[Yahoo] Rockets could lose Yao for season—or longer

Couple of thoughts:

1. Sucks for Yao more than anything. Not just because you know the guy has a ton of pride. But because, regardless of whether or not he is fealing pain right now, this is the guy's foot....the one that he will want to use for the rest of his life...you know, to walk and stuff.

2. Blessing in disguise? I had as much hope as anyone the DM could craft a championship team around Yao, but even before this news, it was increasingly clear the team was one Yao injury away from plans being completely ruined. Forget about even knowing if a healthy Yao-led team would get much further than where they got.

The team effectively had Yao healthy for most of last year and still won less then half the games needed to be crowned #1. Yao got his first series win. etc, etc.

Yao MAY be back, maybe next year, maybe in two seasons, maybe never.

But you can be fairly certain that Les' opinion on the situation has changed. he will still be faithful to his investment in Yao, but if one thing about Les is clear, it's his desire to win. Whereas before he might have been reluctant to fully understand the health implications of crafting a team around Yao, it should be pretty clear now what Yao will never be able to do, and the team can move forward with new plans.

 

Just saw the Chron.com article. Damn!!!!!!!!

 

Lol, it's not China Nolocke. Japan even made a skyscraper size Gundam/Macross robot replica that even lights up at night. Surely they can make something for Yao. Like another leg is your suggestion? Nice.

 

I'd trade TMac and Brooks for Baron Davis and Chris Kaman.

 

nonunion fracture - it's not something you ever want to hear. Permanent break along the line that's not healing, nor will it. Even if they surgically intervene, given that this is already a rebreak, chances are slim that the bone will ever be as strong as it was originally.

Add that to the fact that Yao's frame is already too much for human bone to withstand in a contact sport....

It's how it was always going to end with Yao. It's just a matter of when he ends up taking a medical retirement. (I'm not saying he will have to because of this particular injury...yet)

I wish him the best. I want him to retire a Rocket, no matter what. He's on the short list of players (past or present) I'm genuinely proud to say I get to cheer for.

The Yao-McGrady era wasn't going to garner a championship, especially not after McGrady put himself above the team last year.

My vote is for a tear down and rebuild through the draft. You don't trade for a new franchise player if you want to win - you draft him. I want no part of phony stars like Zach Randolph, Baron Davis, Amare Stoudemire. Cancers don't lead.

Evan

 

The one thing I'm disappointed in was the previous statement 5 or 6 days ago from the Rockets that his foot was healing slowly. Now we know they were hiding the truth.

 

Yeah no kidding, to me it looks really really really really bad. From the article:

Clanton expected the hairline fracture that ended Yao’s season, his fourth bone injury in the past four seasons, to have healed when Yao returned from China for a CT scan last week. Instead, it not only healed, but Clanton said it grew worse. He said doctors will also try to determine whether Yao has suffered a loss of blood supply in the area, causing the injury to heal more slowly.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mplkn/6503064.html

 

Yes and also T-mac isn't being traded but Morey has to pick up the phone when it rings. LMAO!

 

So what happens if Yao's career is over, but he still exercises his player option for 2010? Can we get an injury exception so he doesn't count against the cap that summer?

 

I am thinking this might be more like our "Jordan playing baseball" kind of season (though this team is, obviously, not the 3 time champion Bulls team).

Unless the Rockets areally try hard to tank (not sign Artest, even if the price is reasonable, give away major pieces, sit guys out even if not necessary) there would seem to be too much talent, and too much pride, on the team to be bad enough to get a top pick, unless we are talking about lucking out when having a relatively small chance.

It may be time to pick up Rodman, Kukoc and Harper to make another run when (if) Yao comes back.

 

That is the CT data, but he has no pain, no swelling, it is confusion. I think he needs different tests, and different treatments, Chinese medicine?

 

Sucks for the Rockets. Yao will exercise the player option on his contract and eat up some much needed cap space. Now, the Rockets wont have any money to sign some good players.

 

Sooooo ummm....could this potentially make TMAC a good player again for his last year in Houston before we trade him (if we do) or his contract expires?

I mean, with no Yao he'll want to prove he can carry this team.

 

please don't do this rockets. please don't hope and wish that yao is coming back and build as if he is. please don't pin our hopes on the guy who constantly gets injured might come back from this injury. that's fool's gold.

 

MOTHERFU**ER

 

I always wondered if the shoes he wore could have affected his feet. Are different brands different or are they all the same regardless of if you wear Nike, Reebok, Adidas etc?

 

Big difference, Jordan didn't miss a season due to injury.

 

they knew he was healthy

they knew he wasn't already super-injury prone.

they knew he was coming back

entirely different scenario.

 

Oh and this is why I wish that somehow we could have gotten Hasheem Thabeet instead of looking at point guards that we dont need.