This is a response from
ClutchFans.com (Rockets BB):
In light of the Rockets facing the Clippers tonight, it's a good time to take a look at how the two teams' centers match up.
Recently, former Spurs guard and current NBA analyst Steve Kerr wrote an article about who the 2nd best center in the NBA is.
Kerr wrote, "Obviously Shaquille O'Neal is the best, and the name most people put after Shaq is Yao Ming ... but if you said Chris Kaman, you wouldn't be far off." Kerr, after praising Kaman highly, added in closing that the Clippers center "has become a top-five center in the league and may have elevated himself to the top two or three."
Yes, it's true Kaman deserves praise for his improvement this season (11.6 points and 9.5 boards) as he's filled the middle well for a team with an excellent starting five.
But is the third-year center better than Yao Ming?
Laughable.
Never mind that the Rockets center is now at 22.1 points and 10.1 boards -- which dwarf Kaman's numbers -- but take a look at the head-to-head averages this season.
Name G MIN FG% FT% REB BLK PTS
Kaman 3 30.0 28.6% 68.7% 5.7 0.7 6.3
Yao 3 35.3 60.9% 85.7% 11.3 1.3 22.7
"Lopsided" doesn't quite do this justice as the numbers really don't support this being even remotely close. Kerr, like so many others, are crediting lesser centers because they have far exceeded expectations and are doing a stellar job filling roles for their teams.
But Chris Kaman better than Yao Ming? Again, not on your life.