Yao Out For the Rest of Playoffs

[E20]

Oh well..........at least Lebron will never fail me.

[Kai]

So who goes 1st: Yao or T-Mac?

You obviously can't put the weight of the team on their shoulders (might hear a cracking sound upon doing so) at this point and the team seems to be moving towards youth.

I'm guessing this makes re-signing Artest a pretty high priority as well.

As long as Yao Ming can hold a basketball, he will be a Houston Rocket. He brings so much MONEY to the Rockets, it's not even funny. He's a stand up guy and to find a big man in this league of Yao's calibur is impossible to do. Leslie Alexander will not surrender his cash cow.

T-Mac will remain on the roster next year, simply because he wont be able to play until near or after the allstar break. His value will be at an all-time low for teams looking to upgrade their roster. This is a win-win for the Rockets. If he stays on the team, he'll have to come off the bench, seeing as we will already have established a new iden y without him. He has to play however the coaches want to use him, because he's in a contract year and wants to get paid next year.

If he still refuses, then it's also fine because we can let his ass rot at home until the offseason, where we'll have a huge $20mil+ space open in the cap to throw at DWade/Bosh/Amare()/other 2010 free agents .

[Avitus1]

Well at least the Rockets didn't get swept.

[NewJerSpur]

As long as Yao Ming can hold a basketball, he will be a Houston Rocket. He brings so much MONEY to the Rockets, it's not even funny. He's a stand up guy and to find a big man in this league of Yao's calibur is impossible to do. Leslie Alexander will not surrender his cash cow.

T-Mac will remain on the roster next year, simply because he wont be able to play until near or after the allstar break. His value will be at an all-time low for teams looking to upgrade their roster. This is a win-win for the Rockets. If he stays on the team, he'll have to come off the bench, seeing as we will already have established a new iden y without him. He has to play however the coaches want to use him, because he's in a contract year and wants to get paid next year.

If he still refuses, then it's also fine because we can let his ass rot at home until the offseason, where we'll have a huge $20mil+ space open in the cap to throw at DWade/Bosh/Amare()/other 2010 free agents .

Wonder if T-Mac coming off the bench might escalate into an Iverson-like fiasco in Detroit? Also wonder if the Rockets management/coaching staff would have the balls to make him accept the role given their investment into him?

Good points made in your post. Although I'm not a Rocket's fan (for obvious reasons) as a basketball fan it's sad to see Yao going out like this every year.

[Capt Bringdown]

Brutal. The way Yao played in game 1, I was hoping we'd finally get to see him make some noise in the playoffs.

[sonic21]

Very sad news. Hopefully he makes a full recovery and comes back strong next season.
The guy plays with a ton of heart and gives it his all every second hes out there. Also, this series was shaping to be a very entertaining one... now not so much.

[NFGIII]

Really unfortunate for Yao but with his reoccuring foot injuries this brings up a question. Is his body type prone to this types of injuries? Can he really produce over a long period of time or is his just going to get injuried on a regular basis?

I like Yao's game but this is at least the second time he has gotten injured either going into the playoffs or in themIIRC. The Rockets need to consider the future and maybe trade him for somebody more durable. Just a thought though since trading such a player would be tough and considering his medical problems what would be available?

The Rockets have some thinking to do this summer or next. I can't see a franchise continually banking on a player that gets injuried on a regular basis, especially when he is one of the key parts to their success.

As most of us already know the Lakers/Rockets series is unoffically over. I was hoping that the Rockets could at least make this a 6-7 game series and after their win in LA had some slim hope of a series win.

[ManuTP9]

damn that sucks for yao

[Indazone]

Yao Ming says he can still play. But there's no way the Rockets will risk further injury to Yao. Dude is insane but I like his at ude.

Rockets' Yao Ming out for remainder of postseason
Posted May 10, 2009 12:05 AM

HOUSTON -Yao Ming will miss the rest of the playoffs because of a broken left foot.
The Houston center limped off the court late in the Los Angeles Lakers' 108-94 victory over the Rockets on Friday night. Yao missed Saturday's practice to get treatment and the team said the 7-foot-6 All-Star would be re-evaluated on Sunday.
But the Rockets announced later Saturday night that further examination of Yao's injury revealed a hairline fracture. The Rockets say Yao will need 8-12 weeks to recover, though no surgery is required.
The Rockets and Lakers play Game 4 of their Western Conference semifinal series on Sunday. The Lakers lead the series 2-1.
Yao had 19 points and 14 rebounds in Friday's loss, his sixth straight double-double. But he was noticeably limping by the fourth quarter and finally hobbled off the court in the final minute, with the outcome decided.
Yao has been the focal point of the Rockets' offense since Tracy McGrady had season-ending knee surgery in February, and Houston finished 21-8 without McGrady. Yao has been plagued by serious leg and foot injuries in each of the previous three seasons, but played in 77 games in 2008-09.
His left foot has given him problems before.
Just four games before the end of the 2005-06 regular season, Yao broke the fifth metatarsal in the foot in Utah and missed the playoffs after surgery. In February 2008, Yao sustained a stress fracture in his foot and missed the postseason again, returning in time to play for host China in the Olympics.
After the Rockets' practice on Saturday, Ron Artest said Yao told him that he'd be ready for Game 4. However, coach Rick Adelman prepared his team as if Yao wouldn't be available.
"We have to play to our strengths," Adelman said. "Everybody has to play to their strengths and understand what they can do to help us win. You do it collectively. There's strength in numbers, and that's what we have to understand."
The Rockets went 3-2 without Yao during the regular season and 19-8 without him in 2007-08. A total of 12 players missed 179 games for Houston this season, and the Rockets still managed to go 53-29.
"We've won without people all year long," Adelman said. "It's just one more case. You can't dwell on who's not here. You have to dwell on who is here. These guys truly believe, if we go out and play the way we're capable of playing, we can win a game."

