RealGM

When Yao recovers from his injury, Rick Adelman should have him coming off the bench for the Rockets. He has no business being in the starting lineup --- not with that 20-minute limit of his.

Having Yao play 5 minutes every quarter is such an awful idea, I don't know why Rick Adelman ever went along with it. Yao's presence (and absence) on the court completely alters the complexion of the game. Shuttling him in and out for little 5-minute stints is putting the Rockets out of sync. It's also not giving Yao a chance to get into a groove.

Instead of four 5-minute cameo appearances, how about just three 7-minute stints? Yao should start the game on the bench. He comes in to play the first 7 minutes of the 2nd and 3rd quarters, and then the final 7 minutes of the 4th quarter. That will be a lot less disruptive for the Rockets' rotation. And it also gives Yao a better chance at getting into a groove.

he does...at halftime and the end of games to walk in the back to the locker room with the team.

well we're not gonna get far w/o a defensive big to protect the paint. i do agree that he shouldnt play the first quarter. maybe 5min in 2nd quarter then the rest in 2nd half, or just 8min 2-4 quarter. but the defense wont be that good unless we get someone else to fill in for the minutes he's out.

Let him start the game with 2 minutes in the first, 9 minutes in the 3rd, and 9 in the 4th. At least he could get into a rhythm if he plays normal minutes in the 2nd half. I want to let him start because the beginning of the game is really important for setting a tone. I would like to see him go 100% for the first two minutes of the game and just punish the opposing team. Then he could get normal minutes in the 2nd half.

Yao come off the bench? Not a chance.

Maybe I'm in a bitter mood, but if he's honestly going to miss back to backs, and still be limited to 21 minutes constantly in and out of the lineup, I'd prefer he not play at all. But that's not happening, and in that case, I think we should/still start him, just limit his minutes in the first half, so he can actually play in the fourth quarter.