Best C in the game right now?

[TMAC-YAO-ARTEST]

I can't believe how on the basis of injuries one would discredit Yao's dominance as the best Center in the league. Yao missed only 2 games out 246 games in his first 3 seasons, that is 99.2% games played.
For his career he has played 404 games of 492 possible for 82%. So you're going to discredit the dominance in 82% of his games played because of 18% games missed

In 2005-2006 Yao played 57 games(or 70%) due largely in part to a big toe infection on his left foot that became a bone infection because he was playing through the mostly annoying pain. After recovering, he had a freak kick to his left foot(unrelated to his toe infection) causing a small fracture requiring him to miss the last 4 games of the season. His final averages in 57 games were 22.3 points and 10.2 rebounds per game. It was a "20/10" average baby! His averages were as high as 25.7 points and 11.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 53.7% from the field and 87.8% at the free throw line.

In 2006-2007, he played 48 games or 59%. Yao,while blocking a shot, had 2 players roll onto his leg causing a small fracture in his knee--nothing more than being at the wrong place at the wrong time--freak injury. Up to that point he had been averaging 26.8 points, 9.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, and had been mentioned as an NBA MVP candidate and went on to average 25.1 points and 10.3 rebounds in the play offs

In 2007-2008,(February 26, 2008) it was reported Yao would miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot. This time, there was no specific incident that caused this fracture, though there was several game footage that showed possible specific injuries that could have led to the injury-but still inconclusive. This is the only one of his injuries that begin to look concerning as far as his ability to stay healthy. However, I will not discredit his dominance because of this. Yao underwent a successful operation on March 3, which placed screws in his foot to strengthen the bone, and recovery time was estimated at four months. Yao's final averages in 55 games(66.5% played) were 22.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks a game.

Anyone who denies his dominance as the best center in the league is delusional and with hopefully not playing year round ball, decreased low block play, deeper team to allow him to rest during the season as precaution or limit his minutes....coupled with some luck--he will go back to the pattern of his first three years versus the pattern of the last three years.

[Biggems]

Quite frankly being the best Center in the NBA right now doesn't hold much water.....it is definitely a down time for Centers.

Think about the early-mid 90s.....Robinson, Olajuwon, Ewing, Kareem, Daugherty, Smits, Seikaly, Shaq, Duckworth, Edwards, Bol, Mourning, Mutombo, Campbell, Cartwright, Sikma, Eaton, and probably a few others I can't recall.....The 90s was definitely a great decade for Centers

As far as now, I dont know. If Yao is the best, that is pathetic, considering he cant play a full season and he cant get out of the first round of the playoffs. I would hope the best center is more reliable healthwise and is able to get his team past the first round of the postseason. I would expect the best center to be an imposing force on both ends of the court. Right now there are offensive centers and defensive centers.....it seems that Yao is the only one who combines the two right now......and thus, he is the best center by default....

[TMAC-YAO-ARTEST]

Quite frankly being the best Center in the NBA right now doesn't hold much water.....it is definitely a down time for Centers.

Think about the early-mid 90s.....Robinson, Olajuwon, Ewing, Kareem, Daugherty, Smits, Seikaly, Shaq, Duckworth, Edwards, Bol, Mourning, Mutombo, Campbell, Cartwright, Sikma, Eaton, and probably a few others I can't recall.....The 90s was definitely a great decade for Centers

As far as now, I dont know. If Yao is the best, that is pathetic, considering he cant play a full season and he cant get out of the first round of the playoffs. I would hope the best center is more reliable healthwise and is able to get his team past the first round of the postseason. I would expect the best center to be an imposing force on both ends of the court. Right now there are offensive centers and defensive centers.....it seems that Yao is the only one who combines the two right now......and thus, he is the best center by default....

Yeah, because it's Yao's fault that they can't advance past the first round Last yr was the first out of 6 seasons that when the team made it to the playoffs, Yao was unavailable.

Keep playing the injury card to discredit yao, that is pathetic.

[Tmac&Luther]

its funny how people think dwight is the best center.......anyone watch dwight get abused KG? dwight is good one day great, but imo a couple if not more seasons away from being the best. he is still to young and to raw, he has many things to work on. just because you bring down double doubles night in and night out doesnt mean your great, it could mean your team needs those double doubles in order to win and also the style of play orlando has goes thru and around dwight....he should be alot better by now imo. his showboating is something that keeps dwight from being el vato. i bet if pop woulda had dwight, he would be an amazing defensive force, thats something he isnt, thus why i say he aint el vato.....imo dwight is dunk and look good first, listen to his coach and play defense second. another amare

Dwight get's abused by most elite big men, but idiot posters just continue to let him skate......I mean who he dunks on the sorry ass East.....WOW.

[cherylsteele]

If you are gonna put Tim on the list,
Emeka Okafor should garner at least some consideration as well.
Yao, at the moment is probably the best "C" playing, only because Tim is not listed as a "C".

[Matchman]

this thread is an


my choice is yao ming