Yao starts Year Two in formidable fashion THIS was just a new building. A year ago, it was a new country, a new culture, a new experience for which he could prepare but never really be ready. This was just a new head coach, smaller in stature and maybe sterner in demeanor. A year ago, it was a whole new life. Year Two for Yao Ming began with a nifty eight-foot fadeaway jump shot from the right side of the hoop, officially the first-ever basket scored at the plush, pleasing palace. That's history. Which is quite fitting, since the Rockets expect him to make a lot more of it inside the Toyota Center's walls. The evening began with the unfurling of those championship banners from the past and the retired jerseys of the former greats. The night surely ended with visions of Yao's jersey and maybe future team glory dancing in the heads of the 18,189 who came to the christening. In between, new head coach Jeff Van Gundy got to empty his entire bench in a 102-85 romp past the Nuggets. There was good ball movement, quick passing, an offense that frequently recognized opportunities, and some weakside defense that looked aggressive and solid. But if we are to list the significant changes from 12 months ago, the bright red stylish uniforms, the appetizing menus at the concession stands and even the new man in charge on the bench all take a back seat to Yao. A year ago, the raw, promising rookie shot 0-for-1, scored zero points and pulled down two rebounds in an NBA debut more notable for its political and social ramifications. This was all about basketball. "I feel a little bit like how I felt when I played for the Shanghai Sharks," Yao said. "You know, when I'm in Shanghai, I'm at home." This, of course, is his new NBA home, the place the Rockets hope he can turn into his own castle, his fortress, a place where he will rule like a king in the same regal fashion as Hakeem Olajuwon. "I really hope that I can have the same kind of success someday as Hakeem," Yao said. "I have seen everything that he has accomplished, what he meant to the Rockets. I am jealous of that success. Someday, maybe." Even with Yao playing only 20 foul-plagued minutes, someday seems a little closer than it did on opening night in Indianapolis a year ago when he appeared so nervous, so timid. After opening the building with the first bucket, Yao added another on the Rockets' second possession of the game, a step-back seven-footer from the left side. He then went up strong to the basket, drew a foul on Denver's Marcus Camby and made it the first half-dozen points on the new home court. Maybe there was none of the pizazz or sizzle the crowd might have expected from the Rockets' pre-game introductions -- where is the bang for the buck from that new high-tech scoreboard? -- but there were plenty of early fireworks from Yao. "At the beginning of the game, they couldn't stop him," said Steve Francis, who was controlled yet explosive. "We kept funneling the ball to him, and I thought he did a nice job of noticing when they were doubling him." Yao finished with 19 points in his 20 minutes of work, going 6-for-8 from the floor and 7-for-8 from the foul line. Van Gundy the worrier naturally focused on Yao's five fouls and three turnovers. But what others might have seen were those three blocked shots, including a back-to-back pair on high-profile rookie Carmelo Anthony during one first-quarter sequence. "Hey, people did that to me in my first year," Yao said laughing. This was a Rockets team that seemed to grasp the notion of reaping benefits from running much of their offense through Yao. "He is the centerpiece, and they are getting him the ball more," said the Nuggets' Jon Barry. "There is absolutely no way of defending him. He has a great understanding of the game." Just as important this time around, a better understanding of his place in the game and on the team. Last season there were so many new things to digest, literally and figuratively, and so many distractions. Now it is about basketball. "I have a better feel of the game," Yao said. "I have a better rhythm. I can get more involved." This is why the player in him wanted to come to the NBA: to test his skills, not his tact and grace as an ambassador from China, though he handled all of that very well. "Last year on the opening night, I was a bench player, and now I am in the starting five," Yao said with a chuckle. "Say something good about that." New season. New building. Even from the tallest, new growth. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/bk/bkn/rox/2193604
