More photos of Yao and Hakeem’s workout on Tuesday have been posted in the YaoMania! forum. Click here to check ’em out (scroll down to the bottom of the page).

Here’s some video from the historical Hakeem-Yao workout that took place at Toyota Center on Tuesday.

Last but not least, here are some quotes that both Yao and Hakeem provided to the press after the workout:

From Hakeem:

* “It’s amazing how agile he is for a guy of that size. He’s so smart because he understands the game. He’s just looking for the things that he can do so that he can enhance the skills that he’s already got. He just has to dominate the game. He has so many advantages because of his size and skill so I’m just showing him little things that he can do to consistently be a dominating player. It will be scary to see what he can do in the future.”

“The important thing for him because he is playing so well already is just how to dominate the game. He has all the advantages and he’s so skilled. Little things he can do to make him be a dominant player consistently. It’s scary to see what he can do in the future.”

From Yao:

* “I’m learning the mentality from him. I don’t know how many times I heard him talk about being dominant. That’s why he can be ‘The Dream.’ The mentality is the biggest difference between him and me right now. I hope not far in the future that I can do things like him.”

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What a beautiful sight: Yao receiving some welcome instruction from Rocket Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon today at Toyota Center. Click here for more photos from the workout.

I just got this sina.com translation from Raymond about Yao’s workout with Hakeem today. I’ll post more articles as they are written by other members of the Houston media over the next day or so.

Toyota Center, deserted and silent for the past several weeks, suddenly became lively today. Hakeem Olajuwon and Yao Ming, the old and new centers, separated by two generations, that were instantly recognizable by every Houston Rockets fan, appeared together on the training court.

Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon arrived at Toyota Center around 11:00 am in the morning; he first entered into the changing room to chat with Yao Ming for almost half an hour. Then the two of them went to the training court to start the training session which lasted some 40 minutes. The training was behind closed door and not open to the media, but after the training, both Hakeem and Yao Ming showed up in front of the media to accept interviews.

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Our YaoMania! correspondent Raymond has translated an article that appeared on tom.com/Titan Sports today about Yao’s thoughts on Jeff Van Gundy leaving the Rockets, rehabbing his shoulder, and other topics. Here’s the translation:

It was something that was well anticipated, but when it did occur, there was still a tint of sadness that went with it. Jeff Van Gundy will not appear again in Toyota Center. That well-illuminated little office that worked late into the night is now empty and forlorn. And those trademarks (bald head, black eye sockets, Diet Coke, and the sound of his walking without his shoes on) that had led the Rockets for 4 years will never be seen again.

Then two days later during the season-ending meeting, Yao Ming and Tracy McGrady were called into new GM Daryl Morey‘s office. They were told there was still a possibility that Jeff Van Gundy will stay and remain in the office, but the team is also in search of his replacement candidate. This in fact had indicated whether Jeff Van Gundy can stay is dependent on whether Rick Adelman is willing to come to Houston.

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Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle got some good quotes from some of the Rockets’ players the other day. You can read those quotes here, or you can read some of the quotes below along with some of my commentary:

Regarding Yao working out with Hakeem Olajuwon over the summer:

“It would be a great chance for me, if I can learn from him, one of the best centers in the NBA history, and particularly a legend for the Rockets. I would love to. I’m working on it.”

Regarding his plans over the summer:

Yao Ming will have what he called a “small surgery” on a toe, possibly preventing the troublesome toenail from growing back. He said he expected that procedure to keep him from working out for only “a couple weeks.”

He said he will likely train with the Chinese national team for a short period this summer but will have no competitions.

“I need some training,” he said. “I’ll take the first month off and then get back to training and work on my skills.”

About the Rockets’ commitment to improve during the off-season…

“Generally, CD (Carroll Dawson) told me from his experience, our team definitely will be getting better and I believe it. I love to believe it,” Yao said. “We need more experience. We need player that can finish the game and can play under the pressure, like in the playoffs.”

Hmmm….that last sentence is very interesting for obvious reasons.

