I would like to know: Is there a more dominant center in the league right now than Yao Ming? I mean seriously? Some might say, he is not physical enough, or he gets winded to easy, or he can't play in transition, or something else. I say look at Yao's stats.......
POINTS PER GAME 25.1 (1st among centers)
REBOUNDS PER GAME 9.6
FIELD GOAL PERCENTAGE 50.7%
FREE THROW PERCENTAGE .858
What current center compares with that?
Now I'm not saying the guy is the greatest ever, cause I know he's not. Not even close. I think he is a little bit under rated though. I also know the Rockets have a very slim chance of winning a championship this year. Is it that unrealistic or crazy to think they can? Maybe. I'm a believer though.
Until Yao carries his team to series victories in the playoffs I'm gonna say Shaq is still the most dominant center in the league, while Yao has the better offensive arsenal. Yao's fatigue factor, and still developing chemistry with McGrady remain big opportunity areas for him. However, in my mind, he's very, very close.
Sure Yao and Shaq are close in a half court style offense simply because of their bulk and height. You can have them if thats the style you play. I'll take the stamina and athletic ability of Amare for my kind of bb.
Yao has a chance to be one of the greats but I don't think his body can hold up against the 82 game season. At least it hasn't so far.
Shaq has rings and has proved himself. Still today when he puts his mind to it can still be dominate.
Amare runs them both to the bench tho.
When you say "dominant" there is only 1 center who comes to mind and that is Shaq. I hate to say it and I know that it isnt necessarily correct but when I hear the word dominant or dominate I think contact and someone who can impose their will on the opponent and there is no stronger force in the block than Shaq. He is getting old and i wont argue that his all around game is that much better if it is than Yao's. When I hear "dominant center" I dont think of jump shots (not even the sweet touches off of the glass that Duncan puts up). I want to see low block punishment of blocks, hooks, boards and dunks (Darrel Dawkins, Moses Malone style)!! There is still no one who can bring it any better than Shaq when he sets his mind to it. Dont get me wrong, I know that at his current age and weight he probably cant bring it for 100 games in a season but come play-off time you know whats going down!!
Most dominant center in the league is still Shaq, but Yao is becoming a very good center, and Houston is going to be tough in the playoffs if Yao stays healthy. I think "The Dream" was Houston's best center ever, maybe in his prime one of the best ever period, and he's got 2 more rings than Yao.
I have to agree with you Magic. The Dream put it on Shaq in 95 even if he was still a young pup at the time. In his prime The Dream was a monster and definitely worthy of "All Time Great" status.
I think until has at least one injury-free year, he shouldn't be considered the top center. As long as Shaq is still in the league, it's really hard to pass the torch. If so, it goes to someone like Dwight Howard or Amare Stoudemire.
Here's my sound off. It's hard to judge Yao among centers because there are simply so few true centers in the league right now. Based on what is now called a "center", he is one of the best. but that doesn't necessarily get you a whole lot.
The Rockets can win a championship this year if they have a lot of pieces fall into place. But playing in the west in today's NBA, I don't see how they even get to the western finals. Either Dallas or Phoenix will render Yao ineffective.
To be honest when Yao first came into the league I thought he'd just be a poster victim like Shawn Bradley.
He's impressed me, but I'd still take Amare over Yao. Yao has better stats this year, but I still think by the end of his career Amare will be considered one of the greatest centers of all time, but that's a whole different story.
And Rockets winning it all this year is a REAL longshot. I would take Denver and the Lakers in a series over Houston, let alone Dallas, San Antonio, and PHX. I see this team stepping up soon though with Yao and T-Mac I like Battier as a compliment player and Head becoming a court general.
Go Rockets!!! (in 2008)..... Not much of a blogger, I'm a lover not a writer..... I LOVE the Steelers and Rockets most of all..... Also I pull for the Pirates, Red Sox, and Penguins..... I like the Temple Owls because my sister goes there..... I like Penn State too..... I love pizza, in case you where wondering?
