<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">MIAMI ? As much as the debate regarding Houston center Yao Ming and his skill rages among basketball fans, it's also a smoldering matter among Heat personnel. Everybody credits the 7-foot-6, 310-pound Yao for being an all-around talented player with outstanding low-post skills. But after that, opinions differ on the two-time All-Star who is headed for his third All-Star appearance in three seasons. Most likely, the sides will either inch closer or drift further after the Heat (32-13) hosts the Rockets (24-20) at 1 p.m. today at AmericanAirlines Arena. On one side of the Yao debate, you have people such as center Shaquille O'Neal, the self-proclaimed M.D.E. (Most Dominant Ever). O'Neal gives Yao credit for being a "good guy, good player, with good skills," but he doesn't consider Yao elite or on his way to being elite. "I like his game," O'Neal said. "But he has the type of game I'm not impressed with because as a 7-6 guy, that's what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to drop-step, dunk and shoot hooks. "Let's see him come down, put it between his legs, cross somebody up and shoot a three, and then I'll be like, 'Ooh!' But he's 7-6, he's throwing jump-hooks, he's shooting fadeaways, so what he does doesn't impress me because he's supposed to do that." On the other side of the Yao debate, you have people such as Heat coach Stan Van Gundy, who thinks the Chinese native is special. Van Gundy says that while Yao (18 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.8 blocks per game) isn't a physical player, that doesn't mean he's not a bona fide All-Star.</div> Source
So by Shaq's logic, he shouldn't be impressed with himself either, right? He's 7'1" 325lbs and all he does is bang people down low until he's close enough to either dunk it or place it over the lip of the rim. That's what 7'1" 325lb guys are supposed to do. So tell me this: when's the last time Shaq hit a fadeaway baseline jumper (something Yao does) or shot a 17 foot set shot (something Yao does), or shot near 80% from the free throw line for a season (something Yao does)? Not trying to cause a debate or anything, and Yao is no Shaq, but his logic just struck me as questionable.
Shaq's a strange guy...If a 7'6" guy was crossin people and shootin 3s, I'd pull him and tell him to get in the paint...there are guards who are supposed to handle the perimeter stuff...
Well, Shaq has no right to say that Yao doesn't impress. Yao does a lot more things than he does, and better at that. Shaq is just stronger and has more experience. I'm sure many would've had the same reaction had Hakeem said that Shaq didn't impress him back in the 95 Finals. However, we shouldn't hate on Shaq either. Sure, he's fat, but a fat guy is still putting up 25/12 every night. You might argue that's because he's all brute and no skill, but who can blame him? Would you like Yao that much if he couldn't shoot? Yao can shoot, and Shaq can bang. They're different arts.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Well, Shaq has no right to say that Yao doesn't impress. Yao does a lot more things than he does, and better at that. Shaq is just stronger and has more experience. I'm sure many would've had the same reaction had Hakeem said that Shaq didn't impress him back in the 95 Finals. However, we shouldn't hate on Shaq either. Sure, he's fat, but a fat guy is still putting up 25/12 every night. You might argue that's because he's all brute and no skill, but who can blame him? Would you like Yao that much if he couldn't shoot? Yao can shoot, and Shaq can bang. They're different arts.</div> There's no C in the league who is as big AND agile as Shaq. Yao doesn't do more things than Shaq because he doesn't rebound or block shots nearly as well as Shaq. Sure Yao can hit the 18 foot jumper and can score on pretty much anyone 1-on-1 in the post, but Shaq has a more effective power game. btw, Yao can hit free throws too . I would also consider Shaq to be much more consistent on a night-to-night basis. That is why he's one of the greatest ever. And btw, Brad Miller should get consideration as 2nd best C in the league even tho he's really a PF playing C.
But cmon let's be honest everytime Shaq and Yao face up. Shaq seems to be ineffective against him because Shaq has a lack of a jump shot while Yao can possibly score 3's (hey it worked on NBA live).
