Thanks again to ClubYao’s Raymond in China for another translation of a Yao article that appeared in the Eastern Morning Paper on April 27th.

Reporter: What kind of player the Rockets should add (next season)?

Yao Ming: I think we need players that don’t get injured easily. We have many things that require to be enhanced. But if we had not had these many injuries and sicknesses, we are actually a pretty strong team this season.

Reporter: The probability of the Rockets getting the #1 draft pick is 2.3%. If the Rockets gets the #1 pick, who will you choose? If it is draft pick #8, then what will be your choice?

Yao Ming: To be frank, I knew nothing about the picks. But I would tend to think whoever is useful to our team, then he will be a good player.

Reporter: You are on the Top 3 of players that General Managers (of every NBA team) want to trade for. What do you think?

Yao Ming: I am very surprised and I feel flattered. I think I have to thank the many General Managers that endorsed and recognized the personal efforts I have put into improving my game for all these years. I feel the value of particular players should be manifested in a particular team’s game plans/strategies; I place more emphasis on whether a player can win a championship or bring extra to a team. From this perspective, the above ranking really does not have much significance to me. Moreover, I just hope the Houston Rockets won’t trade me away.

Reporter: Will you continue to play the role of the core player in the Rockets?

Yao Ming: I always cannot agree to this debate of whether I or Tracy should be the core player of this team. A player’s function is more important that just the player’s star status. Each player has his own role on a team; for example, a role player has his support role in the team. I think if the team cannot win, then this whole debate of so-called core player becomes meaningless. We have to remember that basketball is a team sport, and every player has his own role function and responsibility.

Reporter: When do you think you will peak in your career?

Yao Ming: I don’t know when I will peak. As long as my body condition won’t go downhill, then I look forward to improving and raising my game on a year-to-year basis. As far as I’m concerned, I surely do not wish I will peak too soon, as it will mean that I will go downhill once I have reached my peak.

Reporter: Has there been any psychological change with your second injury compared to your first injury within this season?

Yao Ming: I should say not much difference. But this injury has let me realize I should pay more attention to protect my own body; moreover, recovery from an injury takes time and is a strenuous process where you need to put in tremendous effort; moreover, I was not as nervous in this surgery when compared to the previous one. I have learned that I will have to treasure my own body in the future and I surely hope I will have a much healthier body from now on.

Reporter: If you can’t take part in the World Championship, who do you think is your best replacement?

Yao Ming: If I have to pick, it has to be Wang Zhizhi.

Reporter: What do you think is Da Zhi’s best position? Center? Power Forward?

Yao Ming: Da Zhi can play power forward or center. I think he is competent in both positions.

Reporter: If you are really to miss playing in the World Championship, have you considered using any other means to help the national team, for instance as its consultant, or as its cheerleader ?

Yao Ming: Any means is possible, and I think it has to be decided by the coach, and this is his job. Personally I will be extremely eager to go to Japan. Even if I cannot play, I will be there to rave and support the national team by the courtside. Of course the prerequisite is that I would not take up a player’s slot.

Reporter: What is your personal expectation of the national team for this World Championship? In what particular areas do you think the national team requires improvement?

Yao Ming: Personally I think it is more difficult to reach the Final 8 than before, but my personal goal is the Final 8. I think the changes/improvements need to come in 3 aspects: 1. No more injuries and sicknesses; 2. The players need to train more assiduously; 3. The national team must play more (in international tournaments) with strong teams from USA and Europe.

Reporter: Do you anticipate teaming up with Da Zhi in the 2008 Beijing Olympics? What is your target (position)?

Yao Ming: I very much look forward to teaming up with Da Zhi. Every one of the players (in China) are improving, and I am so full of confidence about the Chinese team. However you can’t just dream about (but you need to fight for) higher positions. As long as we as players improve our game/techniques, our physical strength, and gel as a team (to play to our best capabilities), the results will come naturally.

Reporter: Other than training your body, what do you do while you are recuperating?

Yao Ming: Surfing the Internet; reading and listening to music. Mainly just relax and rest.

Reporter: Rafer Aslton said all the Rockets players have no reasons for their summer vacation. So did they tell you they will train hard throughout this summer?

Yao Ming: I have never relaxed and not to train assiduously. You don’t worry about how a professional basketball player spends his summer vacation. Everybody will think about how to sharpen their strength and skills in the summer. As for myself, as long as my body permits me, I will continue to strive hard and increase the intensity of my training in order to become better.

Reporter: Sometime earlier, there were reports in some of the domestic media about you and Ye Li plan to get married this summer.

Yao Ming: I never discuss my personal affairs in the public.

China Radio International reports that Erik Zhang (a.k.a. Zhang Mingji), Yao’s cousin and head of ‘Team Yao,’ is healing quickly enough to maybe play in the World Championships this Summer starting August 19th in Japan.

