yet. And if it's true what Ming said about Zhi Zhi being a better defender than him that might be the best comparison is on thier defense. ming is a good ball handler, but has trouble with the smaller guys picking off his dribble whereas Dirk doesn't have this problem. Dirk was handling the ball his entire life, due to the right coaching. Ming will never see a level of Dirk, because even though his defense bits, it does improve with each season. Maybe a comparison in a few year's but I doubt it very seriously. And the Comparison to Bradley is more accurate, like Barkley said he's semi-quick in China, but in the NBA, that wont be consider quick in the slightest. To slow for KG, Gasol, Dirk, and too weak for Shaq, Duncan, Webber, and Mourning. Slightly above average is the best to hope for. Which I'll admit still probably wont hurt Houston. Not instantly but eventually Hilario will be the best big man of this class. With the huge wingspan, and freakish athletisim.
Dirk is still faster. Ming is considered semi-fast in China, which like Barkley said will not be very fast in the NBA. Also Ming struggles dribbling the ball against the smaller quicker men, which he proved against the U.S. and some of the European teams. Ming does way 300 lbs. but for his hieght that is not a very solid body. So wiehgt and strengthwise he is still extremely weak for the NBA, so he must lift wieghts which is the biggest question mark. Hopefully Ming will workout since we could easily trade for a proven player instead of drafting Ming number one which is all the Chinese Gov't is worried about.
