Yao Ming or Dwight Howard?

[PlatinumGold]

wow, Howard has really improved his game.

howard scores 39 last night, yao scores 31. clearly these two are the future of the NBA for the next 5 years.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/ne...07&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/re...gid=2007112821&prov=ap

 

[vi edit]

Tough call. Howard is possibly one of the most gifted athletes in the league. His size, power, speed, and hands are unparalled.

Yao has one of the sweetest shots I've ever seen out of a 7+ footer.

Both have their merits. I'd rather put Yao in when it comes down to the wire since he's an 80% + foul shooter. Howard is only a 61% shooter.

But for the rest of the game, Dwight can just play at a much more uptempo speed and stick with the small ball style of play that is becoming more popular. Plus he's a much better defender due to his speed.

With a few more years of refinement (and no injuries) Howard is going to be insane.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: vi_edit
Tough call. Howard is possibly one of the most gifted athletes in the league. His size, power, speed, and hands are unparalled.

Yao has one of the sweetest shots I've ever seen out of a 7+ footer.

Both have their merits. I'd rather put Yao in when it comes down to the wire since he's an 80% + foul shooter. Howard is only a 61% shooter.

But for the rest of the game, Dwight can just play at a much more uptempo speed and stick with the small ball style of play that is becoming more popular. Plus he's a much better defender due to his speed.

With a few more years of refinement (and no injuries) Howard is going to be insane.

yao is in the conversation but ya, i think howard is going to be massive.

basically howard is a more athletic, quicker, just as strong version of Shaq with a better shooting touch.

that is scary.

 

[trmiv]

If I was building a team right now and had to pick between just those two guys? Howard by a mile. I think he will be better than Yao, and he's pretty damn good already. He's a better defender than Yao (and a MUCH better weak side shot blocker), and a better rebounder than Yao, so combined with his offense coming around is huge. Also Howard's body looks to be built for a longer career than Yao's is. I think Yao will begin to have injury issues in a few years.

 

[Pugnax]

Howard all the way. He is a force to be reckoned with, plus he isn't as injury prone.

 

[vi edit]

Yao is a generation behind. The half court game is slowly dying and the days of a true center are on their way out. Now it's all about pure athleticism. Slow, hulking centers are 5th wheel in the transition game and the guys they are defending are so fast they are left holding the chair when it comes to defense and picking up tick tack fouls.

That's why Howard would easily be my pick for a team builder.

 

[PlatinumGold]

btw, i posted a thread a couple of weeks ago asking if the east had caught up to the west.

boston, orlando, detroit and cleveland, i'd say these four teams match up with the top four teams in the west.

after that the west is probably stronger, but it's not nearly the imbalance it was 2 or 3 seasons ago.

 

[trmiv]

Cleveland? No way they match up with the top 4 west teams. They've already played Utah, Dallas and Phoenix and lost to all three. They lost to Denver as well.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: trmiv
Cleveland? No way they match up with the top 4 west teams. They've already played Utah, Dallas and Phoenix and lost to all three. They lost to Denver as well.

and the hawks beat dallas and phoenix already this season, that isn't complete proof.

lebron was off his game earlier this season, once lebron gets in full stride, they can compete with anyone.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: trmiv
Cleveland? No way they match up with the top 4 west teams. They've already played Utah, Dallas and Phoenix and lost to all three. They lost to Denver as well.

Yeh, I'm not sold on Cleveland at all either. Even with their finals representation last year. They are basically the east's version of the lakers. 1 superstar that tries to carry the team. It worked for Cleveland in the weak east last year, but look how far it got LA.

Boston and Orlando will be the teams to beat. But I side with the youth of Orlando taking them further. I just don't see how the "Big 3" can handle a season long of the minutes they are logging. And once those guys go to the bench there isn't anyone else there to chip in points.

 

[tfinch2]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
btw, i posted a thread a couple of weeks ago asking if the east had caught up to the west.

boston, orlando, detroit and cleveland, i'd say these four teams match up with the top four teams in the west.

after that the west is probably stronger, but it's not nearly the imbalance it was 2 or 3 seasons ago.

Didn't San Antonio blow Orlando out by 20 last week? Cleveland is not an elite either. If anything, they are worse off then last year when they had Andy (cringe). The East is getting better, but still has a way to go.

