Reuters: Yao Ming a Great Wall Around Rockets Basket

Yao Ming a Great Wall Around Rockets Basket
BY JEFF FRANKS
Reuters

HOUSTON - The Houston Rockets said on Tuesday they have quickly learned one thing about their newest player, Chinese basketball star Yao Ming: do not take the ball to the hoop if he is anywhere near it.

In just two practices since arriving in Houston on Sunday, the 7 foot 5 inch center has sent a clear message that he is an imposing presence around the basket and something akin to the Great Wall for anyone who thinks they can dunk over him.

During a five-on-five drill on Tuesday at Compaq Center, the Rockets' home court, high-scoring forward Maurice Taylor flew to the basket with a jam on his mind, but Yao, barely elevating off the floor, rejected the ball and sent Taylor earthward in a crumpled heap.

A slight smile crept across Yao's face while Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich beamed with happiness.

"Everything's been going good. I had a hard time sleeping last night just thinking of a lot of different things we could do -- he's mobile, he's active," gushed Tomjanovich.

The Rockets made Yao, 22, the number one pick in this year's National Basketball Association draft, betting that he would parlay his size and mobility into NBA stardom.

But his only experience has been with the Shanghai Sharks in the China Basketball Association and on his country's national team, so questions remain about his ability to compete in the NBA.

After practices on Monday and Tuesday, all-star guard Steve Francis told reporters that Yao already was answering some of the questions.

"He's putting up good defensive pressure on the inside. A couple of times I had to throw my shot up a little bit high just to get it over him," said Francis, who stands 6 feet, 3 inches tall. "A lot of teams are going to think twice about going through the middle (on us)."

Simply put, Francis said, "He's biggest guy I've ever seen in real life -- really, really, really, really big."

Yao has impressed on offense, too. His usually accurate outside shot was off on Tuesday, but he set picks and passed well as he learned the Rocket offensive schemes. He took one pass down low, whirled and easily laid up a basket over 7-footer Kelvin Cato.

"He can see over the whole defense. He's been making pinpoint passes to guards on the weak side of the court," Francis said.

For his part, Yao seems to be enjoying his introduction to the NBA while realizing that it may take a while to become the star that he was in China and the Rockets hope he will be here.

"I've got to learn the speed of the (NBA) game and have patience with that, also the physicalness of it," he said through an interpreter after Tuesday's practice.

"If I want to make it in the NBA I've got to be strong like Kelvin Cato," Yao said, showing deference to the Rockets' starting center last year and the man he likely will replace before very long.

But basketball is not the only adjustment that Yao will have to make now that he has signed a four-year, $17.8 million contract with the Rockets.

He does not drive a car, speaks halting English and finds it hard to figure out where he is in Houston's suburban sprawl.

"We got a little lost on the way over here. The roads are long and vast," Yao said.

To ease the transition, Yao's mother has moved to Houston to live with her son his first year in a new land.

Tomjanovich, whose team has not made the playoffs the past two years, has vowed not to rush Yao along during the transition, but his resolve seemed to be crumbling after watching him up close for two days.

He hinted that Yao could see his first NBA action on Wednesday in a preseason game with the San Antonio Spurs.

"I'd like to play the guy tomorrow. Anything can happen. I'm tryin to be a live-in-the-moment type guy," a happy Tomjanovich said.