I found this link on the NBA .com Web site. It’s odd…although Yao was named the HANNSpree Player of the Month for April, he only played in 5 1/4 games out of the 9 games the Rockets played in April. At the bottom of the story, it cites Yao’s stats for March: 15 games, 27.6 points, 11 rebounds, and 2.13 blocks per game.

Thanks to our YaoMania! correspondent Raymond in China, we now have translations of articles describing more of Yao’s recovery. Thanks Raymond!

Translation of Sohu article from April 21st:

It has been almost a week since Yao Ming‘s surgery. How is he doing? How is his wound? With these questions in mind, Sohu Sports interviewed Erik Zhang Mingji, leader of Team Yao.

According to Zhang Mingji, Yao Ming is doing great in his recovery. There is a little pain on the part (the left foot) that had gone under the knife, and he is also in a good mood. The stitches on his injured foot would be removed probably tomorrow.

Zhang also suggested that there will be 3 stages for Yao’s recovery plan. For Stage 1, Yao Ming will just need complete rest. For Stage 2, he will receive some physical therapy to speed up the circulation. Then for Stage 3, it will be strength and conditioning exercises to return to competitive shape and form. Currently, the plan is that Stage 3 will be conducted in China.

Zhang also mentioned Team Yao will send a request to the China Basketball Association to hire an experienced orthopedist to communicate with Yao Ming’s doctor in Houston to speed up his recovery. Also, Team Yao had tentatively decided that Yao Ming will return to China by mid-June, and had chosen the National Training Bureau (in Beijing) to be the venue where he will reside during his recuperation.

Yao Ming can now walk with crutches. Because it’s inconvenient for him to walk, and because he can’t take a long-haul flight, Team Yao politely declined a White House invitation for Yao Ming to attend the presidential banquet to welcome President Hu Jintao.

There had been previous reports that the Houston Rockets had turned down the CBA’s request to send doctors over to USA to inspect Yao Ming’s injury, and that the Rockets intended to stall his return (to China). When asked about this by the Sohu reporter, Zhang Mingji said those reports were totally mock-up nonsense. He said the doctor responsible for Yao Ming’s surgery called him up immediately after the surgery to update him regarding Yao Ming’s recuperation. This doctor earnestly told him that the Rockets will try to heal Yao Ming in the shortest time possible. He could not gurantee or predict the exact timing for Yao Ming’s recovery, but said they will try their best. Team Yao had also contacted the management of the Houston Rockets, who made it clear they would not intervene in Yao Ming’s return to China.

Also it was the reporter’s understanding that according to Hu Jiashi, Deputy Director of Chinese Basketball Management Centre, the CBA had never asked to send over doctors to the USA for Yao Ming’s surgery. And right after Yao Ming’s surgery, the CBA had also communicated with Team Yao numerous times, reiterating that they will not force Yao Ming into any games or tournaments. They also wanted to relay through Team Yao to Yao Ming the message that they hope he will not feel any pressure during his recuperation, and that he will only return to the court when he is 100% recovered. In short, the CBA will observe and respect scientific rules and principles, and will not issue any so-called “Return Timetable” to Yao Ming.

Team Yao also relayed Yao Ming’s appreciation to the Chinese Basketball Management Centre for the care and concern they showed before and after his surgery, and he also wants to express his thankfulness for all the good wishes from all his fans.

Translation of Tom.com article from April 22nd:

In the blink of an eye, a week has passed since Yao Ming had the surgery on his left foot. Because the surgery adopted some of the world’s most advanced technology, and was coupled with some auxiliary Chinese medical treatment in the past 5 days at his home, Yao Ming is recovering fast on his wound. The 4 stitches on his left foot were removed yesterday.

Erik Zhang Mingji also indicated that Stage 2 of Yao Ming’s recuperation will start soon now that his stitches have been removed. In a few days time, Yao Ming will start to recieve more comprehensive physical therapy to speed up the circulation, relax the muscles, and expedite blood circulation on his left foot. Erik Zhang Mingji also happily reported that Yao Ming could now walk with the help of a pair of tailor-made crutches.

A drawing was held between the Rockets and Golden State Warrioros on Friday since both teams finished with the same record: 34-48. The Rockets won the drawing and get the 8th spot in the NBA draft on May 23rd rather than the 9th. That means the Rockets have a 2.3% chance to get the top pick in the draft. Here are more details on the story.

Interesting articles from the Houston Chronicle about Yao or the Rockets probably will go dormant for awhile now that the season is over. But they did have two interesting ones today.

This one is about the kind of changes that owner Les Alexander , Carroll Dawson, Daryl Morey, and Jeff Van Gundy will make this season to the Rockets roster.

This one is about Van Gundy’s stint to be an analyst on TNT during the playoffs. Should be interesting to hear his comments on this season, as well as see him lighten up like we saw when he was a commentator a few years ago for TNT.

Kind of like how Forbes Magazine lists the most wealthy individuals in their annual issue, the ‘China Brand Academy’ does the same for Chinese citizens. Here’s the story.

