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Sports InsiderYao Ming Shuts Out Dwight Howard.
January 5th 2008 09:06
Basketball for all intents and purposes is a team sport. There are five people on-court, with another seven on the bench. Players in the same squad all work towards the common goal of trying to bring success to the team. Now, that the touchy-feely description of basketball has been dispensed with, let’s get to the nitty-gritty – basketball is
perhaps the only team sport where one individual can have so much influence on a game. Therefore, it is always fun when two uber-players who play the same position for opposing teams meet up on a basketball court.
Today’s marquee game saw arguably the top two centres in the league battle for big man supremacy. Yao Ming and his Houston Rockets came to Orlando to face the Magic, stealing a 96-94 win along the way. Yao got the better of Dwight Howard with not only the final result, but his one-on-one battle with the Magic big man.
It was an exciting finish to an eventful game, Orlando’s Adonal Foyle seemingly beat the buzzer tipping in Rashard Lewis’ game tying attempt. The call was as close as could be with the referees in the unenviable position of having to decide whether or not Foyle had beaten the clock.
The refs decided that Foyle’s touch did indeed come after the game had expired, gifting Houston the win. It could have gone either way. Foyle’s tip in was that close.
Exciting as the ending was, it was Yao who proved he was the better player with a dominating performance. Well, the Big Red Machine proved today that he is a nastier baller than Dwight Howard, but only for today. Ming finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, whilst his Orlando opponent had 16 points and eight rebounds. It was only the third time this season that Howard didn’t have a double digit rebound performance.
Now, Yao has featured in the All-Star game since his rookie season and it was arguable that he deserved a spot back then. There is absolutely no disputing his presence in the mid-season classic these days.
All-Star voting third returns have been announced with Kevin Garnett and LeBron James leading the way out in the Eastern Conference, while, Yao and Kobe Bryant are getting the most votes out west.
Here are the full numbers.
2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,527,963; LeBron James (Clev) 1,294,019; Chris Bosh (Tor) 411,313; Paul Pierce (Bos) 352,243; Yi Jianlian (Mil) 291,447; Caron Butler (Was) 187,396; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 172,720; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 155,502; Josh Smith (Atl) 143,518; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 143,118.
Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,019,582; Jason Kidd (NJ) 743,683; Ray Allen (Bos) 617,123; Vince Carter (NJ) 612,543; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 511,763; Chauncey Billups (Det) 331,872; Michael Redd (Mil) 221,777; Richard Hamilton (Det) 163,250; Joe Johnson (Atl) 149,367; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 140, 292.
Centres: Dwight Howard (Orl) 1,260,987; Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 609,597; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 162,792; Ben Wallace (Chi) 146,332; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 132,469; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 120,690; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 77,350; Emeka Okafor (Cha) 74,269; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 58,430; Eddy Curry (NY) 53,084.
2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Tim Duncan (SA) 1,049,641; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 1,029,335; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 830,970; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 347,899; Shane Battier (Hou) 297,672; Shawn Marion (Pho) 296,917; Josh Howard (Dal) 285,580; Luis Scola (Hou) 279,970; Kevin Durant (Sea) 242,953; Grant Hill (Pho) 209,057.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,234,111; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 809,395; Allen Iverson (Den) 694,611; Steve Nash (Pho) 684,813; Manu Ginobili (SA) 360,408; Tony Parker (SA) 316,541; Chris Paul (NO) 261,169; Baron Davis (GS) 247,187; Jason Terry (Dal) 218,052; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 192,017.
Centres: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,077,244; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 583,249; Marcus Camby (Den) 221,527; Erick Dampier (Dal) 184,689; Pau Gasol (Mem) 139,254; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 112,434; Tyson Chandler (NO) 98,424; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 93,043; Chris Kaman (LAC) 83,516; Andris Biedrins (GS) 81,611.
(Source: NBA.com)
Today’s video is of the top 10 plays from 2007.
Yao Ming takes it strong, while Dwight Howard isn't even in the picture. (Photo by Fernando Medina/NBAE via Getty Images)
Today’s marquee game saw arguably the top two centres in the league battle for big man supremacy. Yao Ming and his Houston Rockets came to Orlando to face the Magic, stealing a 96-94 win along the way. Yao got the better of Dwight Howard with not only the final result, but his one-on-one battle with the Magic big man.
