Finally some news on the Yao front — it has been awhile.

Yao has been recuperating from foot surgery in Houston since the end of the season, but would like to return to China once he finishes his rehab work in Houston so he can practice with the Chinese National Team. Right now he’s only 50% sure if he’ll be able to do that, but he should know more in about 2 weeks. Read more in this Houston Chronicle article.

This article seems to contradict what was stated in another article written a couple of days earlier on June 14th where it said Yao was going to return to China within the week. In that article, it said Yao would be working out with personal trainer Anthony Falsone for rehab work. But I know Falsone has stated in the past that he doesn’t do rehab work on athletes, but focuses on post-rehab and general strength and conditioning. In addition, in the first article article mentioned above Yao stated, “I’m really looking forward to going back home, but not yet. I need to do some part of rehab here. I think it’s better here because once I go back to China there is nobody that can help me.”

So if you’re in China and your awaiting Yao’s return, there are still mixed signals on when it will be. In the meantime, I’ve got to think Yao has been watching from Houston the NBA Finals and visualizing what it will be like to play in one someday.

Here’s a link to a very interesting article about the tallest guy in China – Sun Ming Ming – who is trying to make it in the NBA.

Yao will be “the face of international wildlife conservation organization Active Conservation Awareness Program WildAid” and has filmed a commercial spot to raise money for the group. Click here for the article.

An interesting article appeared today about a camp in Beijing that had some promising 7-footers participating. Even Orlando’s Dwight Howard was impressed.

Raymond in China and myself translated another article for us a from a few days ago. Coco Yi Xiaohe interviewed Yao’s trainer Anthony Falsone, and here is a synopsis.

Perhaps he is the person Yao Ming likes most, and also the one he most fears. Most likely, it’s because he is the guy who put 50 pounds (22.7 Kilograms) on Yao Ming over the past 4 years while still maintaining his 6% body fat. Perhaps he is most feared because he didn’t let Yao Ming off the hook even during a rare vacation.

He was so proud of this achievement, and so happy that he had the chance to work with one of the most hardworking and self-motivating players in NBA. His name is Anthony Falsone.

Read the rest of this entry »

We’ve got a monster translation from Raymond, our correspondent in China, from a piece on Yao on Sina.com. Listed below are some of the highlights of the article. Thanks for the 3 hours you put into this translation, Raymond!

1. The Toyota Center is forlorn and empty these days during the off season. In the parking lot, only 2 cars are parked there everyday. One is Yao Ming’s BMW, and the other is an SUV that belongs to Rockets assistant coach Tom Thibodeau.

2. Currently, Yao Ming is the only Rockets player that comes to Toyota Center to train. The cast on his left foot was discarded almost 3 weeks ago. He can walk without crutches and drive, but just cannot run quickly. Yao Ming decided to end his own vacation. He had taken rest for over a month since he had broken his foot in Utah on April 10. Every day his life was just confined to his bedroom, dining room, toilet and Warcraft. So a little over a week ago, he decided that this kind of “everyday is Sunday” life should be over.

Read the rest of this entry »

I was ecstatic to read early this morning in a Houston Chronicle article that former Rocket Mike James, now a free agent, would love to sign with Houston this off-season! I was hoping James would want to come back. Now the Rockets have a chance to make up for the shocking move of trading away an offensive weapon they really could have used last season.

If you have been reading this blog for the past 9 months, you certainly have read my countless entries about how I thought the Rockets traded away a valuable asset. And with Tracy McGrady‘s health being sketchy probably for the rest of his career, the Rockets need to find more offensive firepower because T-Mac is always one tweak of the back from being out of the lineup.

James is one of the most sought after free agents this off-season after having an outstanding season, averaging 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per game, and was fourth in the league in 3-point shooting (44.2%). Check out his log of games this past season, and you’ll see he had scored 30 or more points in 14 games this season. James is not a one-dimensional player like everyone thinks he is; he also dished 10 or more assists in 10 games on a poor Toronto team.

And don’t think that the Rockets already have a point guard in Rafer Alston and can’t afford to have both of them. James is more of a scorer than a PG, and it was a mistake by the Rockets to try to turn him into a pure point guard — similar to how Phoenix Suns coach Mike D’Antoni admitted it was a mistake to try to make Leandro Barbosa a point guard. Even James thinks he can play alongside Alston:

“I definitely could see myself on the court with Rafer. I think I could help him out a lot. And could you see me, Rafer, Juwan (Howard), Yao and Tracy on the court together? Teams could not double off anyone.

“Everybody talks about my point-guard play, says I’m not a pass-first player. I’m not. I’m a make-the-play player. Whatever it takes to make the play, that’s what I’m going to do. Whether it’s scoring or passing, I’m going to make the play.”

So Houston, don’t do what the Houston Texans did in passing up a difference maker (Vince Young) who badly wants to play for you. If his pricetag isn’t too outlandish, do the right thing and sign James.

The Houston Chronicle has an excellent article on Yao’s desire to get back to work, even when injured. The article also talks about his desire to play in the World Championships for the Chinese National Team later this summer.

The Lakers’ big 31-point loss to the Suns in last night’s Game 7 reminded me of the Rockets’ lackluster 40-point Game 7 loss last season to the Mavericks almost one year to the day (May 7th). There was so much hype and buildup for both games, and they turned out to be duds where the Rockets/Lakers couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn.

Rocket fans all knew how Laker fans felt having their world collapse around them, especially myself who witnessed and suffered last year’s debacle in person.

What’s sad for both the Lakers and Rockets is that they had a chance to win their first-round series in Game 6, but couldn’t get the job done.

You can bet the Lakers are going to make some good (and bad) moves in the offseason in reaction to the embarrassment. If they overreact and trade their point guard — Smush Parker (1-of-6 from 3-point territory) — like the Rockets traded away Mike James last season, then I wouldn’t mind the Rockets picking up Parker to give Rafer Alston some competition at point guard.

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.