Who do you guys think will dominate the center position in the NBA next year? I think Yao is growing, and getting bigger and better each year. Some people think Big Ben or Shaq still dominate Yao but I want to hear peoples opinion about this.
I could totally see Shaq or Yao. When the Rockets and Heat play each other it ought to be interesting. For wild cards, I think Tim Duncan will be playing a lot more center with Nesterovic and Nazr gone. If Amare pulls off his old numbers and plays at the center position, he could be considered the best player playing at the center position.
Shaq. during his entire career hes been the most unstoppable, dominant force in the league, and i dont see that changing until he retires. i think he might adjust his post game a bit though, adding some finesse moves to his already immense arsenal of moves.
I don't think Shaq has much fire left to try and be the best during the regular season. He knows his body is slowing down, he's gonna save as much as he can for the postseason. Yao really started to come out towards the end of last season, so my money is on him to be the best. Or as SkiptoMyLue11 said, Amare providing the same conditions. The wild card of TD is a pretty good call as well. Unless ben scores at least 15ppg then I can't consider him the best center, even if he is so much better defensively.
Yao was already arguably, and IMO better last season, don't see why he wouldn't be this year when he's going up and Shaq is going down.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting miss3pointer25:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq doesnt need anymore rings...he should just retire.</div> no, shaq loves rings! he cant retire. he has 4 years left in his contract and he said that in those four years he GUARANTEES at WORST two of those championships. he tends to follow up on his guarantees. on his first day in miami at his huge parade, he guaranteed a championship. i wouldnt be surprised to see him get a least two more rings.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">The same guy who was the best center last year...........Yao Ming.</div> There's a reason Shaq was on the All NBA 1st Team. Yao doesn't give as much intangibles to the floor that Shaq gives. Shaq is a better passer, defender, and better offensively with his arsenal of moves. Last season it was Shaq. It's been Shaq for the last 8 years or so. It's going to be the closest in a while. I am really looking forward to when the Rockets and Heat play. Want to see who has the edge in the match-up.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a reason Shaq was on the All NBA 1st Team. Yao doesn't give as much intangibles to the floor that Shaq gives. Shaq is a better passer, defender, and better offensively with his arsenal of moves. Last season it was Shaq. It's been Shaq for the last 8 years or so. It's going to be the closest in a while. I am really looking forward to when the Rockets and Heat play. Want to see who has the edge in the match-up.</div> I understand that Shaq has playing abilities and I understand that he's been a great center for a long time now, but his age really showed during this year's playoff run IMO. Yes, he's aging, it's not secret, and quite frankly, to consider him the best center for the upcoming season league when Yao Ming is on the rise and Shaq is clearly declining (performance and even stats wise) is ignorant in my opinion. Not to mention the fact that it is DWade who leads the Heat during the regular season, NOT Shaq. If we're talking playoffs only when we see a better and susquently a more determined version of Shaq (Chicago series) then it's a different story but if we see the 13 points and 9 rebounds Shaq (ala most games of the Finals), I would hardly label him the "best center" when he's putting up Antonio Davis-in-Toronto type of numbers. I'd give Yao the edge in terms of the regular season.
KWAME BROWN j/k!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Big Ben will be recharged and if Yao can stay healthy for at least majority of the season he'll be even better, and I don't think shaq is the best center anymore but w/ d.wade he can probably contribute to the team for 2 more yrs.!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a reason Shaq was on the All NBA 1st Team. Yao doesn't give as much intangibles to the floor that Shaq gives. Shaq is a better passer, defender, and better offensively with his arsenal of moves. Last season it was Shaq. It's been Shaq for the last 8 years or so. It's going to be the closest in a while. I am really looking forward to when the Rockets and Heat play. Want to see who has the edge in the match-up. </div> Better offensively???.........No....Shaq isn't the offensive weapon he once was....Yao has a better arsenal on the offensive end....as far as D is concerned, Shaq has slowed down a lot and calling him a great defender is a stretch....Zo at this point in his career is a much better defender than Shaq....Shaq wasn't the best center last year...don't believe me then look at the numbers and the play of both O'Neal and Yao.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Diesel:</div><div class="quote_post">There's a reason Shaq was on the All NBA 1st Team. Yao doesn't give as much intangibles to the floor that Shaq gives. Shaq is a better passer, defender, and better offensively with his arsenal of moves. Last season it was Shaq. It's been Shaq for the last 8 years or so. It's going to be the closest in a while. I am really looking forward to when the Rockets and Heat play. Want to see who has the edge in the match-up.</div> Yea there was, Shaq's team won 50+ games and Yao's didn't even make the playoffs. I've done this too many times, so I would rather you just check yourself, but it's proven that wins plays a factor in All NBA team selections. Secondly it was again because Shaq's team won more games than Yao's team because Tmac was injured (Rafer also missed games), but the Rockets without Tmac had an attrocious supporting cast. Right now Yao has eclipsed Shaq on the offensive end. Defensively is interesting, Yao also alters shots, and he blocks more shots. Neither is a good pick and roll defender, and at C, man to man defensive abilities are hard to judge since there aren't that many good offensive C's anyways.
It's going to be Yao. He was the best center in the league last year, and with him getting better and Shaq slipping, I don't see why it would be any different this year. I might also pencil in Dwight Howard over Shaq, along with Amare Stoudemire.
