Any Stories from Rocket Practices?

They may want to keep it closed door for now. Perhaps the media becomes a major distraction.

 

shhhh.... we're keeping the info on Nashbar secret.

 

They broke a sweat.

 

Here's what I know:

Francis and Cato drank Gatorade. The other guys stuck to water.

About 15 minutes into practice Taylor was seen using a towel to wipe the sweat from his face.

Yao continued to be taller than the rest of the team. Coaches are happy with the way his height is progressing.

Trainer Keith Jones was seen rubbing some sort of heating balm on Tito Maddux.

Moochie opted for braids instead of the blown out fro.

Rice prefers to put a bag of ice on his left knee before his right knee.

Francis and Mobley got into an arguement over whose earring had the most carots. They had to be separated by team enforcer, Jason Collier.

I really can't say much more than that at this time.

 

Dunno where you got your info, but Francis is off the Gatorade (seriously). It has too much sodium, which causes the Meniere's disease (headaches, blurred vision) to fire up...

 

was the team enforcer wearing his official enforcing mask?

 

From Ming's friend Yang Yi's report yesterday, Ming's hurted ankle is still very painful. He cannot jump now. His translator suggested to put him on illness list to give him a total rest. Because now he only takes conservative treatment on his ankle. Ming said he just cannot do that. If he does that everybody in China will say he is afraid of Shaq because their first game is expected at Nov, 17th.

 

I don't even think Shaq will be ready come Sunday when the Rockets face the Lakers. He is still one or two weeks away from returning to the LA line-up, according to an ESPN article.

Yao does not need to worry about his battle with Shaq, or how his fans will react to him going on the IR. He just needs to get himself healthy for the 2nd half of the season.

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1108/1458107.html

 

windandsea,

Please give us the links for Yang Yi's articles. I think there might be some things on Ming's mind that the American media don't know about.

 

http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2002-11-11/1019347925.shtml

 

Thanks.

So Ming is still hurt. Can't even run without feeling the pain. Does the coaching staff know about it? Now I think putting him on the IR for 5 games makes sense.

He seems to be very pumped up about playing against Shaq. Too bad Shaq won't be ready on Sunday. Ming will be disappointed. But I think it's actually good for him. Wait till January and he will be better equipped to battle the big guy.

 

This is from Chron, not sure if it's already posted:

Passing model

The Rockets can only hope Yao Ming responds as well to seeing Portland center Arvydas Sabonis in person as he did to watching Sabonis pass the ball on tape Monday.

Yao had one of his best practices with the Rockets on Monday, passing the ball especially well.

"Yao Ming was cooking out there," Rockets guard Moochie Norris said.

"(Sabonis) is a master," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "The guy's tremendous. We saw a play the ... Colts could get 15 yards on, a statue of liberty, dribble across the middle, flip with Sabonis, with a big man across the middle.

"Yao brought it up. He said Sabonis is really something. He has a flair in how he does it. Yao has a lot of those instincts. He made passes today in practice that were just awesome, hitting people for layups. Those are things as times go on will translate into the game.

"The off day did him good. He had a really, really good practice, very sharp. We worked on some of his defensive issues he has to work on. He's grasping the philosophy and technique. We'll have ups and downs on that, but a noticeable difference."

Yao said he was inspired by watching Sabonis' passing, but that he would need time to be comfortable with his teammates.

"I've watched him pass the ball a lot," Yao said. "I've used him as a reference.

"Chemistry is a very important part of passing. (It is improving) a little bit, but I have to understand their tendencies better."

Morris returns

Rockets forward Terence Morris returned to practice Monday, working with no restrictions for the first time since spraining his left ankle Oct. 18.

"He can play," Rockets trainer Keith Jones said. "He's going through full practice. We might try to get him a few more days of practices, but he's doing well."

 

TMo!

 

I am glad to hear that Ming is modeling himself after Sabonis. Sabonis is the best passing center in the world hands down. He is better than 99% of the point guards in the league. I'd say only Magic, Kidd and Stockton is on the same level as Sabonis.

 

Thanks for the scoop on Ming's ankle, windandsea.

Maybe this is why Rudy is limiting his minutes? That would make sense.

 

"What is that stuff?"

"Liquid heat"

"It burns"

"You should feel it when I don't mix it with water"

Bonus movie quote! Anyone?

 

The Program? Varsity Blues?