It was an exciting finish to an eventful game, Orlando’s Adonal Foyle seemingly beat the buzzer tipping in Rashard Lewis’ game tying attempt. The call was as close as could be with the referees in the unenviable position of having to decide whether or not Foyle had beaten the clock.
The refs decided that Foyle’s touch did indeed come after the game had expired, gifting Houston the win. It could have gone either way. Foyle’s tip in was that close.
Exciting as the ending was, it was Yao who proved he was the better player with a dominating performance. Well, the Big Red Machine proved today that he is a nastier baller than Dwight Howard, but only for today. Ming finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds, whilst his Orlando opponent had 16 points and eight rebounds. It was only the third time this season that Howard didn’t have a double digit rebound performance.
Now, Yao has featured in the All-Star game since his rookie season and it was arguable that he deserved a spot back then. There is absolutely no disputing his presence in the mid-season classic these days.
All-Star voting third returns have been announced with Kevin Garnett and LeBron James leading the way out in the Eastern Conference, while, Yao and Kobe Bryant are getting the most votes out west.
Here are the full numbers.
2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING EASTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Kevin Garnett (Bos) 1,527,963; LeBron James (Clev) 1,294,019; Chris Bosh (Tor) 411,313; Paul Pierce (Bos) 352,243; Yi Jianlian (Mil) 291,447; Caron Butler (Was) 187,396; Hedo Turkoglu (Orl) 172,720; Tayshaun Prince (Det) 155,502; Josh Smith (Atl) 143,518; Rashard Lewis (Orl) 143,118.
Guards: Dwyane Wade (Mia) 1,019,582; Jason Kidd (NJ) 743,683; Ray Allen (Bos) 617,123; Vince Carter (NJ) 612,543; Gilbert Arenas (Was) 511,763; Chauncey Billups (Det) 331,872; Michael Redd (Mil) 221,777; Richard Hamilton (Det) 163,250; Joe Johnson (Atl) 149,367; Andre Iguodala (Phi) 140, 292.
Centres: Dwight Howard (Orl) 1,260,987; Shaquille O'Neal (Mia) 609,597; Rasheed Wallace (Det) 162,792; Ben Wallace (Chi) 146,332; Andrew Bogut (Mil) 132,469; Jermaine O’Neal (Ind) 120,690; Zydrunas Ilgauskas (Clev) 77,350; Emeka Okafor (Cha) 74,269; Zaza Pachulia (Atl) 58,430; Eddy Curry (NY) 53,084.
2008 NBA ALL-STAR BALLOTING WESTERN CONFERENCE
Forwards: Tim Duncan (SA) 1,049,641; Carmelo Anthony (Den) 1,029,335; Dirk Nowitzki (Dal) 830,970; Carlos Boozer (Utah) 347,899; Shane Battier (Hou) 297,672; Shawn Marion (Pho) 296,917; Josh Howard (Dal) 285,580; Luis Scola (Hou) 279,970; Kevin Durant (Sea) 242,953; Grant Hill (Pho) 209,057.
Guards: Kobe Bryant (LAL) 1,234,111; Tracy McGrady (Hou) 809,395; Allen Iverson (Den) 694,611; Steve Nash (Pho) 684,813; Manu Ginobili (SA) 360,408; Tony Parker (SA) 316,541; Chris Paul (NO) 261,169; Baron Davis (GS) 247,187; Jason Terry (Dal) 218,052; Jerry Stackhouse (Dal) 192,017.
Centres: Yao Ming (Hou) 1,077,244; Amaré Stoudemire (Pho) 583,249; Marcus Camby (Den) 221,527; Erick Dampier (Dal) 184,689; Pau Gasol (Mem) 139,254; Mehmet Okur (Utah) 112,434; Tyson Chandler (NO) 98,424; LaMarcus Aldridge (Por) 93,043; Chris Kaman (LAC) 83,516; Andris Biedrins (GS) 81,611.
(Source: NBA.com)
Today’s video is of the top 10 plays from 2007.
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Comment by Sports Insider
AFL Insider
The all-star voting does provide a lot of funny stuff, like all the years that Hill was injured but he still got a lot of votes. Dampier with 100,000 more than Kaman, Billups so low in voting, Scola so high, Ben Wallace still getting votes, odd.
Comment by Stanley
all-star voting has always been perplexing. i try not to rage too much anymore because it is pointless. however, i wouldn't ever take away the say of fans at who should be the starters. i think that is a great idea.