Even Spurs know rocket's problem: No ball for Yao Ming

http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/spurs/story.cfm?xla=saen&xlb=211&xlc=883945


Spurs cast wary eye at Rockets rookie

By Johnny Ludden
San Antonio Express-News

Web Posted : 12/03/2002 12:00 AM

HOUSTON — David Robinson will get his second look at Yao Ming tonight. Provided, of course, he can see clearly enough to distinguish Houston's 7-foot-5 rookie.
The Spurs' David Robinson is still nursing a sore right eye poked by Karl Malone on Saturday.
Edward A. Ornelas/Express-News

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Robinson was still suffering Monday from inflammation in his right eye after getting poked by Karl Malone in Saturday's win over Utah. The Spurs listed Robinson as probable for tonight's game against Houston, but the team's medical staff will continue to monitor his condition.

Robinson skipped the Spurs' light workout Monday morning to get his eye examined by a local doctor. Though it appears he has not suffered a serious injury — he twice had the eye checked during Saturday's game to see if his cornea was scratched — the eye is still sensitive to light.

Robinson dropped to the court after Malone backhanded him in the face under the basket with 2:38 left in the first half of Saturday's game. He left to receive treatment, but returned 15 seconds later and finished with a game-high 10 rebounds and three blocks.

After the game, Robinson struggled to keep his eye open.

"It feels like there's something in (the eye)," Robinson said.

The Spurs would like to have Robinson's 10.1 rebounds per game when they face Yao tonight at the Compaq Center. Though Yao struggled against Robinson and Tim Duncan in his first NBA appearance during the preseason — "They left a deep impression on me," he said after the game — he has since improved considerably.

Prodded by his teammates to dunk more, Yao started to use his overwhelming size to finish stronger at the rim. He scored 20 points against the Los Angeles Lakers, who were missing Shaquille O'Neal, on Nov. 17. Four nights later, he totaled 30 points and 16 rebounds against Shawn Bradley and the Dallas Mavericks.

For the season, he's averaging 9.3 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting a ridiculous 66.7 percent.

"He's not a finished product," Houston forward Maurice Taylor recently said. "He's a 22-year-old. He has a lot of work to do. The scary part is how good he can be when he is finished.

"We knew he had skills. We want to get his toughness. We want him to go over everybody. We want him to dunk everything he can. And he knows what we say when we say 'dunk it.'"

To dunk the ball, Yao must first have it in his hands and the Rockets haven't appeared too eager, especially of late, to run their offense through their center. During Houston's just-concluded five-game West Coast trip, Yao averaged only 5.2 shots per game.

Yao took just three shots — none in the second half — in Sunday's lopsided loss at Sacramento, prompting Houston Chronicle columnist Fran Blinebury to write:

"Maybe somebody could climb up the side of that 7-5 mountain of a body and plant a flag at the highest elevation, like Sir Edmund Hillary on Mount Everest. Perhaps it could be arranged to have a set of those blue runway lights that allow pilots to land planes in the dark and fog wired to the top of his lofty head. ... Anything to help the Rockets locate Yao Ming."

While Yao may have recently struggled to attract the attention of his teammates, the Spurs have taken notice of him.

"He's a good player," said Manu Ginobili, who has experienced similar growing pains while adjusting to his new teammates. "If you don't respect him he can do many things.

"He's probably had some trouble finding out how to play here. You can't come over and just do your thing. I'm sure he'll get even better once he learns the league."

jludden@express-news.net



12/03/2002