DieMrBond
10-14-2006, 05:49 AM
Yao could soon pass Shaq as NBA's top center
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Mike Kahn / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 12 hours ago
It's nearly impossible to decide between the two centers.
There is no escaping Shaquille O'Neal as the dominant center of this era and one of the best of all time, coming off his fourth championship even if his skills are diminishing each year as his body breaks down at the age of 34.
As for all those cynics about the development of Yao Ming, well, last season he proved that he is indeed moving to the star level and this very well could be when he surpasses O'Neal as the top center in the NBA.
Yao Ming was a dominant player when he was on the court last season. But he also missed 21 games due to a foot injury that required surgery. (Rocky Widner / Getty Images)
Ostensibly, all the 26-year-old native of China has to do is get his troublesome left big toe healed, get some help from Tracy McGrady and win a playoff series for the Houston Rockets in the tough Western Conference. That's all.
"He is a remarkable young man — that's first and foremost," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "He's a great person and a very diligent worker at his game. He's made incremental progress throughout his time in the NBA. We don't expect any major growth in any one area, but a little growth in a lot of areas, which will continue to make him progress from a very good player, which he is now, to a great player."
Nonetheless, winning is always the primary barometer of success in this league, and getting beyond the first round of the playoffs is mandatory for him to actually surpass O'Neal. With O'Neal and the Miami Heat defending champs and expected to compete for the Eastern Conference title again, the Rockets must show some major progress.
That's presuming that O'Neal doesn't completely fall into a state of decline this season, and that appears to be a couple of years premature unless his body completely falls apart this season. But if that is the case, then it will clearly be an official passing of the sword to Yao as the supreme of all centers.
"Yao's a great center," O'Neal said "Whenever you want to become the best you have to go up against the best. I guess going against me is one of his biggest challenges, along with Mr. (Tim) Duncan in his conference. He's a great competitor who wants to go up against another great competitor."
Beyond those two, it's a tough call unless young Amare Stoudemire bounces back to 90-95 percent productivity from surgery to both knees over the past year — the first one the distressing microfracture surgery. The other wild card is young Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, still only 21 and developing physically and mentally in the post — and yet amazingly gifted.
Young Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman is also coming on strong from that endlessly talented 2003 draft, and veteran standbys Brad Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, hybrid Ben Wallace and Jamaal Magloire are worthy of recognition.
Marcus Camby has proven in recent years to be the most productive and least appreciated center, keeping the injury-riddled Denver Nuggets competitive in the West and then there are a slew of younger players still trying to receive validation.
But when it comes down to it for now, the battle for supremacy at the center position in the subjective FOXSports.com ranking of the NBA centers begins and ends with Shaq and Yao.
Sure, Shaquille O'Neal, at age 34, has begun to wear down. But he did help lead the Heat to its first NBA title last season. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)
1. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat, 34, 7-1, 325: The "Dominant One" missed 23 games, an annual occurrence, nonetheless there were the 20.0 pts., 9.2 reb., 1.76 blk., 1.9 ast., .39 stl. and his 60 percent field goal shooting. Oh yeah, and there was the little matter of his fourth championship — the first for the Heat. Indeed, Dwyane Wade was the MVP and star of the show, but they need each other and Shaq — however badly his body is breaking down — can still take over a game at any time as the most powerful force in the game.
2. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets, 26, 7-5, 295: Yao made huge strides — so to speak — with his best season statistically: 22.3 pts., 10.2 reb., 1.65 blk., 1.5 ast., .53 stl., .519 from the field and .853 from the free throw line. But the Rockets were back in the lottery, and without a healthy Tracy McGrady it's tough to say how far they can go. Still, Yao's critics have been much too harsh and he already is the best all-around center in the game. Now he has to learn how to win in the NBA to solidify his status.
3. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, 20, 6-11, 265: It was only two years ago that people thought the Magic were nuts for taking Howard with the first overall pick instead of Emeka Okafor. Nobody is thinking that now. The 15.8 pts, 12.5 reb., 1.5 ast., .79 stl., 1.40 blk. and .531 field goal percentage don't even begin to tell the story of the way this guy plays the floor. He's the ideal package for the new-age center. He's got a long way to go fundamentally, but he's very bright, confident and aggressive — and his skill level is off the charts.
4. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns, 24, 6-10, 250: It is difficult to gauge his status after Stoudemire played just three games last spring following microfracture surgery on his left knee last October, then underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the spring. Training camp 2006 has featured stiffness in both knees, but the *26.0 pts., 8.9 reb., 1.63 blk., 1.6 ast., .96 stl. and .559 field goal percentage, plus the fabulous postseason of 2005, were very real. His prospects for this season are all over the map in both directions — but chances are very strong he will be an impact player at some level.
(*Stoudemire's 2004-05 statistics. He played just three regular-season games in 2005-06.)
5. Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls, 32, 6-9, 240: This will be a curious season as he was the biggest free agent of the off-season, despite his down year with the Pistons featuring 7.3 pts., 11.3 reb., 2.21 blk., 1.9 ast., 1.78 stl. and .510 field goal percentage. Plus he was a drain on coach Flip Saunders' transition toward an offensive team. He walked out the door screaming. Nobody questions his heart, but to pay him $60M over the next four years for his deteriorating skills? He'd better be a huge performer as opposed to just a defensive advocate for coach Scott Skiles and a tutor for the youngsters. That means returning to the impact defensive player he was in the lane and on the boards 2-3 years ago.
Of all the NBA centers, Brad Miller may be the best shooter. (Garrett Ellwood / Getty Images)
6. Brad Miller, Sacramento Kings, 30, 7-0, 260: For the first time in five years, Miller played virtually the entire season and responded with 15.0 pts., 7.8 reb., .78 blk., 4.7 ast., .77 stl., and made .495 of his field-goal attempts. He's still one of the slickest passing and shooting big men around, if not the quickest or best defender. But he's a nice fit on his team and if he can stay healthy, with the weapons around him, Miller and the Kings should thrive this season with new coach Eric Musselman.
7. Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets, 32, 6-11, 230: Although skinny and injury- prone, Camby remains one of the most underrated players in the game because his 12.8 pts., 11.9 reb., 3.29 blk, 2.1 ast., 1.41 stl. and .465 field-goal percentage consistently make the Nuggets a better team. While Carmelo Anthony went through all of his growing pains, Nene his injuries and Kenyon Martin his temper tantrums, Camby was there with leadership, stability and performance. Now they're loaded up front and that should help Camby as the shot-blocker in the middle.
8. Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers, 24, 7-0, 265: Amid the fabulous play of Elton Brand and the crucial addition of Sam Cassell, the growth of Kaman — 11.9 pts., 9.6 reb., 1.38 blk., 1.0 ast., .58 stl., .523 field-goal percentage and .770 from the free-throw line — often was lost. Sure, he was much better at home than on the road, but he's still young. The key is his skills are superb and with coach Mike Dunleavy and the cast around him, he should only improve. Already he has produced at a much higher level than other higher-paid centers in his age bracket.
9. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers, 31, 7-3, 260: No center in the league has better hands and touch than Z, as his 15.6 pts., .506 field-goal percentage and .834 free-throw shooting indicate. The problem is the inconsistency of his 7.6 reb., 1.74 blk., 1.2 ast. and .49 stl. When the rest of the team is so athletic, where does he fit? Sometimes he's a huge asset because he can score in so many ways, but he doesn't block or alter as many shots as they need, and he too often looks awkward trying to fit in to the LeBron James-charged offense. This will be an interesting season.
10. Mehmet Okur, Utah Jazz, 27, 6-11, 250: Okur thrived in his second season on the Jazz, averaging a career-high 18.0 pts., 9.1 reb., .89 blk., 2.4 ast. and .49 stl., with a .460 field-goal percentage. As a bonus, he's a terrific 3-point shooter — making .342 from long range — and nailing .780 of his free throws. Considering he was drafted and began his career in Detroit, it's tough not to compare his skills to Bill Laimbeer. Now if coach Jerry Sloan can toughen Okur's mind to being even close to Laimbeer's, Okur has a chance to be one of the most productive big men in the game.
Also receiving consideration were: Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; Joel Przybilla and Jamaal Magloire, Portland Trail Blazers; Nazr Mohammed, Detroit Pistons; Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta Hawks; Erick Dampier, Dallas Mavericks; Primoz Brezec, Charlotte Bobcats; and Kwame Brown, Los Angeles Lakers.
Veteran NBA writer Mike Kahn is a frequent FOXSports.com contributor.
Story Tools:
Print Email Blog This Subscribe
Mike Kahn / Special to FOXSports.com
Posted: 12 hours ago
It's nearly impossible to decide between the two centers.
