[CHRON] Rockets Notes--Yao's timetable more definitive--8 weeks

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4456504.html


Yao visits Chicago specialist


By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle

Rockets center Yao Ming, out with a fractured tibia, joined the team in Chicago for an examination by Bulls head team physician Brian Cole.

Cole, a specialist in tibial plateau injuries, confirmed the Rockets' diagnosis and timetable, saying it would be eight weeks from the date of the injury (Dec. 23) before Yao could begin "active rehab." The Rockets originally said it would be a minimum of six weeks, but Rockets athletic trainer Keith Jones said they considered Yao out for "six to eight weeks."

Yao has begun riding an exercise bicycle but has not been cleared to begin water workouts. He has been shooting while sitting in a chair. "Active rehab" involves on-court workouts.

"I hate to stop and hate to rehab," Yao said. "I'm tired of that in the last two years. I know I can get back in very good, great shape. I know that's very, very hard. I know I can do that, but it's very, very hard."

Yao said he was unsure if he would be back for the Feb. 18 All-Star Game but "didn't want to rush it."


In Alston's corner
After fielding a few questions about the progress of Vassilis Spanoulis and John Lucas III on Monday, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy gave a strong endorsement to his starting point guard., Rafer Alston.

"This has always puzzled me. When you lose Yao (Ming) and you go 5-2, I'm not looking after losing an overtime game to blow somebody up," Van Gundy said. "I know that may be shocking, but we're not looking at major changes to our rotation. We're not. Rafer is our point guard. If anyone has a problem with that and wants to see it changed, it ain't going to happen."

Alston missed his last 11 shots Sunday before going 2-for-14 on Monday. He is 25-for-97 over his last six games.

"You can't tell him, 'You're shooting well,' because he hasn't," Van Gundy said.

"The only way you generate confidence from a shooting standpoint is to make. I think he's going to his floater a little too much.

"I think he can take it all the way to the basket. Even on those misses, he draws bigs and (creates) second-shot opportunities."


Inside the numbers
• 12 — Rockets wins in 14 games this season against the Eastern Conference.

• 4 — Consecutive Rockets wins in Chicago.

Last word
On Monday, Jeff Van Gundy picked up his 400th coaching victory, moving to 400-301 with the Knicks and Rockets.


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Never any doubt, and a visit with Yao


I knew it. I was sure. Never had a doubt.

As soon as the buzzer sounded and we all got up and walked off, I was sure the Rockets would pull it out.

In some ways, that's the NBA. The Rockets lost a few they could have won -- Golden State, LA, Minnesota. On Monday, they got one back they could have lost.

This was the largest comeback of the season, but in a larger sense, it was not uncharacteristic.

When Yao Ming was hurt, the Rockets went into a funk for a half of one game, that night (Dec. 23) against the Clippers. That was it. They haven't always played well, though they are 6-2 without Yao. But they have been reliably tough-minded. They have had double-digit losses just four times this season (with nine wins of 14 or more.)

They don't get blown out because they are nothing if not resilient. They sure looked like they were heading there on Monday, but found a way to reel one back in. At nine games better than .500 they got another day and another win closer to the day they might actually put their whole team on the floor.

The hits keep coming, with the Lakers on Wednesday and back to backs at Denver and Sacramento, followed by at Dallas and against Phoenix (I'm worn out from typing that) so every win without Yao is huge. This one, however, seems even bigger.

• • •
Not only did the Rockets return to the locker room at halftime having scored just 30 points, they had a reminder of what else was missing with Yao Ming sitting in there.
Yao made the trip to Chicago to see the Bulls' team physician, a specialist in tibial plateau injuries. Dr. Brian Cole confirmed the timetable. The Rockets thought six to 10 weeks to do "active rehab." Cole said eight weeks. Active rehab is when he can get on the court. For now, he is riding a bicycle and shooting free throws while sitting in a chair.

Yao was in a pretty good mood after the game, saying he felt better just to be around the team again. And he did get an entertaining game for his trouble. He raved about McGrady and Dikembe Mutombo. And he offered his most optimistic comment of all.

"Even without me, the team played pretty well I think," Yao said. "I got a lot more confident we can go further when I come back."

• • •
Former Bulls guard Norm Van Lier does the pregame, halftime and postgame show before Bulls games. If you haven't seen him lately, he really does look like Redd Foxx these days (as if I needed another reason to feel old).

Add just the right beard, call Kendall Gill "dummy" and you'd really think Redd was back.

• • •
I mentioned to SI's Marty Burns, a Chicago guy despite the fact that he is thin, that I had lunch at Giordano's.

Apparently, in Chicago, you're not only either a Cubs or White Sox fan, never both, and it's either Giordano's or Gino's East. According to Marty, Pizzeria Uno is third.

In Philly, it's either Pat's or Geno's for steaks (that's cheesesteaks for those that have never had the real thing.)

I'm a Pat's guy. I always had my doubts about Cuttino Mobley because he was a Geno's guy. Fran is a Jim's guy, which is OK. In Philly, you can be Geno's and Jim's (though I can't imagine why) or Pat's and Jim's, but never Geno's and Pat's.

So since anyone with any spine at all will make a Chicago choice, put me down for Giordano's.

As for Marty, he said, "I don't know. Both I guess."

His White Sox preference, however, was non-negotiable.

 

I am just hoping he plays February 25th here in Orlando. I bought tickets to that game 2 months ago. It's a Sunday 2PM game.

They are not going to rush Yao back especially if we are doing well without him. It might take another 7-8 weeks