Would Yao Ming still be drafted #1 overall?

[XMan]

I remember some pretty strong debates when Amare Stoudemire won rookie of the year a few years back that Yao had been robbed. Three years into each player's career, things don't seem to be as equal as they once were.

Right now, Amare Stoudemire leads the league in scoring at 28.2 ppg on 57.6% shooting, with 9.4 rebounds and 2.0 blocked shots. He's vastly improved his free throw shooting and is getting to the line 11 times a game. Yao's averaging 18.4 points on 51.7% shooting, 8.2 rebounds and 1.2 blocks.

This isn't to degrade Yao at all; he's a very good player, I just think that what comes into question is his learning curve. He's a much older player, and probably has less upside, in my opinion. He's progressed from 13.5 -> 17.5 -> 18.4 points this year. Stoudemire has progressd much more quickly, 13.5 -> 20.6 -> 28.2. I don't think anybody could have predicted that he'd be so good, so fast (especially not me - Sir Charles won the MVP for the Suns in 92-93 putting up 25 and 12 a night . . . at 22 years of age, Amare is already putting up similar numbers!)

The most egg has to be on the face of David Aldridge - on draft night, he said the Suns would regret passing Jared Jeffries to tab Stoudemire. JJ, of course, is averaging 5.8 points and 4.3 rebounds this season.

 

[Imdmn04]

Yao=1.2billion market.

NBA is a business, all about making money and marketing, as soon as you get that through your head, you won't have a problem answering this question.

 

[chuckywang]

They are different types of players. Plus, Yao has McGrady to take some of the scoring burden off his shoulders.

 

[isekii]

I'd take Amare over Yao.
He's improved so much in so little time.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: chuckywang
They are different types of players. Plus, Yao has McGrady to take some of the scoring burden off his shoulders.

Yes, they are different types of players. Yao reminds me of Rik Smits. Amare is a mix of Karl Malone and Charles Barkley in their younger days.

And as far as McGrady taking the scoring burden off Yao . . . umm, should I take that to mean that you don't think the Suns have firepower? LOL, they are one of the most offensively loaded teams in the league.

 

[chuckywang]

Just wait....season's still young.

 

[BamBam215]

Amare represents more of what the NBA has become. He's more of a power player while Yao is of old school; more finesse than bulldozing people through. Both have a long way to go in terms of accomplishment and both will excel in a team that utilizes their different talent.

I do have to admit I'm a bit dissappointed in Yao thus far. His stamina is suspect and he is still somewhat inconsistent. He'll get better but not to the point where he will become the most dominant ever after Shaq.

 

[rsd]

If you are building a team, Yao no doubt.

You can't teach height, and he is a very very skilled big man. When Francis was there they didn't give him the ball enough. Haven't seen any of his games this season, but he is a great player who will only get better (not saying Stoudamire isn't good/great, but I'd take Yao).

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: isekii
I'd take Amare over Yao.
He's improved so much in so little time.

Stoudemire has been a freaking machine. He's clearly a more athletic center than Yao.

As far as underdrafted players go - in hindsight do you think Boozer would still go at the bottom of the second round again?

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: isekii
I'd take Amare over Yao.
He's improved so much in so little time.

Stoudemire has been a freaking machine. He's clearly a more athletic center than Yao.

As far as underdrafted players go - in hindsight do you think Boozer would still go at the bottom of the second round again?

It sucks but I honestly think Boozer was picked so low because he was a senior. In a way it's a boon for the teams with good scouting departments, because they can pick domestic players up low in the draft and get good talent - Gilbert Arenas, David Harrison, and Boozer all come to mind.

 

[fs5]

amare != center
Yao = center

rockets needed a true center, which is hard to come by.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
Yao=1.2billion market.

NBA is a business, all about making money and marketing, as soon as you get that through your head, you won't have a problem answering this question.

dude stop saying that. 90% of those 1.2billion are so poor they simply might as well not exist.

 

[spanky]

nba teams are infatuated with true centers & "potential". given that both amare and yao have great upsides, i still think yao would go #1 becuz is he a true center. however, my theory has already been proven wrong, thanx to orlando picking dwight howard over okarfor

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: vi_edit

Originally posted by: isekii
I'd take Amare over Yao.
He's improved so much in so little time.

Stoudemire has been a freaking machine. He's clearly a more athletic center than Yao.

As far as underdrafted players go - in hindsight do you think Boozer would still go at the bottom of the second round again?

It sucks but I honestly think Boozer was picked so low because he was a senior. In a way it's a boon for the teams with good scouting departments, because they can pick domestic players up low in the draft and get good talent - Gilbert Arenas, David Harrison, and Boozer all come to mind.

Boozer was a Junior.

 

[XMan]

Originally posted by: fs5
amare != center
Yao = center

rockets needed a true center, which is hard to come by.

I don't know how much a true center helps you. Michael Jordan won six titles with Luc Longley manning the middle. Detroit won last year with Ben Wallace. Without exception, the best team seems to win the title. Patrick Ewing was one of the greats, but he never won a title.

There are really only two true top-flight centers in the league anyway, in Shaq and Yao. The rest are just interchangable parts. And, for that reason, Stoudemire can play center - he's started almost every game at the five this season.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
Yao=1.2billion market.

