[Chron]Rox thrilled that Yao is playing the Olympics

If his bones weren't fully healed, he wouldn't be playing right now. Its his condition that will take a while to get back to top shape.

 

Which means he definately shouldnt be playing full time minutes in multiple games. Which means he is more likely to get injured because he isnt at 100% health OVERALL.

 

There is no substitute for getting into basketball shape. The best way is to play in actual basketball games. This is actually helping out Yao more than it is hurting him. Yes, its a risk but sometimes you have to take risk. If you watched any of his recent games in China, he looked extremely rusty. Better for him to shake it off now than to come into the NBA season all rusty and out of shape.

 

I couldn't find the older article and I'm shocked nobody here remembers it. Here is something I just pulled up. It's from a Canadian website. I hope this clarifies the issue about Yao coming back before being fully healed. Apparently the bones don't have to fully grow back together before he could resume basketball. I think it's a safe assumption the longer he waited to play, the less chance of re-injury. But based on the history of this particular injury and surgery, doctors agreed with the timetable of Yao training for and playing in the Olympics. If there were no Olympics, Yao clearly would have rested his foot for a longer period.

http://www.cbc.ca/olympics/basketball/story/2008/07/29/yao-china.html

Yao sharp in Olympic hoops tuneup

Last Updated: Tuesday, July 29, 2008



Yao Ming, centre, stands with his China teammates during the national
anthem before Tuesday's game against Angola in Nanjing.Yao Ming, centre,
stands with his China teammates during the national anthem
before Tuesday's game against Angola in Nanjing. (Elizabeth Dalziel/Associated Press)

Yao Ming turned in perhaps his best pre-Olympic performance on Tuesday, scoring 21 points in 28 minutes to lead China past Angola 83-74 Tuesday in Nanjing.

It was an encouraging showing for the Houston Rockets centre, who is still on the mend from a fractured foot as he prepares to anchor the Chinese team at the Aug. 8-24 Beijing Games.

"Yao lets us really put the pressure on the opposition," China guard Liu Wei said after the opening day of the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament.

Also, defending Olympic champion Argentina beat Iran 81-71. Iran is making its first Olympic basketball appearance since 1948.

Rockets forward Luis Scola scored 23 points for Argentina, and San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili added 15.

"I'm feeling good," said Ginobili, who was hampered by a sore ankle during the NBA playoffs in the spring. "I just want to feel even better and play more."
Stress fracture OK

Yao made eight of his 10 shots and collected five rebounds. He was also impressive running the court, showing no ill effects from the stress fracture to his left foot that ended his NBA season in February and threatened his Olympic participation.

The seven-foot-six centre returned to light training late last month after tests in Houston showed his recovery was on schedule and he was about 80 per cent healed. Such injuries usually take a year to fully heal.

Yao performed unevenly at the Stankovic Cup Olympic warm-up tournament in Hangzhou in late July, where his playing time was capped at 15 minutes per game. In the final against a Russian junior team he tallied just six points — his lowest tally as a starter for China in eight years — and missed the awards ceremony to receive treatment.

China and Angola are set to face each other in Group B at the Olympics along with Germany, Greece, Spain and the United States. The top four teams advance to the quarter-finals of the 12-team tournament.

China coach Jonas Kazlauskas said he would continue to play Yao for 25-30 minutes a game, but would also rely on former Dallas Mavericks centre Wang Zhizhi to fill gaps. Wang had five points in about 22 minutes, while forward Yi Jianlian, recently acquired by the New Jersey Nets, had 11 points.

"Of course, we always expect more from our big men," the Lithuanian coach said.