Bogut or Ming

[carrottop12]

Not trying to start a flavor of the month thread but...

Knowing what you know about Yao's health problems, and only seeing a little of what is looking like Bogut's potential, who do you build around next year?

[farzi]

Yao pretty easily.

[Kariya]

Taking health into consideration, this comparison is close.

I'd still probably take Yao.

[raps4life~]

Who calls him Ming?

Anyways, Yao.

[prs]

Bogut. I'd go with the safer pick since Yao has been out for a full year. We have no idea what he will be like when hes back or if he'll even play a full season. Bogut has his injury problems too but I'll go with the guy thats not that much worse and will likely be able to play when i need him.

[skones]

I want to take Yao because he's probably the most skilled big man in the league, unfortunately I don't trust his injury history. He played over 60 games for the first time since the 2004-2005 season last year and it resulted in major foot problems. Given his age, at 30 years old, things aren't going to get any easier for him. It's just too big of a question mark.

[Harry Palmer]

Well, this is one of those 'which way do you want to play it?' things.

If you want to take into account his health concerns, then yeah, Bogut and virtually every player in the league you take ahead of Yao.

If you want to assume he's gonna be allright, then no, you take Yao.

So it's not so much a comparison as a philosophical question.

[Jimmy76]

Well, this is one of those 'which way do you want to play it?' things.

If you want to take into account his health concerns, then yeah, Bogut and virtually every player in the league you take ahead of Yao.

If you want to assume he's gonna be allright, then no, you take Yao.

So it's not so much a comparison as a philosophical question.

and reducing it to the absurd if you're gonna say Yao wont see the court then you probably take Jarron Collins over him

[Hobo Gonzolez]

Even if Yao recovers, he is still likely to get another injury. I'm taking Bogut.

[Kariya]

Even if Yao recovers, he is still likely to get another injury. I'm taking Bogut.

Many said the same about Big Z after he had the exact same surgery Yao just had.

Just sayin'

[Hobo Gonzolez]

Even if Yao recovers, he is still likely to get another injury. I'm taking Bogut.

Many said the same about Big Z after he had the exact same surgery Yao just had.

Just sayin'

The most recent injury is just one of Yao's many past injuries.

[Ming Kong!]

Guys taller than 7'3" don't last very long, Smits lasted to 33 or 34, and he actually had the longest career for someone taller than 7'3". Yao turns 30 over the summer, and is coming off a season ending injury. You have to nuts to pass on a center who is producing 17/11 and 3.5bpg over his last 20, and has his team playing hotter than any team in the east during this stretch of time.

[MSGBallerz]

He said next year.. so Yaozers.

[AIfan3]

A healthy Yao Ming would eat Bogut alive..

[ponder276]

Yao easily if he was healthy and playing at his 08/09 level, but he's coming back from a MAJOR injury, chances are he'll be significantly worse, and given the wear and tear on his body, I would be more than a little surprised if he stays healthy through the season and into the playoffs. Bogut is nowhere close to Yao as a scorer, but Bogut's a better defender (Yao is a very effective defender in certain situations, such as in the post vs. Dwight, but his lack of mobility can be abused), a better passer, and even a slightly better rebounder, so he still has a lot to offer. I'll take the safe bet with Bogut, who is healthy and still improving, over Yao, who will likely be significantly worse than in 08/09, and who is a major injury risk. Seriously, does anyone really believe Yao's body is gonna hold up for the whole season?

[Asianiac_24]

Bogut easily for me IMO. Yao in my books is done. The guy is more injury-proned than T-Mac

[blkout]

A healthy Yao Ming would eat Bogut alive..

Bogut matches up ok with Yao, has only shot over 50% against him once.

I agree with everything ponder said.

[skones]

I think this is an interesting point here and is something that should be pointed out.

Yao Ming broke out at the age of 25 jumping from an 18 ppg scorer to a 22 ppg scorer. His rebounding improved as well and it was around this time that he became widely regarded as the best center in the NBA. Yao became even better upping his scoring output to 25 ppg the following season.

Kaman at the age of 25, also 'broke out' at the age of 25 going from a solid double double guy to suddenly averaging 16 points 13 rebounds and almost 3 blocks per game. While he has not maintained that type of play due to injury and other issues, he IS having a rebirth of sorts this season and bouncing back scoring more than he ever has before at an 18.8 ppg clip.

Bogut at the age of 25, has seemed to finally figure everything out and is becoming dominant on one end of the floor and a pretty sound post scorer on the other. It will be interesting to see if he trends up which I think will be the case next season. I don't think it's out of the question for the league to see him averaged 19-20 and 12 next season, which would actually push him VERY close to Ming regardless of injury given his defensive prowess.

[cangiz]

Very close to Yao, but I think he is nowhere near as skilled. Injury is the only thing putting Bogut anywhere close to the Great Wall.

[Vindicater]

Bogut for the win here folks