http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_y...2w-?slug=whollbeoutkasts&prov=cnnsi&type=lgns Above is an article in which Peter Burns from Si.com tries to state that Yao Ming should not be on the All-Star team and that it should include Brad Miller instead. He also states that Cassell should get the nod over Francis (which I can't dispute). Peter Burns also stated that Peja Stojakovic and Mike Bibby should also be reserves. The notion that Brad Miller deserves a spot over Yao Ming is ludicrous. The article states that Yao Ming scores slightly more than Miller, but Miller is on a better team and has higher passing numbers. I would counter that with Yao's scoring is MUCH more important because the Rockets score 87 points a game versus 106 points a game for the Kings. Therefore Yao scores a much higher percentage of the Rockets points. Houston is also focused on defense and Yao is the anchor to that defense that makes up for the lackluster guard defense. Miller is helped by guards like Doug Christie, Bibby and Jackson who are all good defenders (if not better than the rockets guards). Bibby and Peja are dead eye shooters and spread the offense much more than in the Rockets where Yao faces constant double if not triple teams. I have yet to see a team even double cover Brad Miller. Teams try to shut down Yao in order to allow the perimeter players to beat them, and teams try to slow down the Sac perimeter players and will take a few points from inside. Brad also has Vlade Divac next to him who is one of the best passing big men ever. Vlade is to be respected out to the free throw line and is an amazing passer in the half court and Brad Miller is the recipient of that passing. Miller is having a great year and this is not a knock on him, but more tribute to how good Yao is and how strategy and effort teams place into trying to stop him. That is why he should be an all-star over Brad Miller if he is not voted as a starter.
Burns is a Penis. YAO will be on the team weather he likes it or not. And he should be on the team. He has earned it, especially with his play the past week. Francis on the other hand is on there just because of last years play...
I'm a big Yao Ming fan, but Brad Miller has had a brilliant first half. There's no question he's an All-Star. He's at almost 15 points, 11 boards, 5 assists (!) and he's shooting .515 from the field for the best team in the league. Ming has made stides this year, though: averaging 15 points, 8.5 boards and 1.9 blocks a game for an improved Houston team. Ming deserves consideration, for sure; but Miller is having a fantastic season.
WEll...I think they have both been All Stars this season. But...Yao better be an All Star! If he isn't...do you think the many fans of Yao will complain? Pete Burns..who's he?!? Stojakovic should be an All Star. But why Bibby? He's been okay...no one likes him or adores him! Gary Payton..Sam Cassell..Steve..and Steve Nash..that's plenty of guards. They are both All Stars. Hasn't Brad Miller been playing PF anyways?
Agree on all point. Plus, with the additional minutes, Miller's number are all up including fouls and turnovers. He's a product of that team, nothing else. Hell, look at pollard's numbers on the Kings, 2 years ago he was 6.4/7.1 and 1 block, this year on the pacers? 1.5/2.7 and .5 blocks. He went from contributing to s#$tbomb. I've said before, sure Miller's Offensive numbers are slightly better, but Yao's effect on Defense more than makes up for this. What kind of numbers would Yao put up if he was on the Kings?
well if you read the article it shows how much the author knows. he's trying to assert that the rookie and soph game will be awesome because lebron and carmelo will be on different sides.
Just one question will settle the Yao vs. Miller debate: Which one of these two men do teams device special defensive scheme to stop him? Nuff said.
I think this is kind of similar to the Stoudamire vs. Yao debates last season. Which is more impressive, Yao getting the stats he does despite being double teamed all the time because he's the focal point of the offense OR Miller getting the stats he does while being like the 3rd option on his team? I'd have to give the edge to Miller just because he's had so many monster games this season where he's been the lone reason for his team winning. A center that is one of the league leaders in triple doubles is very impressive. While Yao's numbers have been slightly more steady, He just really hasn't had that many games that have WOWed me as much. I mean, his season high is like 22 points. There are just so many games where he'll get 20 low impact points. I'm waiting for him to just explode for 35 or 40 points. Not saying Miller is a better player than Yao, just that he's having a better season than Yao so far.
Miller doesnt even start at Center for the Kings (Vlade does!). That is like saying Duncan is a Center.
There definitely seems to be momentum in Brad Miller's favor, similar to what happened when Yao didn't get ROY. It sort of became fashionable to pick Amare. If Yao doesn't get voted in by the fans, the coaches may snub him just because of all the great press Miller is getting.
There are just so many deserving forwards in the west, that I think it would be hard to justify bumping one of them to fit both Miller AND Yao. Nowitski Melo Gasol Garnett Duncan AK47 Brand Marion Randolph Peja R.Lewis There will probably be 5 forward spots available, 6 max. If they plan on using Miller as a forward, I don't think he makes it on to the team. If the coaches decide Miller deserves it more than Yao they'll have to vote Miller in as a center. I think he's played enough minutes at the 5 behind Vlade to warrant being listed as a center.
I personally hope Yao doesn't make the all-star team, and comes up with a phantom injury for an excuse to get some rest during that break. All-star games are fun and for entertainment but winning is all I give a damn about.
In principle I agree with you. But the dude's been bustin' butt lately, and it would be a great validation of how well he's playing. It could also do a lot for his confidence.
Yao should beat Shaq in the voting! Miller should be selected in as PF which is exactly the position he is playing so far for the Kings.
Everybody's talkin about alot of nothin fellas......... It doesn't matter what I, You, Or the NBA wants....This is a exibition game for the FANS.........GET IT YET STATS, SMATS......Who cares This game is voted for by the fans....... ITS WHO THEY WANT TO SEE UP CLOSE AND PERSAONAL...PERIOD If the fans want YAO and Franchise as starters...guess what????? They'll be there If the fans want Brad Miller.........you get it All this stat stuff is irrelevent.....its who the fans want.....and they want YAO and Steve and not Brad and Cassell as Starters....its nobodies fault....Its the way it is
When considering stats, of course, it is important to contextualize them. Yao plays on one of the best defensive/worst offensive teams, whereas the Kings are among the better socring teams, and as such Yao's offensive stats represent a greater per item percentage of his teams overall output than do Miller's.
Marty Burns must have prepared the 'outkast' article a while ago. Yao actually has a better fg% @.523 than miller. Plus he has a much bigger impact on defense than miller.
This guy said in his article, " Besides, think about how much better this year's Rookie/Sophomore Game will be with LeBron on one side and Carmelo Anthony on the other." How can that happen?