[Indazone]

Here's the latest from Yao himself in an interview with an Sports.

http://rockets.basketball. an24.co...10/220063.html

For the second consecutive year, Yao Ming's season ended prematurely with an injury; and for the 4th conseucitve year, Yao Ming had been severely hampered by injuries. But this time, when the an Sports reporter talked with Yao Ming over the phone, we had that feeling that his feeling was different (to previous years).

Yao Ming sounded his mood was not as bad and sad as we would have imagined. He himself also admitted: "I'm not as frustrated and sad about this injury as all the previous ones. All my previous injuries were in the middle of the regular season, particularly that injury last year; I was not even able to play in the playoff; therefore I was feeling terrible and frustrated. This year, to be down and out at this stage with this injury, I do feel I was a little bit unlucky, but at least we have passed the first round, and we are into the semi-final. Even though I have not been able to reach my goal, at least our team had reached our goal."

Yao Ming's goal? Waht else but the Championship. This year, they had beaten the young Portland TrailBlazers in the first round, and they had to play against last year's finalist and also the hot favorites for this year's Championship, the LA Lakers. Yao Ming said: "We have grown to become more mature. We have now the experience of making it past the first round. And after playing with the LA Lakers, we will also have gained the experience of playing a playoff series with a Championship contender. And this is the growing pain of a successful team."

Yao Ming further expressed that even though now that his playoff season is but over, he still wants to be with his team together and to continue fighting in the playoff. He said: "I'll definitely be there in Toyota Centre (in Game 4), and then, I'll also travel with my team to Los Angeles. Even though I will not be able to compete on court, it is still good to be able to rave and support my team mates from the court side."

[sook]

Here's the latest from Yao himself in an interview with an Sports.

http://rockets.basketball. an24.co...10/220063.html

For the second consecutive year, Yao Ming's season ended prematurely with an injury; and for the 4th conseucitve year, Yao Ming had been severely hampered by injuries. But this time, when the an Sports reporter talked with Yao Ming over the phone, we had that feeling that his feeling was different (to previous years).

Yao Ming sounded his mood was not as bad and sad as we would have imagined. He himself also admitted: "I'm not as frustrated and sad about this injury as all the previous ones. All my previous injuries were in the middle of the regular season, particularly that injury last year; I was not even able to play in the playoff; therefore I was feeling terrible and frustrated. This year, to be down and out at this stage with this injury, I do feel I was a little bit unlucky, but at least we have passed the first round, and we are into the semi-final. Even though I have not been able to reach my goal, at least our team had reached our goal."

Yao Ming's goal? Waht else but the Championship. This year, they had beaten the young Portland TrailBlazers in the first round, and they had to play against last year's finalist and also the hot favorites for this year's Championship, the LA Lakers. Yao Ming said: "We have grown to become more mature. We have now the experience of making it past the first round. And after playing with the LA Lakers, we will also have gained the experience of playing a playoff series with a Championship contender. And this is the growing pain of a successful team."

Yao Ming further expressed that even though now that his playoff season is but over, he still wants to be with his team together and to continue fighting in the playoff. He said: "I'll definitely be there in Toyota Centre (in Game 4), and then, I'll also travel with my team to Los Angeles. Even though I will not be able to compete on court, it is still good to be able to rave and support my team mates from the court side."

I was really pissed off, but i remember his commitment to help us out of the first round. Dude sacrificed his body, he will always be great in my book.

[DaDakota]

I feel like for all the stuff i said, it just dawned on me that he continued to play on that crap for over 2 qrtrs and refused med treatment and wanted to play..


I think the "Soft" label is the dumbest thing ever, because that is the true sign of a warrior.

If there is anyone that feels like right now, its Yao.

Yao doesn't deserve the lack of respect i gave him in teh earlier pages of this thread. I

am sorry.

And this is why there is still hope for Sook as he matures as a man.



DD

[robbie380]

Really unfortunate for Yao but with his reoccuring foot injuries this brings up a question. Is his body type prone to this types of injuries? Can he really produce over a long period of time or is his just going to get injuried on a regular basis?

