Gobbledycnk
02-27-2008, 02:34 AM
By Erik Matuszewski and Mason Levinson
Feb. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Houston's Yao Ming will miss the rest of the National Basketball Association season because of a stress fracture in his left foot, an injury that jeopardizes the Rockets' playoff chances and his Olympic hopes.
The 7-foot-6 Yao, who was averaging a team-leading 22 points and 10.8 rebounds a game, will be sidelined for about four months before beginning a rehabilitation program. The Beijing Olympics start Aug. 8.
The Rockets won their first game without Yao last night, beating the Washington Wizards 94-69 to push their winning streak to 13 games. Houston has the best record in the NBA since Jan. 1, climbing within three games of the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers, yet is 29-34 in games Yao has missed over the past four seasons.
``I felt so horrible walking in this building knowing I need to tell coach and my teammates the situation,'' Yao, 27, said during a news conference yesterday.
``When coach tells everybody I am out for the season, everybody is quiet,'' he added. ``That kind of quietness makes me feel kind of scared. It was quiet like nobody was there and you just feel alone. But I trust my teammates will move forward.''
The Rockets' last loss, on Jan. 27 against Utah, came in the only previous game Yao missed this season.
Houston is in sixth place in the Western Conference, where the top eight teams are separated by 5 1/2 games. Ten clubs in the West have a winning record, compared to five in the East. The top eight teams from each conference make the playoffs.
`High to a Low'
``It's a pretty big swing from a high to a low,'' Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey said of the impact of Yao's injury. ``It's certainly going to be more difficult. The West is more difficult, but we feel like our supporting cast is superior to when we've played without Yao for an extended stretch.''
Dikembe Mutombo replaced Yao last night and the 16-year veteran had four points, six rebounds and four blocks in his first start of the season.
``Yao is leaving this job to me to finish the season strong,'' Mutombo told reporters after the game. ``I didn't play that much in the first half of the season so I think there is a lot left in my tank to finish the season strong.''
Yao sought help after feeling soreness and tenderness in his left ankle and team physician Dr. Tom Clanton said he likely suffered the fracture within the past two weeks. Clanton said he's recommended surgery, though Yao could also have his foot put into a cast and undergo therapy.
Second Opinion
Yao, who also sustained major injuries in each of the previous two seasons, will seek a second opinion on whether surgery or therapy is his best option.
``I do the best I can do, training myself, getting strong, protecting myself, but with the injuries, I don't know why they're happening,'' said Yao, who's averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds over his career. ``Maybe I'm just an unlucky guy.''
An All-Star during all six of his NBA seasons, Yao has helped increase the NBA's popularity in China, the world's most populated country, since he joined the league as the top pick in the 2002 draft.
The Chinese sports ministry says basketball is played by 300 million people in the country and is the most popular sport with youths. Yao said yesterday he's concerned about possibly not being able to represent his home country in the Olympics.
``If I cannot play for my country in the Olympics this time, that would be my biggest loss,'' Yao said.
Last season, Yao missed 32 games with a broken bone in his lower right leg. The Rockets finished with a 52-30 record, losing to Utah in the first round of the playoffs.
During the 2005-06 season, Yao played in only 57 games after breaking a bone in his left foot during an April loss to Utah. The Rockets missed the postseason, finishing with a 34-48 record.
Im devastated, it seems like every year some shit happens and prevent the rockets to win the NBA championship. :frown: :frown: :frown:
Feb. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Houston's Yao Ming will miss the rest of the National Basketball Association season because of a stress fracture in his left foot, an injury that jeopardizes the Rockets' playoff chances and his Olympic hopes.
The 7-foot-6 Yao, who was averaging a team-leading 22 points and 10.8 rebounds a game, will be sidelined for about four months before beginning a rehabilitation program. The Beijing Olympics start Aug. 8.
The Rockets won their first game without Yao last night, beating the Washington Wizards 94-69 to push their winning streak to 13 games. Houston has the best record in the NBA since Jan. 1, climbing within three games of the Western Conference-leading Los Angeles Lakers, yet is 29-34 in games Yao has missed over the past four seasons.
``I felt so horrible walking in this building knowing I need to tell coach and my teammates the situation,'' Yao, 27, said during a news conference yesterday.
``When coach tells everybody I am out for the season, everybody is quiet,'' he added. ``That kind of quietness makes me feel kind of scared. It was quiet like nobody was there and you just feel alone. But I trust my teammates will move forward.''
The Rockets' last loss, on Jan. 27 against Utah, came in the only previous game Yao missed this season.
Houston is in sixth place in the Western Conference, where the top eight teams are separated by 5 1/2 games. Ten clubs in the West have a winning record, compared to five in the East. The top eight teams from each conference make the playoffs.
`High to a Low'
``It's a pretty big swing from a high to a low,'' Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey said of the impact of Yao's injury. ``It's certainly going to be more difficult. The West is more difficult, but we feel like our supporting cast is superior to when we've played without Yao for an extended stretch.''
Dikembe Mutombo replaced Yao last night and the 16-year veteran had four points, six rebounds and four blocks in his first start of the season.
``Yao is leaving this job to me to finish the season strong,'' Mutombo told reporters after the game. ``I didn't play that much in the first half of the season so I think there is a lot left in my tank to finish the season strong.''
Yao sought help after feeling soreness and tenderness in his left ankle and team physician Dr. Tom Clanton said he likely suffered the fracture within the past two weeks. Clanton said he's recommended surgery, though Yao could also have his foot put into a cast and undergo therapy.
Second Opinion
Yao, who also sustained major injuries in each of the previous two seasons, will seek a second opinion on whether surgery or therapy is his best option.
``I do the best I can do, training myself, getting strong, protecting myself, but with the injuries, I don't know why they're happening,'' said Yao, who's averaged 19 points and 9.2 rebounds over his career. ``Maybe I'm just an unlucky guy.''
An All-Star during all six of his NBA seasons, Yao has helped increase the NBA's popularity in China, the world's most populated country, since he joined the league as the top pick in the 2002 draft.
The Chinese sports ministry says basketball is played by 300 million people in the country and is the most popular sport with youths. Yao said yesterday he's concerned about possibly not being able to represent his home country in the Olympics.
``If I cannot play for my country in the Olympics this time, that would be my biggest loss,'' Yao said.
Last season, Yao missed 32 games with a broken bone in his lower right leg. The Rockets finished with a 52-30 record, losing to Utah in the first round of the playoffs.
During the 2005-06 season, Yao played in only 57 games after breaking a bone in his left foot during an April loss to Utah. The Rockets missed the postseason, finishing with a 34-48 record.
Im devastated, it seems like every year some shit happens and prevent the rockets to win the NBA championship. :frown: :frown: :frown: