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A translated article
http://sports.sina.com.cn/k/2008-02-29/ ... 3474.shtml

Wang Meng: Some fans thought you gave up the Rockets season to make sure you can play in Olympics, what's your take on that?

Yao: To be honest with you, it's not like I can't play whatsoever right now. If I have to, I can play with my foot injury for maybe two more games. I can play the Memphis game, and I can also play the Denver game. Maybe I can play three more games, but after those three games I may not be able to walk any more. So still I can't play the remaining regular season and playoff games, and neither can I play in Olymics. It's impossible for me to give up the Rockets season, if we were playing the NBA finals I would definitely keep playing with my foot injury to finish the whole series.

Willis Reed style, eh? That would be admirable, but I'm don't see Houston making it that far...If he came back in the second round that would be something tho

yeah... good luck on that!

maybe he can steal credit for the win from TMac like Reed did to Clyde.

MnM_McgradyMing wrote:I would definitely keep playing with my foot injury to finish the whole series.

I appreciate the fact that he's thinking positively about the injury, but the Finals??? No way, it ain't happening... probably not even if he and McGrady were 100%. The West is just too tough this year. Its a shame that a good team like Houston isn't in the East. Does anyone think that if they were, that the team wouldn't be the odds-on favorite to coming out of the conference?

Tough break Yao. Rest up, dude.... and don't play for the Chinese team in the Olympics.

This was already discussed in the rockets board, he didn't mean that, he said that if the finals were RIGHT NOW, he could play because are very big games and he was hurt since some weeks ago. he didn't mean the rockets will go to the finals of the nba, thats not going to happen as much as we want.

That would be cool to see. I think if they are able to reach the WCF, he should play limited minutes.

Rockets just beat the crap out of the the Nuggets:

Nuggets 89
Rockets 103

15 straight wins for the Rockets.

After Yao went down, the talking heads for the most part concluded that Houston would be the odd team out of the western conference playoffs. Despite being hot at the time. After tonight and another blowout victory the Rockets have won 15 in a row and even more 24 of 27. I think because it was such a big blow to lose Yao, people jumped to conclusions.

What they forgot was that last year when Yao went down for 32 games the Rockets were 20-12. This years team is improved especially at the power forward position with Scola and Landry. Also with the addition of Bobby Jackson, Raefer Alston who is having a career year has someone to give him a breather who is acclimated in the offense.

Two Reasons the Rockets will easily get to the playoffs and have a legitimate shot at homecourt for the first round.

Defense. With Yao gone the rockets actually might get better defensively. Mutumbo is a better shot blocker. Also Landry who is very athletic will get more minutes. The rockets are as good defensively as anyone in the league, and can you remember the last time a team won a title that wasn't defensive minded?

Offense is much better with Adelman's offense. Right now during this run the Rockets are piling up assists averaging 26+ a game during the streak. It took the team a while to get the flow of the new offense but right now they are clicking on all cylinders. It is no coincident that Alston is having his best season as a pro. With Scola and Landry, the rockets have some of the interior scoring they lost with Yao. But the ball movement is really good and now they can score without heavily relying TMAC.

Bottom line without Yao the Rockets are still one of the better teams in the Western conference. With Phoenix looking out of sync, the Hornets being terrible inconsistent, and Utah slowing down, and the Mavs still trying to find themselves after the trade, the Rockets have just as good of a chance than any of those other teams to get homecourt.

It's not that the Rockets are bad, it's that the rest of the west is too good.

10 bucks says the Rockets lose their next game. That comment will probably jynx them (directly or indirectly).

There as good as anyone not named San Antonio or LA

I think they'll easily make the playoffs, but I don't see them making it out of the first round.

Why was this thread merged, its got nothing do with Yao playing in the finals?

I bet Yao will play in the playoff no matter how his injury heal. It's up to the Rockets to keep on rolling to the playoff.

Yao didn't mean that if the Rockets got to the Finals that he would play. He said if the Finals were TODAY, he would play because of the significance of the series.

Yao meant if the Finals were right now and his team was playing in them he would play. He did not mean he is gonna come back if we make the Finals. Comeon people...I know you guys like to hate on people but read the quote carefully please.