Yao out for season with left foot injury By KRISTIE RIEKEN, AP Sports Writer 23 minutes ago All-Star center Yao Ming is out for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, a stunning blow to the surging Houston Rockets. General manager Daryl Morey made the announcement Tuesday, hours before the Rockets put their 12-game winning streak on the line against the Washington Wizards. Yao was having a terrific season, averaging 22 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. "It is not an injury we feel he can play with," Rockets team doctor Tom Clanton said. "I've made the recommendation that it be treated surgically and we are working with him to get other opinions just to be certain that that is indeed what should be done." If Yao chooses surgery, Clanton said, it would involve placing screws across the bone to hold it together. The second option would be to treat it with a cast and crutches. Both options involve a healing time of about four months. Clanton would not say when Yao could play again, but said he doesn't expect the center to miss the Beijing Olympics in August. Morey told the team before Tuesday's shootaround, and added he doesn't believe the injury compromises Houston's playoff hopes. The Rockets were 36-20 entering Tuesday's game. "We've been playing exceptional ball and Yao's been a huge part of that," Morey said. "We feel very confident about our playoff push. We've managed to step up and play well without Yao in the past and coaches and players feel confident that we're going to continue to play well and make the playoffs this year." Morey acknowledged that it was difficult news to receive when the team has been playing so well. "It's a pretty big swing from a high to a low, with how we were playing," Morey said. "We feel like our supporting cast is superior to when we played without Yao in the past. We remain ready for the challenge ahead." Clanton said there was no specific event that led to the injury, but rather an "accumulation of stresses on the bone. Yao first experienced soreness and pain in his ankle before the All-Star game and tests were done Monday when the situation didn't improve. This is Yao's fourth major injury in the last two years. He missed 32 games last season with a fracture in his right leg and 21 games in late 2006 with a toe infection that required surgery. He missed four games in April 2006 after breaking his foot. Houston went 20-12 when Yao was injured last season. The Rockets, who remain in seventh place in the tough Western Conference despite their winning streak, will now have to rely heavily on 41-year-old Dikembe Mutombo. The 17-year veteran has been averaging just eight minutes per game. On Tuesday, the Rockets signed Bobby Jones to a 10-day contract and released Adam Haluska. While it took more than two weeks to discover Yao's injury, Clanton said it sometimes takes months to diagnose. "This is something that can be treated," he said. "We are catching this at a very early stage." Clanton informed Yao of the extent of his injury, and said the player was worried whether he'd be healthy in time for the Olympics. "I told him this was not anything he could have personally prevented," Clanton said. "I think that reflects on the character of the young man. He was very interested in the team and how it would affect the team." http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080226/ap_on_...bkn_rockets_yao
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 21 2008, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does this relate to the <s>Nets</s> Warriors AT ALL?</div>
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 26 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 21 2008, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does this relate to the <strike>Nets</strike> Warriors AT ALL?</div> </div> I don't see any problem with the GSW board having their own thread on it. We've made our own threads on all kinds of random OT stuff since as long as I can remember back to JBB. Its very relevant to GS fans because the Rockets are one of the teams we're competing with to make the playoffs. As for the story, you obviously never hope for a guy to have an injury but its good news for us from a basketball standpoint. Its looking like a war of attrition right now, which of these teams will fall off due to injury or whatever other reasons. Portland is already out, Denver has been slipping lately. We've been a little stale the last 6 games or so but granted its been without Jackson and Biedrins for a lot of games. If we can make it through this stretch without Biedrins with a winning record I like our chances to close out the season strong. You would think the Rockets will fall off without Yao but you never know. Adelman has been known to go small and they have the personal to possibly pull that off for the remainder of the season.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Run BJM @ Feb 26 2008, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 26 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 21 2008, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does this relate to the <strike>Nets</strike> Warriors AT ALL?</div> </div> I don't see any problem with the GSW board having their own thread on it. We've made our own threads on all kinds of random OT stuff since as long as I can remember back to JBB. Its very relevant to GS fans because the Rockets are one of the teams we're competing with to make the playoffs. </div> Yeah...me neither. I figure there's nothing wrong with it. But try telling that to playaofthegame and MasterShake. http://sportstwo.com/forums/Final-Blockbuster-t112450.html