 

[Mr Pickles]

Howard is an unstoppable beast. He hasn't even shown us what he's fully capable of yet. He's just getting older, more mature. Wait until he's got a good few years under his belt, he'll really show us what he's made of. I hope the Magic keep that guy forever.

 

[trmiv]

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: trmiv
Cleveland? No way they match up with the top 4 west teams. They've already played Utah, Dallas and Phoenix and lost to all three. They lost to Denver as well.

and the hawks beat dallas and phoenix already this season, that isn't complete proof.

lebron was off his game earlier this season, once lebron gets in full stride, they can compete with anyone.

I don't care, I'm not sold on them. They weren't that great last year regardless of their finals trip, and what did they do to improve? Nada. They were just the best of the teams that weren't that great. Orlando and Boston this year are on a different level than them, and I'm still not sold on those teams being better than the elite in the west.

 

[PlatinumGold]

Originally posted by: trmiv

Originally posted by: PlatinumGold

Originally posted by: trmiv
Cleveland? No way they match up with the top 4 west teams. They've already played Utah, Dallas and Phoenix and lost to all three. They lost to Denver as well.

and the hawks beat dallas and phoenix already this season, that isn't complete proof.

lebron was off his game earlier this season, once lebron gets in full stride, they can compete with anyone.

I don't care, I'm not sold on them. They weren't that great last year regardless of their finals trip, and what did they do to improve? Nada. They were just the best of the teams that weren't that great. Orlando and Boston this year are on a different level than them, and I'm still not sold on those teams being better than the elite in the west.

i'm no longer sold on dallas and phoenix.

clearly the spurs are the best team in the league, but after that, i'd put boston, orlando and detroit in there with any other team from the east.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

they both need some aspects of the other's game. howard needs more offense finesse and has to play better help defense. Yao needs to be more agressive and physically dominate.

 

[dougp]

I'd take Howard also - he's much, MUCH more aggressive than Yao. Also, Yao is extremely injury prone, which is not a good thing also ...

And what about the Raptors in the East? They're better than Cleveland IMO ...

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug
I'd take Howard also - he's much, MUCH more aggressive than Yao. Also, Yao is extremely injury prone, which is not a good thing also ...

And what about the Raptors in the East? They're better than Cleveland IMO ...

They don't have any energy or leaders. Bosh is the obvious choice, but he doesn't have quite the competive drive to pull his team along like others do. Not saying that is all it takes to win a championship, but it's definitely one of the defining characteristics of championship teams.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Howard for sure, though I'm biased since I've been a Magic fan from day 1. Yao has skills but those are all the skills he's ever going to have. Dwight is just beginning. When he develops a mid-range turnaround jumper, and I have no doubt that he will, nobody will be able to stop the guy. He's a stud.

Props to Stan Van Gundy for what he's brought to the Magic this year too. Goukas, Hill, and Rivers were OK but it finally feels like the Magic have a real coach. Stan is probably as responsible, or moreso, for the improvement in the Magic than Howard, Wallace, or any of Otis Smith's deft trades.

 

[torpid]

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug
I'd take Howard also - he's much, MUCH more aggressive than Yao. Also, Yao is extremely injury prone, which is not a good thing also ...

I was going to post something similar. I like yao well enough, but he seems really frail.

 

[Miramonti]

I'd have to go with howard because of his age, mobility/range, and future potential. He blocks a few more yet is slightly less foul prone and that will probably improve in both categories. Yao is an unbelievable passer tho. Both are strong, but the need to overcome a 'Shaq' is pretty much a thing of the past imo. Both are a treat to watch play, especially when Yao decides to take no prisoners.

 

[oddyager]

Between the two I'd go with Howard for reasons already mentioned. If he can improve his FT to something more respectable than he is going to be both a force in game and late game.

 

[UncleWai]

D-Ho is the man! I will take him over anyone in the league right now barring from an injury. I hope he doesn't go the way of amare.

 

[DayLaPaul]

Howard is the second coming of Shaq...if he had a baby with pre-Cleveland Shawn Kemp.

 

[Inspector Jihad]

yao isnt as aggressive as howard, but if you've seen him this year and for the last part of last season, you can see he's much tougher in the paint that he was earlier.

 

[neegotiator]

much as i love rockets and yao, have to go with howard. stronger, more athletic, looks a helluva lot more durable. just continue to add some polish on his game and he'll be outstanding (not that he isn't already).