I pretty much agree. Even if Yao stays, he can't be the main guy. With TMAC and Yao together, if one went down well at least you still had the other. You need a legit superstar opposite Yao so that if/when he gets injured, the impact is somewhat minimized. Artest is not that guy. The plan of trading TMAC's expiring contract for a couple of solid role players ain't gonna work either. I'm not opposed to keeping Yao as long as we don't overpay him and we bring in a guy to be the new franchise player. If we can't bring in a legit #1 guy because of Yao taking up too much cap room then I think we have to let him go. We can't count on him to be there when it counts. And if your #1 guy isn't there in the playoffs, the chances of you winning anything are very slim. You can't rely on Yao as the go to guy because chances are he's going to get injured. If/when that happens, if we don't have a guy on the roster capable of carrying the team, we're screwed.
I wholeheartedly disagree. He played 77 this season and probably could've played all 82 if it weren't for taking games off for precautionary reasons. This is after he played in the Olympics which is arguably more important (even though it will never happen as long as the NBA doesn't start losing top tier talent overseas) than an NBA title to Yao. He's actually going to take an ENTIRE summer off without basketball. He WILL come back hungrier than ever. We will be back with a healthy Tracy McGrady, which, want to believe it or not, makes Yao better. No more fronting endlessly. No more consistent double teams. Yao's best season as a professional are on their way.
No way in heck would I give him a max contract at the end of this one. His decline will be a rapid one and if his feet are this brittle now, what will they look like in 3-5 years?
Like I said in recent past, we are stuck with him. He brings in much revenue. Very talented, but can't stay healthy, gets winded, and is mentally weak in the 4th quarter when the game is on the line.
Yao foot problems turning out to be like Bill Walton's. I hope Yao can have a healthy season next year. I don't know if the current weight he carries is the problem if it is would a lighter Yao do well in the post? How much did he weigh when he first got in the league and carrying less weight help?
if i were yao,i would not be on the floor in the second half, just for himself, for his career,for a big contract.with a broken foot,feelling good? without yao, 20+10, we can get the 5th place in western? opportunity to face the lakers?wake up! the money may be not the first thing yao considers,but u.really shame.
are you guys crazy? I bet Yao would take 1m contract as long as he is the 1/5 of the starter line and there is hope to the ring. he is the one who takes honor much over $$. + his retired life in China is insured. there is no issue about $$ but respect when you sign a guy like Yao.
I can't believe some of y'all. Yeah, it sucks Yao got injured, but it's not the end of his career in Houston.... calm down....
Unless we can get Tim Duncan, Dwight Howard, or Andrew Bynum (sigh), I wouldn't even think of a trade. We atleast need to take care of Tmac's salary cap hogger of a contract first......
Yao and TMac are pretty close to done. One has brittle bones, the other has no heart. Yao should go back to China where he gets respect anyways. The NBA officials have always had a different rulebook for Yao.
It's such a pain to see these posts. Yao was injured in the 2nd quarter and held on to play till the end. Why? No back-up guy as big and as good as him. He just couldn't give up his dream and leave his teammates fighting for him. He has a brave heart. Yes, you may say that the injure could have been not so serious if he quitted and rested after the 2nd quarter. But remember who he is bleeding for!!!! Shame on you.
that is right,yao get older and older,moreover,his body also get worse and worse,especiall his leg.it will miss the best chance if rockets dont trade him now.
i want to ask that too. i guess the info will eventually come out. didn't yao skip a game (like the 2nd last) in the regular season because of a sore ankle? i wonder whether that's the same ankle and area.
it doesn't matter how it happened. this is the 3rd straight year with the same foot. it's going to happen next yr, the year after, and so on. foot problems are expected for big men as big as yao. rik smits, Z, and now yao. yao will still be able to play, but he's not gonna last long to see a championship even if we have the best team.
are you guys blind? this is a blessing. james white hasn't missed a shot in the playoffs. GOAT playoff performer.
I know its going to sound ridiculous but I think yao should be limited to playing the second half of the season that way he doesn't have as much wear and tear on his body and as far as him playing for China I think that needs to stop also
