Yao Says He Could Return to Basketball Activity in 6 months??

Speaking as someone who rushed a rehab of a major surgery, I have one sad prediction. He will rush out of the gate and make historic progress until he gets tendonitus and that will delay him until 2010. Hopefully, his patriotism will not get the best of him and have him rush back for the national team and cause even more delays for 2010.

Above all, the team should recognize his physical limitations and GET HIM OUT OF THE PAINT. Maybe not completely, but with his shooting, there is simply no excuse for him to be taking such abuse every time down the court. He passes and shoots extremely well for his size. His ability to stretch the defense is the most under-utilized part of his game, IMO.

 

This is the mindset he and the team absolutely have to avoid. This season is already over. Unless he wants his career to be over as well, he needs to forget about next year.

 

True. Time will tell. Scenarios change and if the team is in contention for a playoff berth and Yao be given the green light to play then why waste the opportunity? Yao is not getting any younger so any opportunity, as long as HE IS CLEARED TO PLAY, should be grabbed.

 

Maybe I am remember wrong, but there seems to be a few examples of players who were out for a long time, decided they were well enough to come back, and basically went right back down after a short while... and then had to stay out longer. I am thinking Arenas, Dunleavy Jr., and Brand. Are there others? It kind of seems like that it's just not all that easy to know what "100% recovered" means in the case of some of these injuries. Maybe it's just best to err on the side of caution.

 

Just curious as to why you think him being in the paint is an issue. Isn't his injury from lumbering up and down the court at 300lbs+? Running seems worse for feet than staying in one general location (like the paint).

 

Probably you can add Tmac. After last off season's surgery, He tried to play and later had to shut things down. The blame should be on the medical staff, They should not give the green light if they feel that rest and healing is still needed. In Yao's case, He should be cautious but if the opportunity is there and He is given the go signal by the medical staff and management then He should try to go for it.

 

i agree w/ dave, yao being in the paint has nothing to do with his foot injury!

besides its general basketball knowledge that you have a better chance to score the closer to the basket you are. why would someone who is 7'6" tall being jacking up 15-20 footers? Yao belongs in the paint

 

There are no shortcuts. He should come back October 2010 period. I don't understand why is there a need to further discuss this.

 

the fact that most of the banging and physical activity takes place in the paint? box out? having to move his feet v. physical contact of 2-3 players most of the time? having to rotate from one side to another to get the ball?

i think running up and down the court is nothing. that's like saying yao shouldn't do cardio.

the reason Z is prolonging his career b/c he's a jumpshooter now. all he does is camp outside the paint and wait for a lebron's pass. that'll make it easier on his body physically.

 

Wishful thinking

He should take it as slowly as possible and not make a rush comeback

 

That seems to be the general concensus. But if we're in the playoff hunt (it's possible) and Yao's been cleared by the doctors I can't see Les being able to force him to sit out. And Les will make that call.

 

His contract and his career in general is winding down. If he wants to prove his worth to the team and to the rest of the league he has to do whatever he can to make an impact as soon as possible. Yao is getting paid big bucks because he has a huge impact when he is on the floor. If he can be out there, he should.

The Rockets have high goals and expectations every season. Yao is a huge part of that, and if he can play down the stretch next year, he should. I don't see any major advantages of making him sit if he can play.

The advantage of getting him on the floor ASAP is contention.

 

Sorry if this has been answered already, but does anyone know if the injury exception that was granted to the rockets will effect when Yao is able to return to the floor?

 

Morey's a beast. He uses every resource available to him.

 

yao is just lying i think

 

He is an opportunist. He will pounce when the right scenario comes along. a good poker player.