Monday, May 9, 2005
I Hate Mondays: Not Pocket Rockets
Sponsored by CyberSportsbook.com
If the Houston Rockets were playing a game Texas Hold 'Em Poker, they would undoubtedly have one ace, but definitely not two.
Tracy McGrady, who averaged 25.7 points per game, 6.2 rebounds per game, and 5.7 assists per game this season puts forward a value for the Rockets franchise that is beyond statistics. He includes his teammates, creates opportunities for them, and attracts the primary defensive focus of the opposition. He's the Rockets' true ace.
Yao Ming, who offered 18.3 points per game, 8.4 rebounds per game, and 2 blocks per game this season, presents no more worth outside of his numerical contributions. He doesn't attract double-teams, he's not an unstoppable force around the basket, and you wouldn't give him the ball in a critical fourth quarter possession. He's the equivalent of a 10 in a game of hold 'em.
Yao Ming is touted to perform on the same level as some other superstars in the NBA, but the reality is that he is not of that caliber. He's not Tim Duncan, he's not Shaquille O'Neal, he's not Kevin Garnett, and he shouldn't even be mentioned in the same sentence.
No team ever schemes their defensive game plan around stopping Yao simply because you don't need to. His offensive game is simple: catch the ball in the post and shoot over the defender. He doesn't have a sweeping hook shot that works effectively and he's not fast enough to beat anyone to the basket. Put a hand in his face and let him shoot.
Garnett, Duncan, and Shaq are all indefensible. Get too close to Garnett or Duncan and they will step around and walk in for a lay-up. Play too far off and they will hit a jump shot. As for Shaq, he's too strong at all times. What all this means is that their defenders need help and once that help arrives, openings are created elsewhere.
His inability to draw extensive interest on the offensive end is the main shortcomings, but there are more. He gets into foul trouble frequently with cheap fouls, either reach-ins or illegal screens, which are mistakes that are easily avoided by the intelligent players in the league. The lack of a fear factor on the offensive ends lingers on the defensive end as well as he doesn't deter opponents when they drive to the basket. You step into Shaq's lane and you hit a brick wall. Compared to that, Yao's lane is feels like a gentle application of soft hand cream. He may be 7-6, but he's easily pushed off his spot and lastly, he plays nervous.
The difficulty here is that Yao is hyped, expected, and paid like a superstar, but the facts show that he is not. Now all of the above criticisms can be put to bed if we stopped projecting him to be something he is not and accepted Yao for what he truly is: an above average center. He's much more suited for that title. Think more on the level of Brad Miller and Zydrunas Ilgauskas rather than Shaquille O'Neal.
Yao is an excellent role player in Houston and a key piece to the prospective puzzle. He's able to carry the team for a night occasionally and he can be a dependable second option on most other nights. He's not a player that you would start your franchise with and he's a player you would parlay with Dwyane Wade or Tracy McGrady to become an instant championship contender. But every legitimate competitor needs some form of an inside presence and if you put him alongside McGrady, a stronger power forward, and a distributing point guard, you've got yourself a championship candidate.
While Yao falls short of the primetime status, he's still an above average center in this league and that is how he should be classified.
Ace-Ten and Ace-Ace mix like Mondays and me.
"A bore is a man who, when you ask him how he is, tells you." — Bert Leston Taylor
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