It's kind of annoying how a lot of people don't understand that not all stats are created equal. The Kings play up-tempo, averaging 102 ppg while giving up 97 ppg. The Rockets play slow basketball, averaging 89 ppg while giving up 88. Even if Yao and Miller have similar stats, Yao still gets the edge by virtue of scoring a more % of his team's points. Besides, Yao makes his teammates better by virtue of his double/triple teams. Hence his value isn't just on his stats alone, but also reflected by better shots for his teammates, like JJ and Mobley. Miller, on the other hand, is simply one of the players that benefit from having great offensive players like Bibby and Peja to raise his game.
Did you just label Brad Miller a quick leaper/fast lateral movement? You're kidding me right. There's nothing special about his leaping or quickness. He's a good rebounder, but the Kings play a fastpaced style and a lot more shots get put up than in Rox games (BM also played more minutes). Yao still needs to improve his rebounding (and stamina) but it's closer that you think. And I saw the highlights of BM's triple double games, and almost all of his assists were off handoffs to shooters like Bibby and Peja. I don't consider that to be Vlade-like, cause Vlade is an incredible interior passer, and I haven't see that out of BM yet.
Did we have this discussion last year before All-Star vote? Many in the media believed that if Shaq was voted in by fans, Miller would be voted in by the coaches, hence Yao might not be able to make the team. Of course, it all muted when Yao was voted in by the fans. There is no argument that Yao has the potential to be a franchise player, which you cannot say about Miller. But they are very close in stats, and Miller is a better all around player, a better defender, rebounder. Yes, the Kings up tempo creates a lot of rebound, but you have to be quick enough to keep up with it. I don't think Yao will be able to average 9 boards with the Kings, he probably will be wore out after one qtr of running up-down.
Kings would adjust their play to fit Yao if he were on the their squad. You can bet on it. Also, Miller can't match Yao on defensive presence.
Houston's slowass offense vs. Sacto's offense... If you have a brain, you'd know that Yao is still the better scorer and passer than Miller. As for rebounding, I completley agree, Yao suck rebounding right now...but hopefully he'll be more aggressive this year without Cato and Francis capable of grabbing boards too.
m_cable, Don't take the "Vlade" comparison so literal. And don't take the Miller description as a insult to Yao. It's not. Yes, Vlade is a excellent *skilled/creative* passer (over 5 per game last year). Miler is not as good nor as not as creative. But he's fundamentally sound. And the fact that he can achieve 4.0+, shouldn't be ignored. That's very good for a center, period! That's just a fact. Now, in regards to the style the Kings play and rebounds. Yes, they play a run and gun style. But I hope you weren't implying that Miller was getting "easy" rebounds or something. He's active and always moving. Also, he has the speed/stamina to keep up with that fast-paced style as well. His ability to grab rebounds is not based on just his height either (see Yao). He's has very good quickness/lateral movment (not Rodman-like, but not Yao like either) and does the important things like "blocking out before the shot hits the rim (easier said than done)." He's also very smart on where to be; he times the rebounds very well. He just knows where to be. This is the same type of hustle/smarts that Najara has. But to a greater extent, because Miller is actually putting up a lot better numbers. Even when Brad Miller was with the Pacers he averaged 8rpg with 30 minuets playing time. Last year was the first time he played over 35 minutes. That's productive. I'm sure that with 35+min per game he'd average 10rpg even in Indiana. Back then, he was making a name for himself. Today, he's made it. People notice. Please tell me what you mean by "it's closer than I think?" I hope you aren't implying that "I think" that Yao can't improve. You are preaching to the choir. Before Yao's career is over, I predict he'll achieve 14rpg one year. But he should average around 12-13 for most.
No I was just implying that the Kings play a style where more shots are put up (both by the Kings and their opponents) therefore there are more chances to get rebounds. The Kings put 6.3 more shots a game than the Rockets. That's a pretty big difference. And the King's style usually induces the other teams into putting up more shots than they might usually do. So it can really add up. No, I just mean that the difference between Miller's rebounding production and Yao's rebounding production isn't that far apart. "Closer than you think" is just an expression.
I actually think that the Rockets slower paced (half-court game) is better for Yao. I don't think he would last trying to run up and down the court on the Kings. Even if they did shoot more (he'd be on the bench resting). That's just too much running for his body type. Miller is more suited for that type of offense. This is the best place for Yao to get that future 14rpg.
Brad Miller is an excellent roleplayer. This is why he was traded from the Bulls. The Bulls had no go-to player to create the shots for the roleplayers. When Brad Miller went to the Pacers, his numbers went up because he had more shots created for him by guys like Jermaine Oneal. Then he finally landed in Sacramento where the Princeton offense creates open shots for the shooters. This is perfect for Brad Miller. He thrives on being able to knock down the open jumper. Put him down in the blocks with the role of low post scorer, and he'll fail. Brad Miller probably fits the Sacramento offense better than Yao does, but it would be foolhardy to think that anyone would choose Brad over Yao especially if that team was starting out which the Bulls were doing with the rebuilding after MJ. Larry Bird traded Brad Miller for Scott Pollard. It was probably a bad move in hindsight, but Brad Miller putting up numbers in the Kings' offense is just totally different from the impact he would have had in the Pacers' offense. The Pacers also have Jeff Foster who is a better defender than Miller.
