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[NBA.com] The clock is ticking for Yao, Rockets

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by J.R., Sep 27, 2010.

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J.R. Member

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Please lock/move if necessary, thanks.

by Fran Blinebury

Not since Jack Bauer was chasing terrorists, spies, dirty bombs and assassination plots across TV screens has the number 24 loomed with such significance.

Lean in close to the Houston Rockets and you almost hear the clock loudly tick...tick...ticking.

That's because 24 is the number of minutes their All-Star center Yao Ming will be strictly limited to as he makes his latest comeback from injury, reconstructive surgery on his left foot, which will have kept him out of the lineup for nearly 18 months by opening night of the 2010-11 season.

According the Rockets' medical team and the front office, it is a firm cap. No exceptions, no changes, no wiggle room.

It's also because 24 is the number of hours in every day that Yao spends plotting, planning, scheming and hoping to eventually explode right through that hard cap and become more than just a part-time contributor in what the Rockets are hoping can be a redemptive season.

...

Management is already looking ahead to next summer and the possible changes to the collective bargaining agreement with the players' union that could impact the roster going forward. Point guard Aaron Brooks and forward Shane Battier are a couple of key components who will be due their turn at the pay window as their contracts expire next summer.

And then there is the 7-foot-6 Yao, who will become literally the biggest free agent on the market next July 1.

Thus, the Rockets are in the possibly conflicting position of being in a hurry to do all they can right now while also looking out for their own -- and Yao's -- best long-term interest by taking it slow.

Yao admits that he argued about the 24-minute-a-game limit with Dr. Tom Clanton, who performed the latest surgery on his left foot, when he had his last examination in late July and was given clearance to return to the team.

"Right now, it's better than nothing," said the seven-time All-Star center with a shrug and a grin that tells you he's wearing it like a hair shirt.

"I felt that...I am out of patience after one year away. I kept telling myself, 'Be patient.' This injury cannot be helped in one day. But...I felt this season is about to start. It's time to get going."

Next to Yao himself, the man facing the biggest challenge is coach Rick Adelman, who will have to come up with a plan to dole out those 24 minutes per night. Does he rejoin the starting lineup, playing the first six minutes in order to develop a feel and a rhythm? Does he come off the bench? Do those minutes have to be saved up through the second half in order to have Yao available to finish games?

On the eve of training camp opening, Adelman had said it was "unrealistic" to expect Yao to play right up to the 24-minute limit right from the start of the season.

"Yao is the big unknown," Adelman said. "I don't think it's fair to say he's going to play 24 minutes. It's got to be something that he feels comfortable with, and it's going to benefit our team, in the long run. It's something we just have to gauge."

For their part, his teammates say they are delighted to have even a part-time contribution from Yao and will make whatever adjustment and accommodation is required, having already had plenty of experience in that area. Yao missed at least 25 games with injuries in three straight seasons from 2005 to 2008 and the entire roster has often been depleted over the past five years.

"The best thing to come out of the last couple of years with the guys who have been here is the knowledge you have to come out and play regardless of who is in and who is out, who may be playing, who may not be playing," said Battier. "Daryl (Morey, general manager) was telling us a stat: The top five injured teams in the league averaged 34 wins. The last five years we averaged 51 wins and we've been the sixth-most injured team in the NBA. It develops a mindset...Go out and play with whoever is in the lineup that night."

There is a difference though between playing to survive for your self-respect and playing to reach the playoffs, then make a run to advance far next spring, which they insist is a goal within their reach.

That's where more of Yao will have to come in.

"How hard can be 24 minutes?" he asked.

Tick...tick...tick.

The Rockets are about to find out.
Click to expand...

http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/fran_blinebury/09/26/twenty-four-yao/?ls=iref:nbahpt1

#1 J.R., Sep 27, 2010

ScolaIsBallin Member

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#2 ScolaIsBallin, Sep 27, 2010

1 person likes this.
YaosDirtyStache Member

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Yao being out there for any stretch is much better than Hayes/Andersen combo for 48 min a game. I am looking forward for Yao to be out there for every second he is allotted, strictly because he is still gonna impact the game for every moment.

