Re: Yao's fitness helps his game with Rockets <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>MIAMI - This sort of thing had seemed over, part of the recent past before everyone moved on to the next story line.Besides, the NBA had all but outlawed centers, anyway, reducing the annual showdowns of Yao Ming and Shaquille O'Neal from throwbacks to anachronisms.The whole thing seemed very 2004, an era ago by sports standards.They never met last season, while the Rockets crumbled and the Miami Heat, led by a blur of a guard, Dwyane Wade, rose to NBA champions.But then Yao began this season on a roll and dismantled the Knicks on Friday. O'Neal came back from a bruised right knee Friday.Suddenly, the Rockets game at Miami tonight, while offering the first test of a week stepping up in weight class, could give Yao a chance to measure himself against the reigning heavyweight champ."That's a big challenge," Yao said. "I like it. I think he is special. He is a totally special player. No man is like him. No player looks like him."The same, of course, has been said of Yao. The top scoring center in the NBA this season and last, Yao's average of 26.2 points per game is a career high. His 59.6 percent shooting is better than any among the top 50 scorers.Yao has been so effective, Tracy McGrady called himself a complementary player and repeatedly called Yao "the best center in the league," without forgetting who was waiting in Miami tonight."We all know Shaq's not what he used to be," McGrady said. "He doesn't move as quick as he used to, and he was out for a few games. He may be a little rusty."Hopefully, Yao will have that upper hand, stay out of foul trouble, get Shaq in foul trouble and we come out with a win."My man's come a long ways. He works extremely hard. He wants to be great."The Rockets tend to celebrate Yao's development and success because they see the work he puts in to get there."He works harder than anyone on our team," Shane Battier said after Yao led Friday's win. "He stays late. Games like this don't happen by accident."The next film sessions likely will focus on Yao's turnovers and ways to avoid the foul trouble that has slowed him on the Rockets' last road trip to New Orleans, Memphis and Milwaukee.Yao had eight turnovers against the Knicks. New York's most effective defense was with 6-8 Renaldo Balkman working to beat Yao to position and guards rushing to surround him.The Heat, with O'Neal and Alonzo Mourning, likely won't go as small. But in Wade, Gary Payton and James Posey, they have quick-handed defenders to harass him.When asked if Friday's was Yao's best game, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said: "In some areas, but in other areas, not. He'll continue to strive to do what he does really well and we're going to continue to strive to work on those areas that will help us if he can improve a little bit."His turnovers and foul trouble are issues, but if Yao can force Miami to double-team him, it would open opportunities for teammates, chances the Rockets' need while McGrady is struggling with his shot."It's crazy to me because if I go out and have a subpar game and I don't shoot the ball well or play well and I get 13 points, every team I've been on, we're going to lose the game," McGrady said. "The role is kind of reversed now. I'm the distributor now and I like that role."Even if O'Neal is not scoring the way he used to ? he averaged 13.7 points in his three games ? he commands double teams, and when Wade drives to the basket, defenders cannot leave O'Neal to help.The Rockets are beginning to enjoy the same benefits and the hope it can stand up against the center Yao once called "the mountain in my way.""He's really carrying us right now," guard Rafer Alston said.He's doing what the top centers always have done, even if they are no longer fashionable.</div>http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4328576.html
