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Yao's injury raises questions for Rockets' future
Rocket ship down?
The half-empty reality suggests that with center Yao Ming out for the season, a dazzling comeback will be wasted. There will be no backing into a Western Conference playoff position because — despite their current 12-game winning streak — the 36-20 Rockets are only the seventh seed.
Thanks to a stress fracture in the left foot of the 7-foot-6, 310-pound Yao, the Rockets are expected to fall far enough over the next 26 games to provide the Denver Nuggets — now 10 games above .500 — with a swell opportunity to jump into the playoff picture.
Well, that really stinks for Houston in the short term.
But the latest Yao setback may portend even worse karma for the future. For the record, this makes the third injury-muted season in a row for the sixth-year star from China. Last season, Yao managed to join the Rockets for only 48 games, seven less than he played in during the 2005-06 campaign.
So, after missing just two games in his first three seasons, the No. 1 franchise player appears to be unreasonably brittle. And this is just rotten news for the Rockets because their No. 2 franchise player is just as physically shaky.
That No. 2 would be Tracy McGrady, the loveable T-Mac, a player so gifted that adidas created a shoe to be marketed in his honor. McGrady, who is averaging 21.5 points on 43-percent shooting, also has chipped in by missing 15 games this season.
Last season, T-Mac did well (relatively), participating in all but 11 Rockets dates. In 2005-06, McGrady missed a whopping 35 games.
OK, so this medical history reminds us that being a Rockets fan is no hayride.
Yeah, it gets worse.
With injuries threatening to destroy another season, the franchise is left to ponder what the heck should be the appropriate course of long-term action. (It should be noted that waiting for their two stars to be simultaneously healthy for any length of time doesn't seem to be working.)
Well, the gut reaction would be to shop McGrady somewhere down the road. McGrady is older (but just slightly) than Yao and might be easier to replace. Granted, there haven't been many 6-8 guys with T-Mac's combination of physical tools and manual dexterity. But how many NBA centers can give you 22 points and 10.8 rebounds per night?
So it would seem prudent to stick with Yao, get what you can for McGrady and move on.
Unfortunately, NBA executives, fans and writers are obliged to over-think the entire process. And this allows us to notice that big guys with lower-extremity issues rarely return to their previous level of performance.
It also should be noted that Yao's contract calls for roughly 49 million more scoots over the next three seasons. If he's healthy, there's no problem. But that dangling "if" could be a problem when attempting to coax market value in a trade.
The T-Mac contract isn't very pretty, either.
With two more seasons remaining, the Rockets are on the hook for almost $45 million. But in two years, the contract will seem like a gem, with $23.2 million ready to melt away from Houston's cap.
While advocating the notion of at least considering a Yao trade (much of this will be based on advice from the Rockets' medical staff), we should note that it might be wise to ship him to the Eastern Conference.
While the New York Knicks are always around to eat a large contract, they don't seem to have much to give in return. Drew Gooden certainly hasn't answered the Chicago Bulls' call for an inside presence, and GM John Paxson has a few pretty fair perimeter chips to play with (not Larry Hughes).
Hey, Pat Riley is a bit light at center these days, but he's usually on the other end of jettisoning a big guy with the potential for insurmountable physical issues.
Even with Yao and T-Mac healthy and happy, we still wonder if the Rockets would have had enough to survive the Western Conference playoffs. In 17 games against the top seven teams in the conference, Houston has registered just seven victories.
The 12-game streak features two victories over Cleveland, one against Golden State and one vs. New Orleans ... and that's about it. So the Rockets haven't exactly swaggered through murderers' row.
Their short-term answers include starting Dikembe Mutombo at center and maintaining their modest pace, or going smaller with several young players who seem capable of playing at a faster tempo. You also may recall that first-year coach Rick Adelman has a little experience with teams that pick up the pace.
Thinking about trading the leading statistical center in the Western Conference may be a bit crazy, but the threat of diminishing returns may demand it. Rockets fans also should be concerned that — based on the timetable provided during Tuesday's press conference — Yao may be ready to play for China in the Olympic Games. That should be quite a boon to the ol' recovery time.
Member Comments
atleast yao isnt crosseyed like shaq hehehehheh!!!!!!!!! :)
cwizzy12trizzy3/3/2008 15:22:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
they will make thae playoffs they will be the eight seed and they will lose unless they get to play the hornets or the suns i am a rockets fan they should give this one more year and then think about unloading tracy to the knicks for cash and nate robinson and some should be in the d-leauge filler....ONE
kreillen3/3/2008 5:52:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
This is for all who doubted the Rockets. Since the announcement of Yao being out for the season, the Rockets have won their games by an average of 23 points. Not saying that they will win all the games like this, but don't count out a team without giving them a chance first.
lewis723/2/2008 21:10:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
I'm a Laker fan. Pryor to Yao's injury, Houston was the hottest team and was the hardest match up in the West with Yao playing well. They simply are not going to be that good now. They should just tank and go for lottery. Maybe they could get a Twin Tower thang goin' again.
InnocentBystander2/28/2008 3:03:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Houston's season went down the toilet. Someone mentioned the Lakers are fine without Bynum. They were struggling big time between his injury and, oh yeah, they picked up Gasol!
InnocentBystander2/28/2008 2:29:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I like Houston, but relying on Mutombo and Scola to cover for Yao is a stretch. Deke is simply too old to play extended minutes, while Scola is still learning how to play in the NBA (he IS a good one, though). The Rockets just don't have enough of an inside game to go far in the playoffs...if they even make them.<br /><br />I WOULD keep bothYao and McGrady, though. No way do I trade Yao for somene like Eddy Curry. Yao may be injury-prone, but I'll take a player who gets hurt over one who doesn't care. Anytime.
