His poor performance in the Suns series notwithstanding, Obama and Doug Collins have each mentioned Pau Gasol as "the best big man in the game." Obviously his health is much better than Yao's, as is his mobility. But if Yao were back and healthy, would people still be idolizing Gasol as the best center in the NBA?
Healthy Yao would be the best in the land but health is always an variable with Yao...RIGHT NOW Gasol is at the top of the list with DHoward.
Yao > Gasol Any day of the week. That ostrich always complains about everything. He's annoying but good. But not as good as my boy Yao.
I would give a slight yes to Gasol.... Yao still cannot overcome a double team yet I see Gasol have a better chance at making a shot in one. It's only because Gasol is quicker. Yao can never be the go to guy in the Clutch because of how slow he is in trying to man the double - team.. That's why were are constantly looking for players that can help offset that.
I don't know if Pau is a better all-around player better but he certainly has better offensive instinct and fits the Lakers' system much better than Yao would because of his superior basketball IQ, mobility and passing skills. He's more savvy than Yao but he's not as much of a defensive presence and probably isn't as good of a back-to-the-basket low-post scorer. I also think of Pau as a PF more than a center, even if he plays both positions.
It honestly seems like everyone has forgotten about Yao Ming. When people talk "best" big men in the game today, it is either Pau from the West, or Dwight from the East. I get pissed off when Yao isn't even mentioned. It's not homerism, but rather, fact, that Yao is the best big man when healthy; but even if he isn't, he should at least be mentioned in passing. Sigh. /rant.
They'd be saying Dwight Howard is the best center in the NBA. Gasol is more of a 4/5 than a 5, like Tim Duncan. Best offensive post player in the game, and I expect he will be next year too.
I thought that he was supposed to be a power forward, not a center ala. Tim Duncan and Bynum was the center. D. Howard and Yao push him around all the time like a rag doll. Gasol has some moves, but he's too much of a weakling to ever be a great PF much less a center.
A player's greatness is determined relative to his peers, and compared to this era's crop of subpar centers, Gasol is a stud.
What.. R u kidding me he is the reason why they are where they at right now, he didn't score alot of points in tonight's game, but he always has been the X-factor. as for is he better than Yao? as of now yes he is, but healthy Yao would destroy Gasol
How about Yao’s performance in the Jazz series ? Got eaten up by Boozer and Okur. IMO Nowitzki and Gasol are two best foreign big men in the past 10 years. They accomplished more than Yao in both NBA and international games.
Gasol as the best big man is laughable. You don't go from barely cracking top 10 big man to being the best just by changing your jersey.
