Yao Ming has been averaging 26 PPG, 9-10 RPG and 2 BPG. In his last game against the Knicks he put up 35 points, 17 rebounds and 7 blocks. Yao is off to the best start of his NBA career. My question is, How good can he really get? Will he ever be regarded as one of the best centers in NBA History?
I honestly think he will be called one of the best centers ever when his career is over. When I look at Yao play, it is impossible for defenses to stop him. He is a good shooter from 12-16 feet for a big man and can knock his free throws down as well. If he can stay healthy this year, and the Rockets do well, I think he has to be a candidate for MVP. During games, if he stays out of foul trouble and can play over 35-37 minutes per game, his statistics are going to be amazing. He is unstopable to be honest...
<span style="font-family:Tahoma">If Yao can stay healthy this season, I believe he'll be on the All-NBA First Team. Also, he has the chance of being on the All-Defensive Second Team... Seeing how Ben Wallace will have the C spot locked in the First Team (defensively).</span>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Nov 12 2006, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I honestly think he will be called one of the best centers ever when his career is over. When I look at Yao play, it is impossible for defenses to stop him. He is a good shooter from 12-16 feet for a big man and can knock his free throws down as well. If he can stay healthy this year, and the Rockets do well, I think he has to be a candidate for MVP. During games, if he stays out of foul trouble and can play over 35-37 minutes per game, his statistics are going to be amazing. He is unstopable to be honest...</div>Here's where I disagree with you. With two superstars on that team, it will be hard for Yao to win MVP with the new "leading your team" tag on the MVP award. I dont even know if Yao is the #1 leader of the team. Even if he is, he isnt the clear leader, and I think that will hold him back from being in contention. You saw wehat happened last year with DWade + Shaq. Switch Wade with the Cavs, and he would have been in contention, but he was not because of Shaq helping him out.As for Yao, starting this year, I think he will become the #1 Center in the League. With Shaq slipping off, and Yao likely playing most of the season, Yao will probably be the clear choice. Even the critics of Yao who constantly ramble on about him being soft will have no choice but to see that Yao's the best C in the NBA. As for his career, I think he can be one of the best players of this era, and one of the best C's of this generation, and of all time. He is unstoppable in the post, he's got a shot, and his length makes him an effective defender as well. The sky is the limit for Yao.
I used to think Gasol was better(and he was for a while) than Yao, but Yao has exploded since the end of last season. Hes playing great and he shows that even if he was only 6'10, he would still be very good. I think he can reach HOF status if he keeps improving.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (austingriz76 @ Nov 12 2006, 04:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I used to think Gasol was better(and he was for a while) than Yao, but Yao has exploded since the end of last season. Hes playing great and he shows that even if he was only 6'10, he would still be very good. I think he can reach HOF status if he keeps improving.</div>I agree, I was in the same boat as you for a while. But you recently said that Gasol was better than Yao, like in October...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SunnyD @ Nov 12 2006, 04:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I agree, I was in the same boat as you for a while. But you recently said that Gasol was better than Yao, like in October...</div>Well, my case for that was Gasol can carry a team better than Yao. I dont wanna get into that though, I think weve discussed that already...
The thing with Yao Ming is, how many minutes will he play a game this season? The reason his stats have not been as big as they can is because he's only been playing 30 minutes a game. Fouls and stamina have been a problem. He had the summer off and he's more refreshed. If he averages 26 and 10 and leads the Rockets into the playoffs then he has to be considered for MVP.
Like BCB said, Yao needs to increase his stamina. If he can do that and play 35+ mpg, Yao's numbers would be even more phenominal than they are now. He had another big game tonight (over 30 points, 12+ boards). He has really impressed me.I will admit, I used to kind of dislike Yao and think he was overrated because I thought he was too soft and not a real big offensive force. But he really works his ass off, he's becoming a big offensive force and he's carrying the Rockets' scoring load right now with T-Mac ice cold, he's toughened up and he's doing MUCH MUCH MUCH better on the boards, he has added a few quick post moves (like that deadly spin move that only Shaq could contain so far), he has a great/soft touch, he can block shots a hell of a lot better than he ever has been able to, and he's improving by a large margin year in and year out. He has changed my opinions about him, and I really like him now. He's proved me wrong from a year or two ago.Yao Ming is the best center in the entire league. How good can he be? I think he's going to keep getting better with his tremendous work ethic, and with the lack of dominant centers in the league right now, sky is the limit really.
