Recent Interview from Yao
Your team got swept by the LA Lakers in the regular season. So whose performance you think is the most important if the Rockets wish to play well up against the LA Lakers in the playoff?
Yao Ming: If I can get more balls passed to me down at the low post, i.e. at least more than what I got in the first round, I will inflict as much damage to LA Lakers’ interior as possible. I will create and draw so many fouls that Andrew Bynum will be glued to the bench. Of course, a much better result will be Pau Gasol will also be glued to the bench.
What do you think about Brent Barry’s chance for playing in Round 2?
Yao Ming: There are no questions/doubts on Brent Barry’s playoff experiences, and he is very good in making his 3-pointers. But his problem is on his defense. If he gets minutes to play on court, he will just act as an assault point, hit a few 3-pointers and be subs uted immediately. The head coach will not let him stay to play too long on the court, and get exposed, because after all, on defense, he will be facing offensive players like Kobe Bryant and Trevor Ariza.
For the last question, can you talk to us about your prediction on the probability of the Houston Rockets winning the second round?
Yao Ming: I knew that nobody favors us, but that is exactly why we would want to give our all and play this round well. LA Lakers has Kobe Bryant; they have home court advantage; they also swept us in the regular season and therefore have this psychological superiority over us. Yet despite of all these so many reasons, I still believe it is 40/60 split for this playoff series. 40% Rockets 60% LA Lakers.
I think Yao is realistic. We have a 40% chance of taking down the Lakeshow. Not terrible odds considering the regular season.