There is no escaping Shaquille O'Neal as the dominant center of this era and one of the best of all time, coming off his fourth championship even if his skills are diminishing each year as his body breaks down at the age of 34.
As for all those cynics about the development of Yao Ming, well, last season he proved that he is indeed moving to the star level and this very well could be when he surpasses O'Neal as the top center in the NBA.
Yao Ming was a dominant player when he was on the court last season. But he also missed 21 games due to a foot injury that required surgery. (Rocky Widner / Getty Images)
Ostensibly, all the 26-year-old native of China has to do is get his troublesome left big toe healed, get some help from Tracy McGrady and win a playoff series for the Houston Rockets in the tough Western Conference. That's all.
"He is a remarkable young man — that's first and foremost," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "He's a great person and a very diligent worker at his game. He's made incremental progress throughout his time in the NBA. We don't expect any major growth in any one area, but a little growth in a lot of areas, which will continue to make him progress from a very good player, which he is now, to a great player."
Nonetheless, winning is always the primary barometer of success in this league, and getting beyond the first round of the playoffs is mandatory for him to actually surpass O'Neal. With O'Neal and the Miami Heat defending champs and expected to compete for the Eastern Conference title again, the Rockets must show some major progress.
That's presuming that O'Neal doesn't completely fall into a state of decline this season, and that appears to be a couple of years premature unless his body completely falls apart this season. But if that is the case, then it will clearly be an official passing of the sword to Yao as the supreme of all centers.
"Yao's a great center," O'Neal said "Whenever you want to become the best you have to go up against the best. I guess going against me is one of his biggest challenges, along with Mr. (Tim) Duncan in his conference. He's a great competitor who wants to go up against another great competitor."
Beyond those two, it's a tough call unless young Amare Stoudemire bounces back to 90-95 percent productivity from surgery to both knees over the past year — the first one the distressing microfracture surgery. The other wild card is young Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard, still only 21 and developing physically and mentally in the post — and yet amazingly gifted.
Young Los Angeles Clippers center Chris Kaman is also coming on strong from that endlessly talented 2003 draft, and veteran standbys Brad Miller, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, hybrid Ben Wallace and Jamaal Magloire are worthy of recognition.
Marcus Camby has proven in recent years to be the most productive and least appreciated center, keeping the injury-riddled Denver Nuggets competitive in the West and then there are a slew of younger players still trying to receive validation.
But when it comes down to it for now, the battle for supremacy at the center position in the subjective FOXSports.com ranking of the NBA centers begins and ends with Shaq and Yao.
Sure, Shaquille O'Neal, at age 34, has begun to wear down. But he did help lead the Heat to its first NBA title last season. (Doug Benc / Getty Images)
1. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat, 34, 7-1, 325: The "Dominant One" missed 23 games, an annual occurrence, nonetheless there were the 20.0 pts., 9.2 reb., 1.76 blk., 1.9 ast., .39 stl. and his 60 percent field goal shooting. Oh yeah, and there was the little matter of his fourth championship — the first for the Heat. Indeed, Dwyane Wade was the MVP and star of the show, but they need each other and Shaq — however badly his body is breaking down — can still take over a game at any time as the most powerful force in the game.
2. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets, 26, 7-5, 295: Yao made huge strides — so to speak — with his best season statistically: 22.3 pts., 10.2 reb., 1.65 blk., 1.5 ast., .53 stl., .519 from the field and .853 from the free throw line. But the Rockets were back in the lottery, and without a healthy Tracy McGrady it's tough to say how far they can go. Still, Yao's critics have been much too harsh and he already is the best all-around center in the game. Now he has to learn how to win in the NBA to solidify his status.
3. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic, 20, 6-11, 265: It was only two years ago that people thought the Magic were nuts for taking Howard with the first overall pick instead of Emeka Okafor. Nobody is thinking that now. The 15.8 pts, 12.5 reb., 1.5 ast., .79 stl., 1.40 blk. and .531 field goal percentage don't even begin to tell the story of the way this guy plays the floor. He's the ideal package for the new-age center. He's got a long way to go fundamentally, but he's very bright, confident and aggressive — and his skill level is off the charts.
4. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns, 24, 6-10, 250: It is difficult to gauge his status after Stoudemire played just three games last spring following microfracture surgery on his left knee last October, then underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in the spring. Training camp 2006 has featured stiffness in both knees, but the *26.0 pts., 8.9 reb., 1.63 blk., 1.6 ast., .96 stl. and .559 field goal percentage, plus the fabulous postseason of 2005, were very real. His prospects for this season are all over the map in both directions — but chances are very strong he will be an impact player at some level.
(*Stoudemire's 2004-05 statistics. He played just three regular-season games in 2005-06.)
5. Ben Wallace, Chicago Bulls, 32, 6-9, 240: This will be a curious season as he was the biggest free agent of the off-season, despite his down year with the Pistons featuring 7.3 pts., 11.3 reb., 2.21 blk., 1.9 ast., 1.78 stl. and .510 field goal percentage. Plus he was a drain on coach Flip Saunders' transition toward an offensive team. He walked out the door screaming. Nobody questions his heart, but to pay him $60M over the next four years for his deteriorating skills? He'd better be a huge performer as opposed to just a defensive advocate for coach Scott Skiles and a tutor for the youngsters. That means returning to the impact defensive player he was in the lane and on the boards 2-3 years ago.
Of all the NBA centers, Brad Miller may be the best shooter. (Garrett Ellwood / Getty Images)
6. Brad Miller, Sacramento Kings, 30, 7-0, 260: For the first time in five years, Miller played virtually the entire season and responded with 15.0 pts., 7.8 reb., .78 blk., 4.7 ast., .77 stl., and made .495 of his field-goal attempts. He's still one of the slickest passing and shooting big men around, if not the quickest or best defender. But he's a nice fit on his team and if he can stay healthy, with the weapons around him, Miller and the Kings should thrive this season with new coach Eric Musselman.
7. Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets, 32, 6-11, 230: Although skinny and injury- prone, Camby remains one of the most underrated players in the game because his 12.8 pts., 11.9 reb., 3.29 blk, 2.1 ast., 1.41 stl. and .465 field-goal percentage consistently make the Nuggets a better team. While Carmelo Anthony went through all of his growing pains, Nene his injuries and Kenyon Martin his temper tantrums, Camby was there with leadership, stability and performance. Now they're loaded up front and that should help Camby as the shot-blocker in the middle.
8. Chris Kaman, Los Angeles Clippers, 24, 7-0, 265: Amid the fabulous play of Elton Brand and the crucial addition of Sam Cassell, the growth of Kaman — 11.9 pts., 9.6 reb., 1.38 blk., 1.0 ast., .58 stl., .523 field-goal percentage and .770 from the free-throw line — often was lost. Sure, he was much better at home than on the road, but he's still young. The key is his skills are superb and with coach Mike Dunleavy and the cast around him, he should only improve. Already he has produced at a much higher level than other higher-paid centers in his age bracket.
9. Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Cleveland Cavaliers, 31, 7-3, 260: No center in the league has better hands and touch than Z, as his 15.6 pts., .506 field-goal percentage and .834 free-throw shooting indicate. The problem is the inconsistency of his 7.6 reb., 1.74 blk., 1.2 ast. and .49 stl. When the rest of the team is so athletic, where does he fit? Sometimes he's a huge asset because he can score in so many ways, but he doesn't block or alter as many shots as they need, and he too often looks awkward trying to fit in to the LeBron James-charged offense. This will be an interesting season.
10. Mehmet Okur, Utah Jazz, 27, 6-11, 250: Okur thrived in his second season on the Jazz, averaging a career-high 18.0 pts., 9.1 reb., .89 blk., 2.4 ast. and .49 stl., with a .460 field-goal percentage. As a bonus, he's a terrific 3-point shooter — making .342 from long range — and nailing .780 of his free throws. Considering he was drafted and began his career in Detroit, it's tough not to compare his skills to Bill Laimbeer. Now if coach Jerry Sloan can toughen Okur's mind to being even close to Laimbeer's, Okur has a chance to be one of the most productive big men in the game.
Also receiving consideration were: Samuel Dalembert, Philadelphia 76ers; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets; Joel Przybilla and Jamaal Magloire, Portland Trail Blazers; Nazr Mohammed, Detroit Pistons; Zaza Pachulia, Atlanta Hawks; Erick Dampier, Dallas Mavericks; Primoz Brezec, Charlotte Bobcats; and Kwame Brown, Los Angeles Lakers.
Veteran NBA writer Mike Kahn is a frequent FOXSports.com contributor.