I had a great laugh. Shaq is an idiot, Wang Zhi Zhi was the player that he wants Yao to be. Wheres Wang? Buried so deep in the bench that hes experiencing muscle atrophy, hes considered a traitor to his own country. Until Shaq can shoot 70+% in freethrows he shouldnt talk. How do you miss 3 in a row?
Shaq likes Wang's game, and criticizes Yao for not being down low? All Wang Zhi Zhi can do is shoot threes. He can't defend, can't rebound, and is the total opposite of Shaq, yet Shaq wants Yao to be like him? He doesn't make sense sometimes.
It makes no sense what shaq is saying, what yao can do most centers as dominant and as tall as him cant do. Yao got the most votes in the all star game for a reason, people like to see him play, which is because he is amazing. He is probably just pissed off about that. If yao could just put up more minutes maybe, like 6-7, than he might put up 20-11.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq likes Wang's game, and criticizes Yao for not being down low? All Wang Zhi Zhi can do is shoot threes. He can't defend, can't rebound, and is the total opposite of Shaq, yet Shaq wants Yao to be like him? He doesn't make sense sometimes.</div> Did shaq's mouth really say something like that? It was funny which is what he's trying to be; but maybe behind the funniness he's trying to express is to cover his jealousy that Yao has broke the record for most allstar vote getters! He's going to end up next to charles barkley in a few years chowing down on fried chicken watching yao ming become a superstar
Yao Ming gets the most votes because he has an entire country voting for him. When Shaq plays Yao he's not ineffective, he treats him just like he does every other center in the league.
Not to add fire to the flame or anything, but I respect Shaq's game greatly. The way I see it, his shortcoming as a dominant C is that he can't shoot FTs very well. Say all you want about Shaq being unable to shoot midrange jumpers, Centers are not supposed to be able to do that anyways. Being able to shoot those outside shots should be considered a plus for Centers, however there are an influx of Centers out there today that can shoot midrange jumpers, some even out to the 3 point line (JO, Z, Yao, Brad Miller, etc.) Now, while I respect his game, Shaq makes ridiculous comments off the court. Sure they're funny and to-the-point sometimes, but this one is just ridiculous. First of all, he said that if Yao can cross people up at 7'6 and shoot 3s, he'd give Yao props... That to me is one of the dumbest, jealousy-intoxicated comment ever. I really think that Shaq is jealous because he's unable to shoot outside and picks on Yao specifically for not banging down low like traditional Cs. If I hear any basketball player/coach say that "Hey, this 7'6 guy can cross ppl up and shoot 3s! He's awesome!" then that person has a basketball IQ as low as Shaq's FT%. I won't even get into Shaq's comment about Wang, it's just stupid. Now on to Yao. Offensively, I blame it COMPLETELY on the coaches. They are not recognizing Yao's talents and utilizing it to the max. The game for Cs has evolved over the years and instead of attacking Yao for being "soft" and not banging down low, coaches and teammates should embrace his ability to knock down outside jumpers and adjust according to his playing style, rather than criticize him. I've said it before and I'll say it again: USE YAO IN THE HIGH POST LIKE THE KINGS' OFFENSE! How hard is it to visualize Yao playing in the place of Brad Miller. Yao shoots and passes as much, if not better, than Brad Miller. He's also half a foot taller than Brad, which means he can shoot over ANYBODY. Defensively, I am only a little disappointed in Yao. The guy has the heart, the work ethic, and the desire to get better. The only thing he lacks is athleticism. He can't rebound or block that effectively, which is a shame for a 7'6 guy. However I don't blame him completely on this though, you're either born athletic or you're not. You can't make someone a shotblocker or a rebounder, they're just natural ability/instinct. Coaches can work on his footwork, positioning, etc, but they can only do so much. To me, Yao's only limitation is his athleticism. Not to mention the guy's playing basketball year round which makes it nearly impossible for him to actually take a break, rest his banged up body (yes, even though he supposedly doesn't bang down low, he does get banged up pretty badly by everybody) and work on his game.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting BobbyEscobar:</div><div class="quote_post">Yao Ming gets the most votes because he has an entire country voting for him. When Shaq plays Yao he's not ineffective, he treats him just like he does every other center in the league.</div> Uhh Yao, has received most of his All-Star votes from paper ballots, so its not just a whole country voting for him...so much Jealously in this thread...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Dan Le:</div><div class="quote_post">Uhh Yao, has received most of his All-Star votes from paper ballots, so its not just a whole country voting for him...so much Jealously in this thread...</div> Dont worry about that Bobby guy, he can't even back up his comments with any sort of logic. For instance, he says that Shaq plays effectively against Yao. HAAHAHA. Maybe this guy whould check out Shaq's stats against HOuston over the past 2 and a half years.
