We are always harping on Yao and his stats so far this year and I thought it interesting to compare him to his closest peers. Shaquille O'Neal, Heat Averages: 20.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 2.4 APG, 3.00 BPG Ben Wallace, Pistons Averages: 11.8 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 3.2 APG, 2.83 BPG Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cavaliers Averages: 17.9 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.6 APG, 1.50 BPG Yao Ming, Rockets Averages: 18.4 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.33 BPG Brad Miller, Kings Averages: 15.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.10 BPG Jamaal Magloire, Hornets Averages: 12.1 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 1.8 APG, 0.88 BPG Erick Dampier, Mavericks Averages: 8.5 PPG, 7.0 RPG, 1.1 APG, 1.00 BPG Nazr Mohammed, Knicks Averages: 13.0 PPG, 9.2 RPG, 0.2 APG, 0.77 BPG Yao is second in scoring only next to Shaq and his rebounding numbers are top 5? I know Yao doesnt look like he has been playing well or rebounding well but it seems to be a trend for all the big guys what do you think? J
Good point. I think alot of criticism comes from alot of people expecting him to put up Duncan-esq numbers (25/11/2). a) He is still learning how to play with his new teammates and to the NBA in general. b) The league looks like it has taken the approach of showcasing the guards in the game (ie: new foul calls) which, along with teams acclimating zones more and more effectively, has lowerd the center's production all across the league. I think this is why teams like Phoenix and Seattle are winning so many games. They don't have a good center, but it really doesn't matter right now, especially when thier guards and forwards are playing so well under the new up tempo league. Basically, the NBA looks more like an international league this season with the effective zoning, and the teams that are good at shooting, passing and running are the most effective. The Rockets right now remind me of the USA team over the summer. Have plenty of talnt, but just can't play well under the new rules.
To save bandwidth, I am just going to post for Amed, Summer Song Giver, Jediknight, and some others: But the difference between Yao and the other centers is, Yao sucks and others don't. I mean Yao sucks because he sucks and he's 7'6. You don't see other centers sucking. Yao sucks and there's nothing you can say to change the fact that he sucks. Do you see shaq sucking? no. Do you see big z sucking? no. Do you see Yao sucking. hell yes you do. I say trade yao with anyone on that list because he sucks. The only time Yao doesn't suck is when he's on the bench, that should prove that he sucks. All you guys are idiots, Yao sucks more than Yao himself.
bottom line. yao is young. I think his comparisons to a high school player are perfect. I think you'll see flashes as we have in previous seasons and the few rough spots for the rest of the year. however, I do have a feeling he will begin to impress late in the season. next year is the year I think he should be closely scrutinized. however, I think it's going to be his "breakout" year. though this is somewhat offtopic, we do have two holes on our team, which I think will both be addressed by the deadline. I think towards the end of the season the rockets are going to be a very fun team to watch. it's just going to take time.
The only true franchise player on that list is Shaq. Even Shaq, whose better than Yao in every stat category, is having his worst year ever. The question is what we expect of Yao Ming. We expect him to be a franchise player so you must compare him to all star players. We are having a weak era for center right now, but that's also because so many of the good potential centers are playing PF right now. Compare Yao to Nowitzki, Garnett, Duncan because that's where his potential lie (I hope).
If we keep the same lineup as last season, I am sure Yao would have reached our expectation: 20+pts, 10+ rebs, and we are 11-8 instead of 8-11 right now. I know it hurts right now to watch Rockets' game, but since we have "the heart of a Championtship", we have to bear the pain before we pull it out (not in a near future).
Yao still has lots of room to improve. And he will improve. How much is the biggest question. What he will probably improve on is his fouling. He will adjust more and not pick up as many silly fouls. This will come with experieince. He will continue to learn how to be more effective at getting position and sealing off the defender. He will move away from bad shots as he perfects the jump hook and the drop step to the basket. He is inconsistant with both. He will learn how to back down without getting the ball stolen. He will getting a little stronger upper body. I think one of the biggest improvements can come by strengthening his hands and keeping the ball up high and going for more dunks and making them. Yao can become a 20 ppg player. His biggest weakness is he is not consistant with the jump hook. His hand strength. And he is foul prone. Add improvement to a little star treatment from the refs and he will finish his career a far better player than Ric Smits.
Summer Song Giver's answer: The fact is Yao sucks more than anyone in the league. Yao is someone. Thus Yao sucks more than Yao. Amed's answer: I don't know why you are defending the commie. The late Juugie's answer: Look at the list again. He is 7'6, 5 inches taller than everyone on the list, except for himself. If you are 7'6, you should be getting 25 10 every night of the week. Yao is 7'6, and he's not anywhere near those numbers. The only other guy on the list who is 7'6 is Yao himself. The only other guy that could possibly suck more than Yao is Yao himself. JediKnight could not be reached for comments but he did leave this on his answer machine: Hi, you've reached Jediknight. I can't answer the phone right now, but if you leave you name and number, i'll get back to you as soon as Yao's next bad game. beep.
Yao’s 18.4 PPG is impressive when you consider that JVG is a defensive minded coach. Imagine if Yao was coached by someone who was more offensive minded.
Rockets score only 87 points a game. Heat score 98 points a game. Both Yao and Shaq score 21% of their team's points.
Exactly right. It's about context. If Yao Ming doesn't average more than Nazr Mohammed, we have a real problem. If his numbers aren't significantly better than Jamaal Magloire's, then we really misspent a #1 pick! And remember..the argument that we're in a weak era for centers cuts both ways. These are his numbers versus what we all consider to be relatively weak competition. Bottom line...he has to improve. I think he will. He's still young. But if the Rockets are to be real contenders, then what we're getting out of Yao isn't enough, particularly compared to the value of what we could get for him on the market.
Thank you for bringing some sense to this thread. Only one center on that list other Yao has their team built around him and his abilities. The fact that Yao is probably the second best player at his position won't get the Rockets to the next level when that position is probably at its worst (talent wise) in the last 50 years.