GuiltyBystander2/27/2008 22:35:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Yo ****s needa take kobe bryant's **** out of yos moufs n stop actin like ****s. Rockets aint dun, n watch out for sum asswhoopin come postseason. ROX 2008 Champs baby.
htownrox2008champs2/27/2008 18:32:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Randy,<br />Check yor stats. Rockets are 1-0 without Yao
RocketFan2/27/2008 14:58:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Yao=CHOKE in English.....OILER settle down man you have to wait in line I got number 25 so that makes you number 26.
wickedeagle132/27/2008 12:20:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Someone should probably tell the Rockets that they are out of the picture without Yao. I dont think they have figured it out yet.
allaskew52/27/2008 10:17:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
After reading all the negative comments about the Rockets chances w/o Yao I did some research-of the top 9 teams in the West the Rockets have the best record since Jan. 1st (22-4). The closest is the Lakers at 21-6. The team with the best record against the top 8 teams in the West and the top 5 teams in the East for far this season is the Mavs(15-9). The vaunted Lakers are 12-14, Spurs 11-13,Suns 12-13 and Rockets 12-13. The Rockets will make the playoffs over the Nuggets for the following reasons:1.The Nuggets are 15-11 since Jan. 1st ;2. They have 15 games left against quality teams while the Rockets have 12; 3.They have 14 Away games left compared to the Rockets 12; 4. The Rockets have more firepower than people know-the additions of Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Bobby Jackson give them options they did not have in the past.<br />The Lakers have been fine w/o Bynum and the Rockets will be fine with the finger wagging stifling defense of Mutombo, Battier,Scola,McGrady and Carl Landry (who most of the league has not seen yet).<br />So do not jump off the wagon yet Rockets fans. The rest of the teams better hope they play the Rockets in Houston because they have won 11 in a row on the road-not easy (ask the Celtics!)
BakerBigB2/27/2008 10:13:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
its fun to play "what if"-how about yao to knicks for curry,jefferies anda flip of #1s-the rockets then use the pick for beasley and use the mid-level exception for help at guard..the knicks get yao and use the rockets #1 for the best european shooter still on the board--anyone have some other deals for yao or tmac??
irishcoach2/27/2008 6:03:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
lewis72 has it right. they need depth for things like this. they don't have that.
Pool4Ever2/26/2008 22:37:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
sorry supersisko, but writing off the rockets is more reality than assuming. they really don't have a supporting cast, as you say, with only three players averaging in double digits (yao, t-mac, and alston)... scola has a good percentage from the field but not enough... assuming scola moves forward to play center... no, sorry can't find a way that they'll pull off missing him. the west is too strong. i certainly don't think trading t-mac is a solution, and i don't think they'll lose every other game this season, but no playoffs this year.
Pool4Ever2/26/2008 22:36:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Everyone is so quick to write the Rockets off because of Yao's season ending injury. At least allow a couple of weeks to go by to see how they'll play without him. If they start to lose games and look terrible, then you guys can go ahead and rip them as much as you want to. They still have T-Mac and a better than average supporting cast to still make the playoffs. Once the playoffs start, it is a whole new season. I don't care if they are the 8th seed or the 1st seed, I just want them in so they can start cracking skulls. The last thing anyone wants to do is give the Rockets another reason to show everyone that they are STILL contenders in the West. I think they'll be playing the rest of the season with a lot to prove. To everyone dissing the Rockets and Yao...what if suddenly Kobe, Duncan, or Stoudamire went down with a season ending injury? I wouldn't wish anything like that on anyone, but think about it. I bet it would really SUCK! Some people here are bringing up some good points on certain things and others are just running their mouths not having the slightest clue what they are saying. Anyways, GO ROCKETS! 13 wins in a row after pimp slapping the Washington "Gizzards" tonight.
supersisko2/26/2008 22:15:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Ramdy - i hope tonights game was a wake-up call for you and the other sports-snobs out there. The Rockets are here to stay and play with heart. They don't need to trade anybody....just work on what they have.<br /><br />People yell "trade tracy" or "trade yao"....who exactly would we trading them for? WHO would we be getting that can do what tracy does? WHO would we be getting that's capable of what Yao does. You can't name one person we'd be able to get who can make up for their talent. So let just build with what we have (which includes an INCREDIBLE arsenal of rookies) and make a championship team.
tharpey2/26/2008 21:27:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
UberOwnage,<br /><br />You also may recall that first-year coach "Rick Adelman has a little experience with teams that pick up the pace."<br /><br />Randy Hill was being sarcastic. He meant that Adelman DOES have experience playing fast-paced basketball.
ThePest2/26/2008 21:08:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Rick Adelman, not used to fast paced basketball?? WTF? Remember his time with the Kings, with Webber, J-Will then Bibby, Christie, Divac, et.al? They were a fast, fluid team back then and they utilized a kind of motion offense then, and was a perennial favorite back then to win the Finals!<br />If not for Big Shot Rob they might have made it! set your facts straight man.
UberOwnage2/26/2008 20:52:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
That is a very good point BonDurango. I never thought Adelman was the right fit for the Rockets either.
lewis722/26/2008 20:00:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
The Rockets should be able win without trading anybody. In fact, the Lakers had Kobe & Shaq so what's the difference? After all, there was never any chemistry between those two fat egos and they suffered until Phil Jackson came along and made them champions in his first year as coach. But obviously, this friggin' moron journalist has a short memory and, like so many other bozos, thinks chemistry happens through trades. A great coach makes the chemistry. They made a mistake by hiring Adelman when they should have tried to get Larry Brown, the only other coach capable of instantly turning around a talented but underachieving team.
BonDurango2/26/2008 19:40:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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