I didn't know block numbers take priority over post defense. You're right, they would be 3rd or higher. The reason he's forced into being the #1 option is because neither Battier or Artest are capable of being consistent volume scorers, and Brooks can do it occasionally, but can't do it nightly (yet). Team's star =/= team's top scorer (not always, at least). If PER was even close to the be-all, end-all basketball stat (that doesn't exist) you and others think it is, Shaq would not be in the top 25, Carmelo would be in the top 20, Kobe would be top 3. Clearly. Given Yao's durability concerns (the fact that three straight seasons of his have been ended by injury should be cause for some concern), I'd be surprised if they could get much more than that. If Houston wins this series, they might not even get that. Granted there are a few GMs out there who are either desperate or just retarded. Regardless, the Rockets would be absolute fools to re-sign this guy in 2010. Having thought about it a little, I liken this team as presently constructed to the 2004 Pistons. The only stark difference is the strong, shooting, more grind-oriented point guard Detroit had (Billups) to the hyper-aggressive slasher Houston has (Brooks).
you're really trying to pretend that yao is a bad defensive player? seriously? guess who was 9th in the league in defensive rating this year. and 4th in defensive win shares. in fact this is his 5th year in a row to be top 10 in defensive rating. yao is the star of the rockets. absolutely no doubt about it. everyone on and around the rockets knows and acknowledges it. other teams show it with who they focus on during games. yao absolutely is and should be a number one option. of course he would be a great 2nd option, so would any other legitimate number one option who is unselfish. per is much better than whatever bullshit rating system you have in which yao is a bad defender and not a first option on offense. and based on his play this year, kobe shouldn't be top 3. not ahead of lebron, wade, or paul. the rockets would be absolute fools to do anything but resign yao. absolutely no question, the rockets could get a top 3 pick in any draft for yao. but they aren't ever going to trade him. of course there is no shotblocking(where the pistons had ben wallace, sheed, and prince who are all better shotblockers than any uninjured rockets), inconsistent pg play, and much less reliable scoring on the perimeter. that kinda takes that comparison away.
It doesn't, but it's a big part of it. Do you really believe Hayes and Landry are better at defending C's than Yao is? So, Yao is forced to be the #1 option because your stars are too inconsistent to carry the team like Yao does? Seems like that would make him the star. Ok, in the regular season PER ranking, all positions, where do you put Yao? Whether or not they should want to sign him depends on how he comes back from this latest injury. I think they definitely sign him, assuming he recovers. I think he has a player’s option, so they may not have a choice. Could you provide even one shred of support, other than your opinion, for anything you've said in this thread? Heh, rockteer beat me to it. Nicely done, I might add. Go Blazers
