I'm having have a huge debate with my friends. For one year, would you rather have a healthy Yao Ming or healthy Dwight Howard?

Howard and it isn't close.

Probably Howard, but if we assume they are both healthy it is close.

If it's real life, Howard in a landslide because he is a lot more durable than Yao.

i dont see how "its not even close"

offensively yao is better and its not even close....so howard would have to be just waaaaay better at everything else for his total package to be that much better.

if you are taking health into consideration then yeah you are right

Yao... and it's pretty close...

Howard has expanded his offensive game over the last couple years, he just isn't asked to score as much on that team, they are loaded with scorers. His knocks are free throws and bad fouls.

Yao gets points for free throw shooting and a more refined offensive game. Downside is that he is slower (and also gets called for a lot of fouls).

Yao owns Howard head to head so Yao

The knocks on Howard are the fouls and FTs.

Howard has pretty good moves in the post.

But Howard absolutely kills Yao defensively, blocking shots, agility, strength, speed, rebounding, offensive rebounding, age, health, etc.

Yao is not a good defender. Howard is better in the post and a MUCH better defender.

And that is what makes it not even close. Howard can control both ends of the court. Yao can't.

Funny y'all should mention this. My buddy and I have been fighting about this topic the last week. I say Howard by a slim margin due to just his ridiculous numbers

Yao

To 1,000,000 touchdowns...and beyond

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Howard has pretty good moves in the post.

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You lost me there.

He has developed a running hook with either hand out of the low post. It's pretty undefendable.

Howard

Howard. Orlando NBA Champs, 2010.

I got to sit in on Howard working with Patrick Ewing in the post this year. He has really developed a lot of moves. He is an incredible worker. But Howard has that little hook and a few other moves. Plus he can be really quick at turning in the block.

The only things Yao beats Howard at are mid-rage shooting and FT shooting.

Howard all day, every day.

I'd love to see what a coach like Pop could do with Howard

Yao is a better passer

Howard easy

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I'd love to see what a coach like Pop could do with Howard

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this

It depends on what team you have assembled around them

If you need a guy to rebound and block shots and basically patrol the interior, definitely Howard

If you need a guy to start the offense because your other players cannot do it, then I'd take Yao

As far as Yao's defense, I think he gets a bad rap on defense. Yao is an above average defender. He moves his feet well and is always in position. Is he slow, yes. And that's what keeps him from ever being a great defender. But just look at how much worse the Rockets defense was this year without him in the middle.

Because of Yao's health, you take Howard. But if you remove health (that's a huge if) then it's much closer. I don't think either one can be the best player on a championship team. I think Howard really needs a Kobe or Wade type guy. A guy to take all the scoring load late in the games. However the Magic are assembled more like the Pistons team that won the championship. Alot of really good players, no real superstars. I include Howard in that, just because he's the best center in the game doesn't make him a superstar. If he came up in the 90's, he'd be regarded a lot differently than he is now, he's a taller version of Dennis Rodman. His scoring is a product of the lack of talented big men in the NBA today.

YaO

Yao sells more jerseys.

Howard

is this a serious question?
howard, not even close

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The only things Yao beats Howard at are mid-rage shooting and FT shooting.

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And the only people who would think differently are the biggest Rockets homers.

Howard and this shouldn't even be a debate.

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Howard has pretty good moves in the post.

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*dead*

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is this a serious question?
howard, not even close

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And the only people who would think differently are the biggest Rockets homers.

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As I stated in the Rockets offseason thread, I was a big Rockets fan until they drafted Yao instead of Amare. I'd take Howard over Yao too. If only they had not won the lottery and leapfrogged a few teams that draft, or if LeBron was a year older...

I don't remember a single person saying Amare over Yao. Anyone who does, is probably looking in 20/20 hindsight.

The Yao draft was the year after the Kwame Brown draft. Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry were three of the first four picks in that draft, and none looked all that impressive in their rookie years. Amare looked a lot like those guys.

No one was projecting Amare as a top pick, although it is easy to look back and say that was the right choice.

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I don't remember a single person saying Amare over Yao. Anyone who does, is probably looking in 20/20 hindsight.

The Yao draft was the year after the Kwame Brown draft. Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry were three of the first four picks in that draft, and none looked all that impressive in their rookie years. Amare looked a lot like those guys.

No one was projecting Amare as a top pick, although it is easy to look back and say that was the right choice.

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You have to remember, the Rockets weren't "supposed" to have the top pick. They leapfrogged a few teams to land the top pick when they won the lottery. However, I think that ended up being more of a curse than a blessing. Had they stayed in the same spot they were supposed to have, they most likely would have ended up with Amare.

That, and given the team makeup at the time, I think Steve Francis was pushing for Drew Gooden instead of Yao, until they convinced him that Yao was ready for the NBA.

I don't think you could count on the Rockets making the right pick if they didn't have the first pick in the draft. Not after the trading 3 first rounders for Eddie Griffin debacle the previous year. I didn't think so at the time, but Yao was the right pick.

Look who else they had to choose from:
Amare - a HS kid after the previous draft had such great top 10 HS studs as Desagana Diop, Kwame Brown (first HS player drafted number 1) Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. Yeah.
Jay Williams - the motorcycle man.
Mike Dunleavy Jr
Drew Gooden, who has a BB IQ about as high as a crack rock
Nikoloz Tskisiskaiskaii
Dajuan Wagner
Nene
Chris Wilcox
Caron Butler
Jared Jefferies
Melvin Ely
Marcus Haislip
Fred Jones
Bosjan Nachbar
Jiri Welsch
Juan Dixon
Curtis Borschardt
Ryan Humphrey
Kareem Rush
Qyntel Woods
Casey Jacobson
Tayshaun Prince
Nenad Krstic
Frank Williams
John Salmons
Chris Jefferies
Dan Dickau.

That's the first round. Pathetic. Maybe the worst draft of the last 20 years. 3 all-stars in the first round, and most of the rest aren't even in the league anymore. 2001 had 5 first round all-stars and two more in the second round. 2003 has 7 All-stars - including the Bron/Bosh/Wade/Melo group.

<<would you rather have a healthy Yao Ming>>

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If a frog had wings, it wouldn't bump its a** when it hopped.