Feigen also got this interesting quote from Dikembe Mutombo:

“I just spent a week with my kids, and I talked with my wife about it again,” Mutombo said. “I’m just frustrated with the fact there was a chance to go to the second round, at least. After contributing the way I did contribute during the course of the season, I felt I did deserve a little time in the playoffs to play. The opportunity was not given to me. I’m a little bit disappointed about it.”

So not only has Van Gundy managed to piss off rookies (e.g. Vassilis Spanoulis) and veterans (i.e. Bonzi Wells), but also LEGENDS OF THE GAME like Dikembe. What a shame. If the Rockets get rid of Van Gundy, will you consider coming back, Deke?

Speaking of Spanoulis, Vassilis had the following to say:

“Now is time to rest a little bit, to clear my mind for a big season for me, maybe the toughest in my life, in my career,” said Spanoulis.

“I want to speak with the guys and know what’s going on with my future. We’ll see. I have a contract. I can’t say now nothing. I have to clear my mind, rest and get with the guys up in the office who showed me a lot of love and support this year.

“I love this team, but I have to think what is best for my future. The people here showed me a lot of love, a lot of support a lot of advice this year.”

I find it interesting that Spanoulis said “the guys up in the office who showed me a lot of love and support this year.” That would mean Carroll Dawson, Dennis Lindsey, and Daryl Morey. To me, that shows the front office personnel might have been frustrated with how Van Gundy was handling Spanoulis (as well as other players, perhaps). Based on that alone, don’t be surprised if Van Gundy is gone.

I was able to talk to Yao, Shane Battier and Luther Head after Game 5 on Monday night. Before getting access to the locker room, there were probably 20 members of the media waiting outside the door during the 10-minute period when the locker room is kept private.

When the doors finally opened and the media was allowed to enter the locker room, there must have been 15 reporters and cameramen that immediately surrounded Yao as he sat at his locker. Yao was still in his basketball shorts with his shirt off, and his legs were extended out in front of him.

It was funny when Dikembe Mutombo, sitting a couple of lockers over from Yao, jokingly yelled out “Security!!” and was shouting at the reporters to not step on Yao’s feet. It was quite humorous because he ranted in jest about a minute on it. That’s not unusual for Deke. He seems to be quite the locker room crack-up.

However, Dikembe had a point because I noticed how closely a couple of cameramen were standing around Yao’s feet. I even said “watch his feet” to a couple of guys right next to me because they were so close to his feet, and if they moved one inch, they would have stepped on his bare toes.

Well, in the middle of his interviews, Yao moved his leg to get more comfortable, but he had to do it blindly since he couldn’t even see his feet because all the microphones in his face were blocking his view to the floor.

When Yao did move his leg, wouldn’t you know it: he accidentally hit the leg of a cameraman with his sensitive big toe that had been operated on last year (and still looks torn up), and he let out a painful “aaaahhhhh!!” That’s when the media wisely backed up from his feet and gave him some space. Fortunately, Yao was fine and he was able to continue with the interviews.

Anyway, I was able to ask Yao about a key bucket he had late in the game where he was able to lay it in over Mehmet Okur without any problem, and asked what he did differently on that play to get such good position (compared to the other 12 shots he missed out of 18 attempts). Yao responded…

“I missed a lot of shots because I was thinking about it too much sometimes. On that one, I have a very clear mind. I don’t care about (getting my shot blocked). I just go quick.”

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Yao is swarmed Friday after the Rockets’ practice leading up to Game 1 of Saturday’s showdown with the Utah Jazz. Click here for more photos from the practice.

Our Raymond has translated an interview that Titan Sports did with Yao after Wednesday’s loss against the Utah Jazz in the final, but meaningless, regular season game against the Utah Jazz.

In the interview, Yao talks about how much work he has put into reading the scouting report of the Jazz players, how he tries to increase his confidence leading up to the game, how he wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about the Jazz, and other insightful tidbits.

He may have had games where he has scored lots of points, like the past two games where he scored 27 points against Detroit and 32 against Indiana. But Yao is still not fully back in shape after returning a couple of weeks ago to action from his leg injury where he missed 35 games.

In this article, Fran Blinebury of the Houston Chronicle gives us insight on how hard of a worker Yao really is as he tries to get back into condition.