Are u guys say9ing Yao's better than Shaq... h onestly guys get into reality. Yao is good at best. 18 and 8.5... he's getting overrated. Amare is much better than him, and Yao needs to improve to get to a bonafide allstar... only reason he's on the starting is cause ther'es a lack of centers in our era. Yao's good though.
I think Shaq was being more sarcastic with those comments then anything else. I found it to be more funny than derogatory towards Yao.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Are u guys say9ing Yao's better than Shaq... h onestly guys get into reality. Yao is good at best. 18 and 8.5... he's getting overrated. Amare is much better than him, and Yao needs to improve to get to a bonafide allstar... only reason he's on the starting is cause ther'es a lack of centers in our era. Yao's good though.</div> Nobody said Yao was better than Shaq... And as for someone saying that Yao's voting came from China, that's ridiculous. Look around in the West. Besides Yao at center, who else? Not a lot of fans know how good Brad Miller is, and they're certainly not going to vote for someone like Rasho Nesterovic. So who do they pick for center in the west? Someone they all know has game: Yao. Shaq, meanwhile, isn't able to beat out Yao because he has more competition in the East. Ilgauskas and Wallace are all fan favorites, so even though Shaq still dominated voting in the West, he wasn't able to outdo Yao, who didn't have a lot of legitimate competition.
I kind of view Shaq's comments as more of a dig against players like Shawn Bradley who are 7'6 and can't do that stuff, than a shot at Yao. He recognizes that Yao has some good skills, and combining that with his physical stature it should be expected that he get at least 18 and 8 every night. If people asked Shaq two years ago if he was impressed with Yao's abilities, I bet he would have said yes. But its been a couple years, and we all know what Yao's strengths and weaknesses are, so why should we continue to gush over him? What's there to be impressed with? Yao certainly isn't a great player; like Shaq says he's a good player with some good skills. He hasn't developed his shooting or ball handling abilities at all since he's been in the league. And his passing abilities seem to have regressed in fact. What he does well right now (score close to the basket and on short turnaround shots) is what should be expected of him. Why should Shaq, of all people, be impressed with that? He's been doing it better than anyone his whole career. I honestly remember more "wow" moments with Yao his rookie year than this season. He used to make moves reminiscent of Olajuwon, and he would regularly make great passes like a Sabonis. Now, in Van Gundy's system, they have him basically playing like Shaq, except not nearly as effectively. I have to agree with Shaq, Yao hasn't impessed much this year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Trip:</div><div class="quote_post">Nobody said Yao was better than Shaq... And as for someone saying that Yao's voting came from China, that's ridiculous. Look around in the West. Besides Yao at center, who else? Not a lot of fans know how good Brad Miller is, and they're certainly not going to vote for someone like Rasho Nesterovic. So who do they pick for center in the west? Someone they all know has game: Yao. Shaq, meanwhile, isn't able to beat out Yao because he has more competition in the East. Ilgauskas and Wallace are all fan favorites, so even though Shaq still dominated voting in the West, he wasn't able to outdo Yao, who didn't have a lot of legitimate competition.</div> Yao started ahead of Shaq on Western All star team his first two years in the league. How do you explain that? There's no question that Yao gets way more votes than he deserves on All-star voting. Brad Miller, in my opinion, is a lot closer to Yao than Ben Wallace or Ilgauskus is to Shaq.
