Tonight I was watching the Lakers-Rockets game and Yao Ming is a beast. He has 31 points, 13 rebounds, and 8 blocks and has proven to me that he is the best center in the league. He is consistent and has improved so much since entering the league. I'm one of the people who always thought he was overrated and didn't look at him as an elite NBA player but after seeing his performance tonight, I'm a believer. Then I got to thinking, what seperates Yao from Dwight Howard? Then it hit me, it's his jumpshot. Yao was consistently knocking down a jumpshot from outside of the paint. He was hitting turnarounds and making it look so easy. Dwight has more power than Yao and is a better rebounder but when it comes to offense, Ming is light years ahead of Howard. At what point does Dwight start working on that jumpshot to the point where he can add it into his offensive arsenal? I've heard rumors that Dwight used to be a good three point shooter in high school until his coach made him stop shooting. They made him work on his inside game and apparently his jumpshot disapeared. I think Howard needs to get that shot back if he wants to be this team's number one option on offense because it's just too easy to double team him in the paint. He needs to be able to score from outside of the paint if he wants to someday be on the level of Garnett, Duncan, and Yao. Just my thoughts, what do you guys think?
I think it is a few things. 1. Orlando's terrible 3 point shooting. Especially with Hedo out, the Magic can't space the floor and get Dwight some room to operate. The Rockets have Battier, Tmac, Padgett, Alston, Head, etc. all spacing the floor. 2. The magic don't run go to Dwight like they do with Yao. When I watched the Bobcats vs. Orlando game, Dwight barely was went to. All of Dwight's points were like A. Being left open from a rotation, B. crashing the boards after a missed shot. 3. Dwight doesn't have as developed a post game as Yao (partially because he doesn't get as many opportunities) I think Dwight is a better rebounder, but Yao obviously has that nice short range jumper. (which is easier for him to get off, because he is 7 inches taller than Dwight) The jumper alone isn't the difference, I think Dwight can be more effective an offensive threat even without a Yao-like jumper. Dwight already has a decent hook shot and has the agility against most centers to get dunks or an easy hook. But I think the offense has to give him more opportunities, and he needs to practice those post up plays.
Exactly. He doesn't get the ball in the post much at all. I blame Brian Hill and our PG's for that. I don't think Dwight needs to develop a jumper right now. I think he needs to work on his low post game until he can score pretty much at will. That will be his bread and butter. Once he has that down, then he can start focusing on extending his range a little. Don't forget Yao just has that amazing shooting touch for a guy his size. He shoots like 85% from the line. It's not going to be easy for Dwight to develop that kind of touch. I would rather see him do something more productive like learning more low post moves and how to get rid of the ball out of double teams this early in his career.
I don't think Dwight has to be better than Yao.. Remember he's much younger and they don't have to play similarly to be equally good. Shaq never developed a jumper and he is (well, was) better than just about any center ever to play.. Not saying Dwight is Shaq, but he can pave his own way using what he does best. At this point, it boils down to experience and like Gators said, touches.. Up until the last part of last year, Yao didn't get nearly enough touches and was not putting up good numbers (somewhat comparable to Dwight's right now). It's beyond me to say if Dwight is or isn't ready to shoulder that much offensive responsibility, but I don't feel that he'll need a jumper or whatever to be as dominant as Yao
Skill is the difference. And I say that while saying Shaq's greatest developed skill is passing, everything else is power and agility like Dwight. D.Howard does have the potential to put up big offensive numbers with his size. Why Yao is better He can score on both blocks, going left or right The shots he has either way is a fall away jumper, or a hook shot with either hand. Hard to block He can handle the ball in the post getting to the rim Passing has improved out of the post and reposting with quick O Experience too. Patience to see where the constant double and triple teams are comming from He is a good shooter at 7'5
Yao can shoot, and I mean shoot. He can also pass out of a double team. Dwight can't. Dwight can get the rebounds that people can only look at. Yao can't. Dwight has enormous ups, Yao doesn't. Yao has a better basketball IQ than Dwight.
Dwight isn't a dominant player yet offensively. Look at tonight's game as a perfect example. He usually gets less than ten shots per game and he isn't even our main threat. Teams don't come into games thinking we have to stop Dwight Howard. He is there and has a good game every now and then but usually he'll get around 15 points. Then you look at Yao Ming, his team's number one option. He scares defenders and seems to have more confidence than Dwight inside.
this one is easy...yao is Chinese and Dwight is black...hence why dwight jumps higher and dunks better and grabs more boards and is the better player
<div class="quote_poster">d-money12 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">this one is easy...yao is Chinese and Dwight is black...hence why dwight jumps higher and dunks better and grabs more boards and is the better player</div> or maybe dwight has athletic ablility while yao is just wickdly tall...i dont know why u bring race into it... ive seen some chinese drop kick people from 15 ft away..well not really but in a movie
<div class="quote_poster">Franchise4Ever Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">What separates Yao from Dwight? Dwight isn't injury prone. Good day gentle ladies. </div> Well, when you are 7'6 you seem to get a bunch of injuries. Just look at Manute Bol, Gheorge Muresean, and Shawn Bradley. Dwight is the best of the east, and Yao is the best of the west. How's that comparison?