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Everyone is talking about the screwy NBA playoff situation where it was in the LA Clippers’ best interests to lose Memphis this week so they could have a better matchup in the playoffs: playing a much weaker Denver team and have the home court advantage, rather than much stronger Dallas without the home court. And how Dallas finished with the second best record in the West, but they are most likely going to face San Antonio in the second round — not a good reward for playing so well this season

Well, I was talking about how it was a problem last year when the playoff seeding situation screwed up the Rockets, but no one from the NBA was listening (click here for the blog entry from May 9th, 2005). It’s ironic that Dallas is messed around this year when they easily could have been last year. Here’s what I wrote:

You know there’s a problem when it was in the Rockets’ best interest at the end of the season to lose some games so they could have played Seattle in the opening series rather than Dallas. But of course, that’s something no team should ever do. But the way the NBA is now aligned and how they award playoff seeds, it definitely creates more of an incentive to tank some games.

I know some people will argue that a winner of a division should be awarded one of the top three seeds in the playoffs, but if you ask most basketball fans what teams are in each division, they probably couldn’t tell you. Rewarding division champions with higher seeds is not fair to other teams in more competitive divisions that deserve to be placed higher in the playoff rankings. I like the idea of putting all of the teams in each conference in a big bucket like in previous years, and awarding the top seeds to two division champions, not three.

Finally it’s over! May the Rockets’ 2005-06 season rest in peace. In a microcosm of their season, the Rockets had a chance to win Wedneday night against the World Champion San Antonio Spurs, but Rafer Alston missed two free throws with 7 seconds remaining that could have won it, and that was basically the ballgame. Rockets lose 89-87.

Like many Rocket fans, I’m glad Rafer missed those free throws to give them a better chance at a higher draft lottery pick, although I still don’t think he’s the long-term answer at point guard (another abysmal 6-for-16 shooting night).

And the on-again off-again Juwan Howard scored 8 points on 3-of-11 shooting after scoring 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting in the Rockets’ last game against Denver. How come that continues to happen? Keith Bogans, who had such a great game in Denver with some clutch plays down the stretch, shot only 1-of-5 from the field for two points in 21 minutes. And David Wesley only made 3-of-11 shots for 10 points.

On the bright side, unlike Rafer who will be thinking about those missed free throws all summer, those Rockets who can go into the off-season feeling good about themselves are the following:

So who do I see sticking with the Rockets next season? Here are my initial thoughts:

Will definitely be around:
Yao
T-Mac

Will probably stick:
Stromile Swift
Juwan Howard
Chuck Hayes – finished strong and could be the hustle guy that Van Gundy always loves to have around

On the bubble:
Bob Sura – hope his back shows improvement during the off-season. When he’s playing, he’s as tough as they get
Rafer Alston – if the Rockets can find another free agent point guard this off-season, trade him
Keith Bogans – inconsistent, but played well in spurts. Could be a good backup to T-Mac.
Richie Frahm – showed he can hit the three, which the Rockets really need
Ryan Bowen – can Van Gundy afford to keep a defensive specialist on the roster who can’t score?
Dikembe Mutombo – serviceable, but if the Rockets find a more athletic backup who can score…

Gone:
David Wesley – really toughed it out this year and tried very hard, but he’s past his prime. Thanks for all your heart over the past couple of years, D-dub.
Maciej Lampe – couldn’t get any playing time, even when the Rockets were bad. That must tell you something.
Rick Brunson – see directly above

Now with the season over, I’m going to continue tracking Yao’s recovery from foot surgery as well as discuss some of the Rockets’ moves this off-season that will help improve them from having tied for the worst home record in the league this season at 15-26.

john@YaoMingFanClub.com

To see the boxscore from the game, click here.

To read the Houston Chronicle’s article about the game, click here.

Late in the fourth quarter Monday night with the Rockets down 81-68 with 4:22 remaining, they were right on schedule toward losing their 48th game of the season and improving their chances for a higher pick in the NBA draft. But then they had to go on one of their most amazing scoring runs of the season without Yao or T-Mac, outscoring Denver 18-2 the rest of the way and shocking the Nuggets at home 86-83.

Unbelievable. Give big time credit to Keith Bogans, who was involved in three consecutive huge plays down the stretch.

Down 83-78 with 1:29 remaining, Bogans stole a long pass and took it to the hole on a sweet crossover move for a layup to make it 83-80, Denver. On the very next Rockets possession with about 22 seconds remaining, Bogans again drove it to the basket along the right baseline, drew the defense to him, then kicked it out to Juwan Howard who nailed an open jumper to make it 83-82 with 19.3 seconds left in the game.

Then on a play that reminded me of the ending of the UCLA-Gonzaga game a few weeks ago, the Nuggets inbounded the ball to Howard Eisley, who was double-teamed immediately by Bogans and Chuck Hayes. Bogans was able to knock the ball away from Eisley without fouling him, and Hayes was there to pick up the loose ball, dribble two times toward the basket and slam it through for an 84-83 lead with 13.4 seconds remaining! And Houston was able to hold on for the shocking upset!

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