Sportscenter reports Yao's injury has been exaggerated!

The Rockets need to rebuild like Yao is out for good. Focus on getting a solid, big if unspectacular Center and hopefully another big who can come in and get garbage minutes. I don't think the Center position is where the Rockets need to focus on trying to get an All Star type player. I think the team needs to look at grabbing a top notch PG or a scoring wing player (I don't see Shane, Ron and Wafer all coming back).

Best case scenario, Yao comes back and the team now has it's All Star Center to add to it's revamped core that includes a quality (now) backup C and a swing man who can puts points on the board. Worst case scenario, Yao does not come back you still have the team the that took the Lakers to seven games but you've added another big man and a legit scorer. Even without Yao the team could be a very legit contender.

 

Is this not a violation of the HIPPA privacy law?

 

Does this thread know about this yet?

www.Twitter.com/RicBucher

On Yao: out for next season is likeliest scenario now. Wants to get his body right before continuing and will do whatever that takes.

 

I hope he's stays out as long as he needs PLUS some...he's still relatively young and his success in the NBA has been based on learning the game and outstanding fundamentals more so than speed, jumping or any other physical attributes. If he can get his body right, he can look forward to the second half of his career (hopefully) free of major injuries.

 

missing as much as he missed over the last 5 seasons or so

and if he's out all next year

i really hope the rockets aren't planning on building around him going forward.

 

Yao doesnt want the surgery???

 

Yao is my favorite Rocket but I agree I dont want them to build around him.

I would rather him the second option (hell if they can afford it the 3rd option)

But dont get me wrong I do hope if he needs more time to wait till after the all star break and re access. Also, even if not he the 1st or 2nd option I wouldnt want to see him in another uniform.

 

This is clear cut damage spin control by the Rockets attempting to hold value on their multi-million dollar investment.

You would do the same if the team you own was appraised yesterday worth $450 million and now the price is tanking because your cash cow's future is uncertain.

No amount of downplaying can change the facts.

1) Yao and T-Mac WILL NOT play at the start of the upcoming season. Thus, we have another season where the team doesn't play together and can't gel really well. That makes huge difference especially if you are looking to compete for a championship. Try telling the Lakers, Kobe and Gasol are out until mid season at the best and see the reaction. Ask the Magic what they would do without Howard and Lewis?

2) In 2011 Yao will on the other side of 30 with a history injury problems and a bad foot that can break again any moment. That is not something you want to go around try to sell as the centerpiece of your franchise.

Sad to say this and it breaks my heart but Tracy and Yao are done playing for the Rockets. We need to move forward with better planning and building for the future. Attempting to put a straight face on and hoping for something miraculous to happen is just plain lying to your team, players and fans.

This is Day 1 of the post Yao-McGrady era. Rebuilding starts now.

Go Rockets!!!

 

What I am taking away from this year:

1.) If this is not as serious as it appears and Yao is on the court next year, the front office needs to move him ASAP. If this situation ends up not being career ending it is a GIFT to us and we need to move him and get something in return before it is too late. I like the guy, he is a great player, but it is only a matter of time before something like this happens again. I know he is a cash cow, but if he goes down we lose the money and a competitive team. Its better to atleast have a good team going forward without him as our cash cow.

2.) Our medical staff needs to go. This is not the first incident of incompetency and it is becoming a trend. First Tracy's knees, then Yao's foot, etc etc. They obviously know nothing of rehabilitation, when multiple players just flat out don't get better or have to take on extended time to recover, I don't care how nice they are or whatever, they need to be replaced for people who can do thier jobs properly. Perhaps they should of spent that six million dollars to steal away Phoenix's medical staff as oppossed to buying picks.

 

If it's on sportscenter it must be true!

 

I do too.

 

MadMax, with all due respect, you have been copying and pasting the same message ten times a week for the past year or so.

As a fan, you are entitled to your opinion to trade Yao for whoever or dump Yao for whatever. However, please get on single fact straight - Rockets has CLAIMED or certain fans like you have CLAIMED building around Yao. But the fact doesn't justify such claim.

1. When SF3 was here, Steve was option A.
2. When TMac was here, TMac was option A, except for last year.
3. In all the years Yao has played with Rockets, he has never had an above 40% 3 pointer shooter on the court with him over 20 mins a game for the majority of the season.

Look at Magic, look at those shooters, that's called building around a center.

Look at Rockets, look at the "shooters", please remove that delusion from your head. Thank you.

 

i hope yao can play next season.

he is so good when he playes within himself!! if he does, this team can go places!

 

but the rockets sure didn't build around sf and tmac

franchise player = untouchable = player team built around

 

Now we know for sure:

http://my.nba.com/thread.jspa?threadID=5800027750

 

Get Yao in a cast until training camp damn it! And can someone tell his wife to spoon feed calcium tablets to Yao... Please?!

Gortat WILL be a Rocket. Morey, you the man...

 

The team has been built primarily around Yao for a number of years. Of course ball-handling guards will have be the primary decision makers on most possessions because the ball is in their hands and its much harder to get the ball in the center's hands. But no team's offense has been more oriented towards running low post plays for a single player than the Rockets in the last 4 years. More than any other Rocket, Yao has been our focal point -- he's the guy the coaches are trying to get good looks for.

As for your (3), check Battier's and Head's stats in the 06/07 season. Since the 03/04 season, only 2 other teams have attempted or made more 3 point shots than the Rockets -- the Warriors and the Suns. A lot of that has to do with our philosophy of surrounding Yao with 3-point shooters that can spread the court.

 

http://twitter.com/RicBucher

 

Taking up that much cap space is what I call "building around." I didn't say they built around Yao exclusively. But when you're committing that much money to a guy, you get him playing time and you get him touches....that's the business of the NBA. Committing that much to a guy you can't rely on is a mistake. And I'll keep posting that, thanks. You keep posting something else as much as you wish.

but pretending the rockets haven't built around Yao Ming is laughable to absurd.