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The Yi vs. Green debate was a huge one the summer before we traded for KG. 2 years later, Id like to have somewhat of a comparison.

Yi plays on a better team, but i still think Green is the better player.

Yi averages about 10 ppg while Green averages 16. Some might say that this is because Yi plays on a team with more talent, and this is traditionally true. However, the way these guys get their points is totaly different. Yi attempts more 3 pointers and outside shots than Green, while Green more frequently scores inside and has a more balanced offensive game (as well as a better handle and more upper body strength). He's also a better passer.

Yi shoots about 40% from the field... Green shoots about 46%. Despite the fact that Yi is on the better team, Green is still more efficient.

Green does play more minutes, but again, he's still more efficient. This is surprising because he has to create more shots for himself... he doesn't have Devin Harris or Vince Carter to set him up. No, kevin Durant isn't as good as those guys yet.

Ill give the rebounding edge to Yi, though its slight (6 rebounds vs 5). Then again, Green plays the 3 while Yi plays the 4... so naturally on defense, Yi is closer to the basket.

Surprisingly, they are both equally good 3 pt shooters, as this was one of Green's weaknesses comming into the league, and one of Yi's strengths (both around 40%).

Lastly, Green is a better defender because of his upper body and lateral quickness. He can defend both the 3 and the 4 because of his 6'8 height, long arms, and good build. Yi is a good weakside shot blocker, but thats about it. He doesnt have the lateral quickness on the perimiter, and cant bang with bigs down low. Green averages 1.02 steals to Yi's .46.


Thoughts?

Green is the better player IMO. and the fact that he is scoring more than Yi on a better % is very impressive considering the thing that made Jeff Green such a high commodity during the draft process was his unselfishness and for Yi it was a athletic/shooting ability.

It's just their 2nd year and too early to tell. Yi had to adjust to coming from China to America last year and then had to adjust to a new team in his 2nd year. He was averaging 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in January before he got injured so he might have started to break through. Yi is a 7 footer with good range. If he puts it together especially on the defensive end, that's a great commodity to have.

It's their second year. I'm pretty sure most of us wrote off Andrea Bargnani and Randy Foye during their second years and look at where they are now. Jeff Green's a great player and really may actually always be a much better player than Yi, but it's too early to tell.

Obviously, it's probably too early to draw this conclusion, but the early returns are very clear.

The incremental improvement from Year 1 to Year 2 for Jeff Green has been remarkable. His PER has increased 5 points. Everything about his game has improved, most notably his shooting and his reduced turnovers. Yi has improved very little. His PER is up 1 point (a paltry 12.56) and he is shooting only 40% from the field. Further, the fact that Yi seems to actually be 24 instead of 21 must be of concern to NJ.

Looking forward, I think Jeff Green also has more ways he can improve. He showed great passing skills in college, but his #s in the NBA have not reflected that. I could see him getting into the 3-5 assists per night range. Yi's skill level is pretty much as high as it gets. The question for him is whether he can become a more assertive and aggressive big man. For some guys it never happens.

A lot of Green's assists in Georgetown came from dumping the ball down to Roy Hibbert. I'm willing to bet that if he had a better supporting cast, he'd be able to bump up his assist average from 2 to 4.

And Raef Lafrentz turned out to be better than Dirk, too.

i still have never seen a player shoot over a chair like Yi does!!!LOL

http://www.basketball-reference.com/fc/ ... 01&y2=2009


Way too early to tell on these two guys, but its funny the have the same hollinger PER so far.

Yeah, it's too early to tell, but Jeff Green is looking like he'll be a real player. But then Yi's had his moments too and was playing much better before he got hurt. I'd say both the Nets and the Thunder are pretty happy with these guys though because they are both showing some signs of being pretty good players in the league.

MVP16 wrote:It's just their 2nd year and too early to tell. Yi had to adjust to coming from China to America last year and then had to adjust to a new team in his 2nd year. He was averaging 15.8 points and 7.4 rebounds in January before he got injured so he might have started to break through. Yi is a 7 footer with good range. If he puts it together especially on the defensive end, that's a great commodity to have.

What he said.

Call back in 3 seasons...a 7 footer that can put up 16 and 8 is typically more valuable than a SF with similar numbers...We'll see where each gets to, but Yi has been working more on his mid-range and post up as well as basket cuts...I believe he'll play more frequently closer to the basket as his game evolves, which will make him a tough match up for other PFs...

Green is having a great sophmore campaign, but he gets a ton more usage in OKC's offense as they only have 3 players who garner 80% of the shot ops...