<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>With apologies to the Big Grumpy in Miami, the league's two top centers will face off Wednesday night for the first time this season. That would be the Magic's Dwight Howard and the Rockets' Yao Ming, though not necessarily in that order. In fact, you get to decide: Who would you rather have? Before making your decision, you might want to check out the take of fellow center Andris Biedrins of the Warriors. After matching up against Yao and Howard in a five-day span recently, Biedrins compared the two for the Sporting News. For the record, Biedrins -- a 21-year-old, smooth lefty in his fourth season -- did not dominate against either Yao or Howard. Against the Rockets, Biedrins struggled so much that Yao actually ended up being defended more by 6-9 Al Harrington. Against the Magic, Biedrins came off the bench to record an 11-point, 15-rebound double-double while helping force Howard into a 9-turnover game. Howard, however, did finish with 23 rebounds, seven blocks and 18 points. Who's the better rebounder? Biedrins: "Dwight, because he tries to get every single rebound. Sometimes with Yao, if you take him out away from the basket a little and block him out, he will settle and just go back on defense. Dwight makes an effort every time." Who is tougher to defend? Biedrins: "Yao is a little harder for me to guard because he has more stuff to prepare for. Both can use either hand close in, but Yao has the outside game to go with the moves down low." Who's stronger? Biedrins' take: "It's harder to move Yao out once he gets position because he's a really heavy guy. Dwight's stronger, though. When he goes for a rebound, he's hard to keep away."</div> Courtesy of SportingNews
So who would you rather face? Biedrins: "Eddy Curry." LMFAO! It's always interesting to read a player breaking down another player. The questions were pretty generic, but it does validate some of the opinions I had of both players. I wonder how Yao's stats would be if he had a better point guard to set him up with dunks?
In Rick Adelman's system, because the offense isn't centred around Yao as much, Yao isn't getting as much touches in the post and shots overall, thus explaining the drop-off in points per game from last season. If this was JVG's system and Yao is playing 38 minutes like he is now, Yao could easily be averaging 28 points.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Locke @ Dec 19 2007, 08:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In Rick Adelman's system, because the offense isn't centred around Yao as much, Yao isn't getting as much touches in the post and shots overall, thus explaining the drop-off in points per game from last season. If this was JVG's system and Yao is playing 38 minutes like he is now, Yao could easily be averaging 28 points.</div> I figured Yao's production would increase because of the faster pace Adelman's system implements leading to more opportunities for Yao to rebound and score. I don't think Adelman has the right backcourt players to run his offense because Yao should definitely be the focal point. The Rockets need to do a better job of re-posting Yao after he kicks the ball back out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Dec 19 2007, 08:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So who would you rather face? Biedrins: "Eddy Curry." LMFAO! It's always interesting to read a player breaking down another player. The questions were pretty generic, but it does validate some of the opinions I had of both players. I wonder how Yao's stats would be if he had a better point guard to set him up with dunks?</div> Why would he make that last question up? Say what you want about Curry, but he's a pretty good post scorer.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Dec 19 2007, 08:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Locke @ Dec 19 2007, 08:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In Rick Adelman's system, because the offense isn't centred around Yao as much, Yao isn't getting as much touches in the post and shots overall, thus explaining the drop-off in points per game from last season. If this was JVG's system and Yao is playing 38 minutes like he is now, Yao could easily be averaging 28 points.</div> I figured Yao's production would increase because of the faster pace Adelman's system implements leading to more opportunities for Yao to rebound and score. I don't think Adelman has the right backcourt players to run his offense because Yao should definitely be the focal point. The Rockets need to do a better job of re-posting Yao after he kicks the ball back out. </div> Well Adelman's system has Yao coming up top a lot to set picks. I don't think that you should take him out of the post at all. When you shoot 60% around the basket and 85% at the free throw line, let him go down there and do his thing. Bringing up high opens up the lanes for cutters but no one really cuts yet.
IMO Howard's better overall, on both sides of the floor. But Yao is pretty far ahead of him on the offensive end.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Locke @ Dec 19 2007, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Shapecity @ Dec 19 2007, 08:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Locke @ Dec 19 2007, 08:38 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In Rick Adelman's system, because the offense isn't centred around Yao as much, Yao isn't getting as much touches in the post and shots overall, thus explaining the drop-off in points per game from last season. If this was JVG's system and Yao is playing 38 minutes like he is now, Yao could easily be averaging 28 points.</div> I figured Yao's production would increase because of the faster pace Adelman's system implements leading to more opportunities for Yao to rebound and score. I don't think Adelman has the right backcourt players to run his offense because Yao should definitely be the focal point. The Rockets need to do a better job of re-posting Yao after he kicks the ball back out. </div> Well Adelman's system has Yao coming up top a lot to set picks. I don't think that you should take him out of the post at all. When you shoot 60% around the basket and 85% at the free throw line, let him go down there and do his thing. Bringing up high opens up the lanes for cutters but no one really cuts yet. </div> Exactly. The guards and forwards don't know how to move without the basketball to take advantage of back door cuts and the open space to get a clear path to the rim. Yao is an excellent passer and can easily see over the top of a defense to deliver a pass. The Rockets have too, many players who need the ball in their hand to be effective on offense. They'll have to make some personnel changes in the offseason if this current group can't function in the Princeton offense.
I haven't seen many games this year but I have seen Dwight play a few times as well as Yao. Right now, I dont think there is anyone in the league that can stop Dwight Howard. He is a man absolutely possessed and a complete freak of nature. Dwight's game to me (especially when going for a board - is shear power). You can't just block him out and wait for the board. He is going to go around you and through you to get it. Yao's game is more finesse and he will settle for shots more then Dwight will. I really wish Yao wouldn't fade away so much and go up strong. He is a great FT shooter, he settles too much. Dwight is pretty much a flat out beast but could learn from Yao some outside shooting. Right now I would take Dwight Howard. P.S. He is dominating my fantasy league. MWHAHAH! ------- Edit: I just wrote about Yao fading away to much and he just made a contested fade-away jump shot in 2OT over Marcus Camby from 18 feet away.
Yao is not soft. He's actually very physical and if you watch what he does to work for position the guy defending him gets mugged. The problem Yao has to deal with is not getting the ball at the right angles or the pass comes too late because the guards are idiots. Howard is very strong and his athleticism is the difference. I'm sure Yao is just as powerful, but doesn't have the leaping ability of Howard. Both these guys can create space once they bump their defender off.