Yao says, “I feel my post moves are still not quick enough. Some of them because my knee still bothers me a little bit. Not much. But if you just slow it that much, then you cannot pass (a defender).”

His teammate Shane Battier has noticed Yao’s fatigue. Battier said, “It’s the plays that require discipline, like a pick-and-roll rotation, where he has to cover for somebody. Sometimes when he gets fatigued, he may be a step late. To the common fan, they may not realize it. But we know it’s conditioning. That will all come. He’s gotten better every game. He’s still not 100 percent, I don’t think.”

“The amazing thing is how he’s kept his touch,” Battier said. “That’s been the most impressive part. He’s moved better since they took off the knee brace. But when he plays hard for long stretches, there are just those little things he can’t do that are all about conditioning.

“But you have to remember that he’s asked to do a whole lot on the offensive end for this team. It’s not like it’s me, who’s just out there running around and shooting 3s. He has a heavy-ended load, and we’re looking to go to him every single time down the floor. I get tired just looking at him.”

Juwan Howard gives his perspective on Yao’s recent success where he has scored 32 points and 27 points in his last two games. “We’re not surprised at all,” Howard said. “He’s a big-time player, and big-time players make plays. Yao knows how to play the game. He’s a good shooter. He’s a knowledgeable player. He has a high basketball IQ. You talk about a player like that, he’s going to perform at a high level.”

Head coach Jeff Van Gundy states, “He does look a bit tired. But I don’t think that’s due to the injury. I think he’s always looked a little tired late in games.”

Yao stated, “Actually, I feel much better. I can run much longer. That fourth quarter (against Detroit), I think I was not aggressive enough. I need to take more shots. There were times — when Kirk (Snyder) goes baseline and steps out of bounds and we have a turnover — I think that’s my fault. I need to know the time, know the position, and I need to take that shot. Not just throw the ball to him in trouble.”

Battier finishes by continuing to praise Yao for his dedication. “He doesn’t exactly look like he was eating Krispy Kremes while he was out,” Battier said. “Yao is probably the most disciplined player I’ve ever played with in terms of preparing and getting his body right and staying ready. The guy watches film in his sleep. So I’m not surprised that he’s been able to come back and play the way he’s playing.

“What really makes you feel good as his teammate is knowing how hard he’s going to work to make himself even better.”

Raymond has translated another interview that Titan Sports conducted with Yao Ming last Friday at the beginning of the Rockets’ recent road trip to Atlanta and Orlando. In the interview he talks about the brace support that concerns Jeff Van Gundy about his return to the court in mid-March. Thanks Raymond for all the hard work in translating this very long interview!

TITAN: So how do you feel now that you’re back to the days of traveling by plane, living in hotels, coming in and going out of visiting team’s changing room, and sitting with your teammates in the same place?

TITAN: You mentioned earlier you must maintain 6 hours per day for your rehabilitation such that you can return to competitive form and shape as soon as possible. How can you guarantee that 6 hours of rehab now that you’re traveling with the team?

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Here’s the latest translation from Raymond of a Sohu.com interview of Yao in Atlanta with some candid revelations on what he’s facing practicing with the team again.

Sohu Sports: Yao, do you worry a bit, if you have to pivot on your right leg and make movements?

Yao Ming: Maybe we are in different situations. He is still playing with the team and therefore he has this kind of feeling. I have been away from this team for a long while now. I don’t have this kind of feeling yet. Maybe after I return to court, after I recapture my form and condition and my confidence, then I will have this kind of feeling. Now I do not have this kind of feeling. I have been idling on the bench for too long now.

Here’s a different publication for you: the New Zealand edition of MSN has an article (via Reuters) recapping some of Yao’s statements in Vegas at a press conference. Not much is a surprise here, other than it’s pretty clear that Yao isn’t all that thrilled to be in Vegas since he is having to do intense rehab work there just like he would if he were in Houston, and feels an obligation toward the fans to at least be in Vegas because they voted him into the game.

Not reported is that Yao also said that he regrets he cannot spend the Chinese New Year with his parents in Houston. You have to give credit for Yao having balance in his life, and at the age of 26 he still likes hanging out with Mom and Dad.