I like Yao's game but this is at least the second time he has gotten injured either going into the playoffs or in themIIRC. The Rockets need to consider the future and maybe trade him for somebody more durable. Just a thought though since trading such a player would be tough and considering his medical problems what would be available?

The Rockets have some thinking to do this summer or next. I can't see a franchise continually banking on a player that gets injuried on a regular basis, especially when he is one of the key parts to their success.

As most of us already know the Lakers/Rockets series is unoffically over. I was hoping that the Rockets could at least make this a 6-7 game series and after their win in LA had some slim hope of a series win.

the rockets need to seriously consider just having madatory down periods for yao during the season. he is a notorious workaholic and that is how these stress kind of injuries occur especially on a guy his size. there can't be anymore of this playing for team china bs. i know he has said he wants to retire from team china and the large majority of chinese basketball fans want to see yao succeed in the nba rather than international compe ion. the beijing olympics have come and gone so there is simply no reason for yao to compete for the national team anymore.

IF he could end his national commitments and then have the rockets force some rest periods then i think he will be ok. he needs to miss like the first 10 games of the year. he needs to make the all star break a mandatory rest period and make like the next 3 or so games after that a rest period. i dunno...that's my feeling on the yao injury issue.

[nil.ball]

If only NBA seaon is 50 games every year. Oh well, good luck next year.

[LakeShow]

Sucks for Yao. I have been a big critic of Yao in the past but this season he got better as a player.

Tracy or Yao has to go for this team to be successful. At this point, i would keep Yao. True he is injury prone but I would not give up on him now. Lamar Odom used to be the same way but he has been healthy the last few seasons so it is possible that he can stay healthy for a season.

[Rapper]

very sorry to hear about that

Yao is such a good player, hopefully he will recover soon

[DaDakota]

Sucks for Yao. I have been a big critic of Yao in the past but this season he got better as a player.

Tracy or Yao has to go for this team to be successful. At this point, i would keep Yao. True he is injury prone but I would not give up on him now. Lamar Odom used to be the same way but he has been healthy the last few seasons so it is possible that he can stay healthy for a season.

Lamar has the same issue as Tmac....lack of committment.

DD

[Sportcamper]

Too bad for Yao & the Lakers…Houston seems to have more energy without him…Also I really enjoyed the announcer saying Pau on Yao….

[Indazone]

Is Yao Ming the Modern Day version of Bill Walton?

He won the NBA Most Valuable Player award while playing for the defending NBA champion Trail Blazers in 1977-78. At the top of his form, Walton scored, passed, intimidated, hustled, and played the role of leader with the best centers of his day. He was a perfectionist whose range of skills and dedication never ceased to impress those who saw him play.

But dozens of injuries, most infamously a chronically broken bone in his left foot, robbed Walton of the storybook career that seemed sure to be his. During his 13 years in the league, he played in only 44 percent of regular-season contests and left the game with a modest 13.3 scoring average.


Walton was even more spectacular in 1977-78 -- that is, as long as he was healthy. The Walton-led Blazers rampaged through their first 60 games with a 50-10 record. In his first and only All-Star Game appearance (he was selected in 1977 but could not play because of injury), Walton recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes of play. Then, in February, after a 113-92 trouncing of Philadelphia, Walton was forced to the sideline with an injured left foot. In his 58 regular-season appearances, Walton averaged 18.9 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 5.0 apg and 2.52 bpg. Despite the late-season injury, Walton earned the NBA Most Valuable Player award.

His foot deadened by a painkilling injection, Walton attempted a comeback in the playoffs against the Seattle SuperSonics. Then came what many felt was the death knell of Walton's career. After Game 2, X-rays showed that the navicular bone below Walton's left ankle was broken. The Trail Blazers lost the series in six games and the services of Walton forever.

Another excerpt...

Determined to get back into uniform, Walton ignored the skepticism of doctors who said he would never play again. In 1981 he underwent radical surgery to restructure his battle-scarred left foot. The high arch believed to have made his foot bones susceptible to breaking was lowered. The idea was to expose the bones to less stress when Walton's feet hit the ground, particularly after skying high for a dunk or rebound.

The operation worked. Walton, 29 years old, returned to the court for the 1982-83 season, playing about one game a week -- as many as his doctor would permit. (The arrangement was not unprecedented; Elgin Baylor squeezed in a game a week for the Lakers in 1962 while serving in the Army Reserve.) In 33 games for the Clippers, Walton averaged 14.1 points, the fourth-highest total of his career, while shooting .528 from the field, a career high at the time. He played without pain for the first time in years, and he seemed happier than ever.

Both Walton and the Clippers improved over the next two years. Walton played in 55 games in 1983-84 and 67 in 1984-85, while the Clippers won 30 and 31 games, respectively. At age 32 and with his comeback drawing to an inevitable end, Walton wanted more than just to be playing -- he wanted to be winning
http://www.nba.com/history/players/walton_bio.html