USA TODAY---Yao delivers breakout game for Rockets

It seems nobody has posted this article. I thought is was interesting becaue Rudy's comments on Yao Ming's playing time after Last night's game. Here is the article.



Yao delivers breakout game for Rockets

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Yao Ming was nothing more than a bit player in his first seven NBA games.

That sure changed in No. 8.

The 7-foot-6 rookie shot 9-for-9 and doubled his career high with 20 points Sunday night. Yao played his first starring role for the Houston Rockets, helping them beat the three-time defending NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 93-89.

Houston's Yao Ming dunks the ball against Los Angeles Sunday.
By Lucy Nicholson, AFP

"He understands basketball stuff very well," Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich said. "We knew that once he got comfortable, the games were going to get better, and the minutes that he will get are going to get better."

Of course, Shaquille O'Neal wasn't around to jam up the middle, and Yao took full advantage, getting 8 points on dunks.

"He definitely had an impact on this game. But it's not going to be that way when No. 34 gets back," Lakers' guard Brian Shaw said, referring to O'Neal.

Yao, the first overall pick in last summer's NBA draft, had a previous single-game high of 10 points. That's what he scored Friday on 5-for-6 shooting in 14 minutes at Phoenix.

The 22-year-old Yao played 23 minutes against the Lakers — one under his career high.

"You saw the finished product today," Tomjanovich said. "He played a great game, and the reason why we won was because of the buckets that he had down the stretch, getting to the line."

One play in particular stood out against the Lakers.

With a minute left, Yao took a pass from Juaquin Hawkins and dunked while being fouled. The subsequent free throw completed a three-point play that gave the Rockets a 90-86 lead, putting them on course for their first win over the Lakers in eight games.

"I loved him, man," Rockets guard Cuttino Mobley said. "I think I've been the hardest on him about dunking the ball.

"He dunked the ball and got that 'and one' that boosted us up and put them down."

Yao made six baskets in the second quarter and three baskets and a pair of free throws to complete three-point plays in the final period.

Lakers coach Phil Jackson changed his mind about Yao.

Before the game, Jackson said: "I feel sorry for the kid. I was hoping it wouldn't be Shaq's first game back, actually. He would break him in two. It wouldn't be fair for the kid to go against Shaquille, such a dominant force, such a dynamic amount of energy."

After the game, he said: "The big kid was really good tonight. He was the difference in this game."

Still recovering from offseason surgery on his arthritic right big toe, O'Neal was complimentary when asked about Yao before the game.

"He has all the tools — shoot, dribble," O'Neal said. "He can play. He's no slouch."

Yao scored 30 points in 99 minutes in Houston's first seven games — averages of 4.3 points and 14.1 minutes.

It was a different story Sunday night.

"For me, it's definitely a breakthrough," he said through an interpreter. "I have realized that I have to take advantage of my opportunities and be more aggressive at the offensive end."

Yao played one minute in the first quarter, 10 in the second, and all 12 in the fourth.

"He was there — a big body defensively, and offensively he gave us a boost," said Steve Francis, who led the Rockets with 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists. "I was happy that he was aggressive and dunking the ball."

Houston forward Maurice Taylor added: "I don't think this is the best you're going to see. There's going to be a lot more."