NBA is a business, all about making money and marketing, as soon as you get that through your head, you won't have a problem answering this question.

dude stop saying that. 90% of those 1.2billion are so poor they simply might as well not exist.

120 million people is nothing to sneeze at

 

[Mo0o]

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: chuckywang
They are different types of players. Plus, Yao has McGrady to take some of the scoring burden off his shoulders.

Yes, they are different types of players. Yao reminds me of Rik Smits. Amare is a mix of Karl Malone and Charles Barkley in their younger days.

And as far as McGrady taking the scoring burden off Yao . . . umm, should I take that to mean that you don't think the Suns have firepower? LOL, they are one of the most offensively loaded teams in the league.

They dont play for the Suns...

 

[vi edit]

I don't know how much a true center helps you.

Yeh, when you've got guards that are decking in at 6'6" and your forwards are 6'8" or more, the height that a "true" center gives you just isn't as much as a facter as it used to be. You've got guys who are 6'6"-6'10" that are amazing athletes and can run circles around the big hulking masses that are your more typical centers. The smaller, more athletic guys can hustle better, have better hands, and are more versatile.

Sure it's nice to have a guy that can just put his arms up and dunk or block a shot, but the NBA is a faster, more explosive and athletic game play than it has ever been.

With the exception of the Diesel...there really just isn't much of a need for a tradition center type player. They are going the way of the dodo.

 

[iamme]

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: fs5
amare != center
Yao = center

rockets needed a true center, which is hard to come by.

I don't know how much a true center helps you. Michael Jordan won six titles with Luc Longley manning the middle. Detroit won last year with Ben Wallace. Without exception, the best team seems to win the title. Patrick Ewing was one of the greats, but he never won a title.

There are really only two true top-flight centers in the league anyway, in Shaq and Yao. The rest are just interchangable parts. And, for that reason, Stoudemire can play center - he's started almost every game at the five this season.

well, just for argument's sake, if you list the top centers in NBA history, Patrick Ewing seems to be the exception not the rule:

Wilt Chamberlain, Shaquille O'Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul-Jabber, David Robinson. All won multiple NBA titles.

 

[BRObedoza]

Originally posted by: Mo0o

Originally posted by: X-Man

Originally posted by: chuckywang
They are different types of players. Plus, Yao has McGrady to take some of the scoring burden off his shoulders.

Yes, they are different types of players. Yao reminds me of Rik Smits. Amare is a mix of Karl Malone and Charles Barkley in their younger days.

And as far as McGrady taking the scoring burden off Yao . . . umm, should I take that to mean that you don't think the Suns have firepower? LOL, they are one of the most offensively loaded teams in the league.

They dont play for the Suns...

He's comparing Mcgrady taking shots off Yao to nobody on the suns taking shots from Amare, which is not true with Nash, QRich, and Marion

 

[BRObedoza]

Thing with Yao is he only seemed to get off his ass whenever he played Shaq. WHenever he plays against other centers, he doesn't seem as aggressive.

 

[Lonyo]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
Yao=1.2billion market.

NBA is a business, all about making money and marketing, as soon as you get that through your head, you won't have a problem answering this question.

dude stop saying that. 90% of those 1.2billion are so poor they simply might as well not exist.

120 million people is nothing to sneeze at

Especially when the US has a population a little over double that, so it's 50% more possible market, which is a big increase.
Just think of Manchester United touring the far east, that was for money and marketing. Asia is a big market.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
Yao=1.2billion market.

NBA is a business, all about making money and marketing, as soon as you get that through your head, you won't have a problem answering this question.

dude stop saying that. 90% of those 1.2billion are so poor they simply might as well not exist.

120 million people is nothing to sneeze at

eh, and the rest are pirating whores.

1. nba in china
2. stop rampant piracy
3. scratch head at how to do such a thing
4.
5. profit

 

[Imdmn04]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
Yao=1.2billion market.

NBA is a business, all about making money and marketing, as soon as you get that through your head, you won't have a problem answering this question.

dude stop saying that. 90% of those 1.2billion are so poor they simply might as well not exist.

120 million people is nothing to sneeze at

eh, and the rest are pirating whores.

1. nba in china
2. stop rampant piracy
3. scratch head at how to do such a thing
4.
5. profit

Some people are so ignorant...
Almost every rockets game is broacasted in China, do you know how much money you can make off of broadcast rights? Do you know that Houston is basically the home team in China? Do you know how much money NBA China Games has generated in the pre-season? Do you know tons of Nike shoes,Houston jerseys, are bought because of Yao? Granted there are more fakes than the real ones, but they would of never ever had the market to sell the real ones if Yao statyed in China.

 

[PoPPeR]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Imdmn04
Yao=1.2billion market.

NBA is a business, all about making money and marketing, as soon as you get that through your head, you won't have a problem answering this question.

dude stop saying that. 90% of those 1.2billion are so poor they simply might as well not exist.

120 million people is nothing to sneeze at

eh, and the rest are pirating whores.

1. nba in china
2. stop rampant piracy
3. scratch head at how to do such a thing
4.
5. profit

yeah, ok lets just stereotype an entire country. Stfu already and get your head out of your ass