He will be fine and we will be great.

#3 YaosDirtyStache, Sep 27, 2010
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I can't wait for Yao to light up the Lakers on opening night and shut up all the doubters and haters.

#4 Someguy1229, Sep 27, 2010
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YaosDirtyStache said:

Yao being out there for any stretch is much better than Hayes/Andersen combo for 48 min a game. I am looking forward for Yao to be out there for every second he is allotted, strictly because he is still gonna impact the game for every moment.

He will be fine and we will be great.
Click to expand...

SRSLY?

#5 kjhwang, Sep 27, 2010
amaru Member

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He's right......this is a pivotal year for the franchise.

#6 amaru, Sep 27, 2010
YaosDirtyStache Member

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kjhwang said:

SRSLY?
Click to expand...

Either my sarcasm meter is broken or you must love the combo of undersize/softness with a total lack of legit offense from the 5 position.

#7 YaosDirtyStache, Sep 27, 2010

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I hope Blindberry's time as a writer in any capacity is ticking.

tick tick tick...

#8 Jontro, Sep 27, 2010
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I agree with the article, this is a HUGE year for the team and Yao. I hope Yao can increase his minutes so the club can get a fair assessment before making the big decision next summer.

#9 rockets934life, Sep 27, 2010
vcchlw Member

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kjhwang said:

SRSLY?
Click to expand...

I think he's talking about last year.

#10 vcchlw, Sep 27, 2010
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name 1 center that can hold yao......

im waiting....? there are none thank u

#11 josh_is_white, Sep 27, 2010
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What an empty article. It added nothing new to the discussion that hasn't been hashed over a thousand times, already.

#12 Raven, Sep 27, 2010
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josh_is_white said:

name 1 center that can hold yao......

im waiting....? there are none thank u
Click to expand...

From the 25 min onward, any center in the league can outperform Yao.

#13 Raven, Sep 27, 2010

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"Right now, it's better than nothing," said the seven-time All-Star center with a shrug and a grin that tells you he's wearing it like a hair shirt.
Click to expand...

This is a weird sentence. I don't event know what it means...

#14 BowlingBaller, Sep 27, 2010
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"......forward Shane Battier are a couple of key components who will be due their turn at the pay window as their contracts expire next summer."

surely he cant be serious....
Battier most over rated played ever

#15 SunsRocketsfan, Sep 27, 2010
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SunsRocketsfan said:

"......forward Shane Battier are a couple of key components who will be due their turn at the pay window as their contracts expire next summer."

surely he cant be serious....
Battier most over rated played ever
Click to expand...

Who is gonna guard Kobe, LeBron, Durant, etc? He is a big part of our perimeter defense against star players.

#16 Someguy1229, Sep 27, 2010
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SunsRocketsfan said:

"......forward Shane Battier are a couple of key components who will be due their turn at the pay window as their contracts expire next summer."

surely he cant be serious....
Battier most over rated played ever
Click to expand...

Over-rated?

Who the hell over-rates him?

The guy is a huge key component in the locker room and is still an above average player.

Put the haterade down.

Not to mention according to a recent poll he is the 8th smartest player in all major sports combined :grin:

#17 RocketMania1991, Sep 27, 2010
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#18 roflmcwaffles, Sep 27, 2010

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Battier is underrated, if anything. But we digress...

#19 OremLK, Sep 27, 2010
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josh_is_white said:

name 1 center that can hold yao......
Click to expand...

<a href="http://photobucket.com/images/hakeem%20olajuwon" target="_blank"><img src="http://i625.photobucket.com/albums/tt336/J_d33zy_979/hakeem-olajuwon.jpg" border="0" alt="OLAJUWON Pictures, Images and Photos"/></a>

sorry for the big picture but he is THAT epic

#20 Thefabman, Sep 27, 2010

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