If Yao can do what he's doing every night for us now......w/ a lil training he'll be even betta next year. Yao is an awesome athelete and I seriously this is only the beginnin of things to come...... but did ya'll see Lebron last night?? DAMN!!!!
I missed the LeBron game but I think he also will have a successful career since he's a team oriented player from all accounts (not like some hogs like Kobe/TMac/Duh Answer). As for Yao peaking this early, unlikely unless of course he suffers a career threatening injury (which would be a major shame). You cannot compare him to Bradley already. That scenerio is already close to impossible given the skillset, weight, smarts and athleticism Yao has over the Stick. And 0.75bpg is very low. Smits was never much of a major post presence outside of taking up lots of space. Most of the shots I've seen him take were from mid-range jumpers or baby hooks from much further away than shots Yao is taking now. I'm sure the nba defenses will adjust to try to take away his favorite spots but that's not for a while yet. I'm sure Duncan and Robinson were a bit shell shocked the second time around as Yao figured them out instead of the opposite happening (or status quo). When that happens, you can bet Rudy T and the coaching staffs aren't sitting on their butts not preparing their prized center with more moves. Just imagine the Dream being hired to tutor this kid ... I dunno why the original poster has displayed so much pessimism but it sounds like he/she is suffering from short man's disease . We have to remember, the NBA is like an arms race, weapons and defences both evolve. The zone certainly is helping a LOT this season to keep scoring mostly down. It's a great time to be a jump shooter like Steve Kerr/Glen Rice.
Lebron is not hype. I would say that if all the guy did was dunk. But, what I was impressed with was his passing AND decent shooting. He's not a great shooter, but he's ok. But, his passing is above average, especially for a kid. And being 6'9" will help him pass over the top. Plus he's mobile. He's going to be better than McGrady, and Kobe. He reminds me of McGrady the most. But with passing skills.
People gave many reasons as to why Yao Ming will be better than Rik Smits because in many ways Yao is different from Smits. Many of these points are valid but the "bottom-line" is that Yao's production based on objective stats is not better than Smits in his rookie year. Yao's solid but not spectacular performances against bad teams these past two games (against Grizzlies and Clippers) would seem to indicate that my impression of Yao is more correct. These past two games have stat lines very similar to what Pacers got from Smits in his first couple of years. From my review of these past two games, it seems that my viewpoint seems to be correct more and more. But once again, let me emphasize that I am not being over-critical of Yao as I have always maintained that Smits was a very good solid player so comparing Yao to Smits is no disgrace. But more and more I feel that it is more realistic to expect Yao to contribute Smits-like production than Hakeem-like production especially based on these recent games.
It is sad to know that the true productivity a player is judged only by the stats.... IMO, stats are meant for fantasy league, not in the real league. There r some many intangibles that Yao is doing on the floor that are not reflected in the stats, things like intimation, help defends, great passing (passing is different from assist, in case u did not notice. ) etc that r very valuable to the success of this team. It is way too early to judge how good/great Yao is going to be, considering he is adjusting to a new environment, new rules, new language, new team etc. Those of u who have studied or worked in other countries would be able to know how tough it is in the beginning. I really can't stand someone judges productivity solely from the stats. If u insist, I would ask u to look at output per minute played.
You're still around troll? You predict that Ming has peaked at will only average .75 blocks yet he's averaging 1.6 bpg. You predict that Ming will only average 18 ppg yet over the last few weeks he's averaging 20 ppg. You predict that Ming will only average 10 rpg yet he's averaging 14 rpg over the last few weeks. You predict that Ming will peak and only average 47% from the field yet he's hitting at a clip of 60%. Where's the logic there? How can you predict a guy has peaked and then predict his numbers will drop around the board. As for his "solid but not spectacular" performances against bad teams (Grizzlies, Clippers), he combined to score 34 points and bring down 24 boards so that shows me you don't know what the hell you're talking about. Lets call a spade a spade, you're an idiot if you compare him to Rik Smits because they have NOTHING in common. But if you're determined to compare them, chop off the first few weeks of the season because he didn't have training camp and that was basically his training camp. Since he has adjusted to the league Yao Ming is averaging 20 ppg, 14 rpg, 1.6 bpg and shooting 60% from the field. Now you tell me, are those spectacular numbers and did your boy Rik Smits, who you seem to have a hard on for, put those numbers up in his rookie year? In fact did he put numbers like that during ANY year his rookie year? Yao Ming had "off" nights the last two games, yet those "off" nights was 18 points 15 boards and then 16 points and 9 boards. Yeah, Rik Smits did that all the time. <b>From my review of these past two games, it seems that my viewpoint seems to be correct more and more. </b> From our review of your past two posts it seems that our viewpoints seem to be correct more and more that you're a pathetic troll.
I know you would hide in your closet when Ming has good games and sneak out of it to say something when he has subpar games. You will definitely have a lot of chances because he will play 82 games every year plus playoff. I am sure this thread will be brought up again and again at least for the next 3 years. Back to the topic. You were saying. Yao Ming is putting up similar statistics as Rik Smits during his rookie year. However, Smits never did become a great hall of fame type center. so Yao Ming has peaked. Read it again. Are you laughing at your own fuzzy logic now? Lastly, it is kind of dumb to project the career of a player by comparing his rookie statistics to another player who played 15 years ago. Agree?
Classic. Before the all star break of his rookie season and he's already schooled many of the best centers in the league and people still think he isn't good. It's not even worth discussing because he will become great. Anyone with a half good eye can see it. It's inevitable. In 3 years he'll run shaq into retirement. Mark it down.
Since this thread was started, not only has Yao Ming peaked, he is actually in decline! The fact of the matter is that my analysis was correct all along! As teams take Yao more seriously and start to adjust many of the easy baskets he was making to achieve his high scoring, high FG% games would start to become a thing of the past. In this thread, I claimed that Yao would have a Rik Smits type career (solid but not spectacular). This is looking to be more and more true. I don't like to gloat but based on all the people who criticized my viewpoint, I think I am entitled to say, "I told you so!".
Polywannacracker, I guess since Yao is in a funk, that his career is over. No chance on improvement from this rookie, nah, he's peaked, in his first few months in a different country. Sure, you're a genious. How could we ever doubt you? Now go away!
Ahhhh.... There we go our polypheus friend coming up again. I thought he is gone already. He is patiently waiting for 4 consecutive 10 pts play by Yao Ming before showing up again.
One, Yao Ming is missing lay up shots mostly due to bad bounces and rimming out. That may have to due with a combo of being tired and his new weight training program. Yao's a 3 year prospect, but he already showed a great amount of skill. Look at the Lakers game, it's a diffrent stronger Yao Ming as oppose to to earlier on in the season. But getting stronger and more tired forces u to shoot your shots a little harder, but after an adjustment period Yao will be able to hit those shots again. I think the more important thing is he's getting the shots he's getting, which in it self is more than what Rik Smits who is mostly a jump shooting center.