its more that we don't need too many threads about it, location doesn't have anything to do with why i posted the original link, but i don't care either way, its good to get a lot of discussion going here
I also believe in the xenophobic Golden State Off-Topic threads that allow these Warrior fans to share their thoughts in a much more appropriate and elitist environment. Xenophilia is for pussies, obviously.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 26 2008, 07:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Run BJM @ Feb 26 2008, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 26 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 21 2008, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does this relate to the <strike>Nets</strike> Warriors AT ALL?</div> </div> I don't see any problem with the GSW board having their own thread on it. We've made our own threads on all kinds of random OT stuff since as long as I can remember back to JBB. Its very relevant to GS fans because the Rockets are one of the teams we're competing with to make the playoffs. </div> Yeah...me neither. I figure there's nothing wrong with it. But try telling that to playaofthegame, Joker, and MasterShake. http://sportstwo.com/forums/Final-Blockbuster-t112450.html </div> I never mentioned it being wrong, either. All I said was by posting threads in their proper forums, we can spread the activity. Way to accuse a fellow Nets fan.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Feb 26 2008, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I also believe in the xenophobic Golden State Off-Topic threads that allow these Warrior fans to share their thoughts in a much more appropriate and elitist environment. Xenophilia is for pussies, obviously.</div> Anyone is welcome to join in on the discussion. We just like having our own threads for certain topics, especially since this is big news for us.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Run BJM @ Feb 26 2008, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Feb 26 2008, 08:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I also believe in the xenophobic Golden State Off-Topic threads that allow these Warrior fans to share their thoughts in a much more appropriate and elitist environment. Xenophilia is for pussies, obviously.</div> Anyone is welcome to join in on the discussion. We just like having our own threads for certain topics, especially since this is big news for us. </div> I was just poking fun. I really do like the GS forum.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Joker @ Feb 26 2008, 09:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 26 2008, 07:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Run BJM @ Feb 26 2008, 07:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Feb 26 2008, 06:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Feb 21 2008, 04:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>How does this relate to the <strike>Nets</strike> Warriors AT ALL?</div> </div> I don't see any problem with the GSW board having their own thread on it. We've made our own threads on all kinds of random OT stuff since as long as I can remember back to JBB. Its very relevant to GS fans because the Rockets are one of the teams we're competing with to make the playoffs. </div> Yeah...me neither. I figure there's nothing wrong with it. But try telling that to playaofthegame, <s>Joker</s>, and MasterShake. http://sportstwo.com/forums/Final-Blockbuster-t112450.html </div> I never mentioned it being wrong, either. All I said was by posting threads in their proper forums, we can spread the activity. Way to accuse a fellow Nets fan. </div> My fault...for some reason, I got you and MasterShake mixed up for a second. Sorry.
All I can say is Yao is fun to watch. He makes 7 footers look small. Plus, he's a stud in fantasy ball if he wasn't so injured all the time. The Rockets might have to look at how they want to build this team because Yao is a difficult guy to build around as is Baron Davis (both are expensive, they've shown to be hurt a lot. Not sure if Baron's fully recovered or trying to make it to payday... I don't know). If we look at Yao, he's really big and he needs touches. But you can't count on him being healthy being that big and you can't count on the others to feed the big man inside. Some of those Rockets just don't have a clue in feeding the big man down low. Plus, if Yao's the slowest guy on the court, the Rockets need tougher defenders around him to guard in transition and help out. Scola's too weak defensively and the other PF's are too small. There's not too many consistent shooters on the team. But the Rockets do play above average D in a halfcourt setting and they can really slow the game down to their advantage. I really wasn't surprised that Yao got hurt again because big men that are too big often succumb to all kinds of foot, ankle, knee injuries relatively early in their careers. Just because the guy is bigger doesn't mean his bone structure and joints are any stronger than that of a guy the size of Mighty Mouse Stoudamire. It's all made of the same material. Yao was like my Marcus Camby fantasy ball drafting a few years ago. The run was good while it lasted, but you know the guy was going to get hurt eventually. Let's just pray Baron doesn't get hurt like that. He's a big point guard and he's got constant back, shoulder problems, and he's being played more minutes than Baron would have liked. But I'm sure we'll be okay for now because Baron hasn't signed that max deal yet.