ATLANTA HAWKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of why we gave Joe Johnson so much damn money. He does lead us in points, but will we make it deep in the playoffs….of course not. ( same as last years resolution)

BOSTON CELTICS

We the Boston Celtics resolve to let Rondo shoot nothing but threes for an entire game, just to see what happens….

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

I, Paul Silas resolve to survive the entire season.

CHICAGO BULLS

I, Derrick Rose resolve to continue dominating basketball, postgame interviews  and my acne.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

We resolve to continue to be a horrible team until Dan Gilbert can finally complete the cloning of LeBron James, let the clone grow to 18 years of age, then draft him with the #1 pick in the 2030 Draft.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

I, Lamar Odom will drive to Galveston Beach each off day so I can look at the ocean and remember what once was.

DETROIT PISTONS

We the Pistons resolve to find some food for Austin Daye, and to have Ben Gordons arms chopped off!

DENVER NUGGETS

We the Nuggets resolve to be extremely grateful that Coach Karl is back and healthy!

GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS

I, Coach Mark Jackson resolve to stop yelling “Hands down, man down” to everyone on the team, every possession.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

We the Houston Rockets resolve to continue pitting Chase Budinger, and Chandler Parsons against each other until they are forced to fight to the death.

INDIANA PACERS

We resolve to let Physcho T run into the stands at least once this season.

L.A. CLIPPERS

We resolve to keep our racist ass owner away from Chris Paul, and keep Chris thinking that Frankie Muniz is indeed the owner of the team.

L.A. LAKERS

We resolve to plant testosterone tablets in Pau Gasol’s drinks throughout the season.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

We resolve to get Tony Allen as far away from our team as possible.

MIAMI HEAT

We resolve to win the Finals, not for LeBron but for original man: Juwan Howard.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of signing of Mike Dunleavy Jr.!

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

I, Kevin Love resolve to rebound every ball, on every shot, from every basketball game in the world.

NEW JERSEY NETS

We resolve to play in Brooklyn until Brooklyn realizes that the Nets play in Brooklyn, then we haul ass to Russia! #NYETS

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

We the NBA speak for the Hornets, and the Hornets have nothing to say!

NEW YORK KNICKS

I, Carmelo Anthony resolve to remember that I, Carmelo am the only option, and I need to shoot every single time!

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

We resolve to do whatever we can to keep Russell Westbrook from becoming Stephon Marbury and eventually eating Vaseline on Twitter!

ORLANDO MAGIC

I, Dwight Howard resolve to ask, demand, then say pretty please for a trade.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

We resolve to hire Michael Vick as soon as the NFL season is over. He will suit up and be in the starting lineup, just for the player introductions, but he wont play any minutes.

PHOENIX SUNS

I, Steve Nash resolve to never leave the Suns, and continue playing until they can find a point guard better then I.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

We resolve to burn some Sage in the Rose Garden, because our team is definitely cursed!

SACRAMENTO KINGS

We resolve to remind all those fans that fought to keep the team in Sacramento that the team is still in Sacramento

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

We resolve to casually ignore the age of our Big 3, but encourage fans to purchase DeJuan Blair Bears from the gift shop

TORONTO RAPTORS

We resolve to call the NBA everyday, and send flowers so that they remember there is a team in Toronto.

UTAH JAZZ

We resolve to remind the Jazz players that the sign that said “Team of Misfit Players” was not funny.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

We resolve to let John Wall do whatever he wants to and to continue letting Glbert Arenas in the locker room so he can shit in Rashard Lewis’s shoes.

The Houston Rockets and the City of Houston have landed the NBA All-Star Game in 2013. The game will be played at Toyota Center on Feb. 17, 2013. NBA All-Star week will be Feb. 15-17.

The Rockets and Toyota Center also hosted the game in 2006. The Rockets and the city had initially targeted the All-Star game in 2014, but changed their focus to getting the game a year earlier.

This will be the third time the NBA All-Star Game has come to Houston. It was also held in the Astrodome in 1989. This will be the sixth time since the NBA-ABA merger in 1977 that the NBA All-Star Game will be played in Texas.

I wonder if any Rockets will make the team. Rooting for you Chuck Hayes.

(AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Early Wednesday morning Yao Ming officially announced his retirement from the NBA. The 8-time All-Star was plagued by injuries in the last two years of his career and mentioned early in his recover that retirement could be in option. Yao had begun to strongly consider retiring in December after another stress fracture was found in his left foot. In the months that followed, he said his intention was to return to the Rockets next season, but on Wednesday he described that as wishful thinking.

The Houston Rockets were unable to get past the second round of the Playoffs during Yao’s tenure, but amassed a small fortune from his presence on the team. The Rockets are the 5th wealthiest team in the NBA primarily from Yao’s China connection.

“This is a sad day for me as well as the entire Houston Rockets organization,” Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said in a statement. “Yao Ming was a great basketball player, but he’s distinguished himself as an even better person. 

“From the moment he arrived in Houston with unprecedented expectations, he handled himself with poise, dignity, purpose and pride well beyond his years.”  

As Houston Rockets fans we wish Yao the best, and thank him for being a consumate professional during his time in Houston. There was never a moment I felt as if Yao was not trying to better himself and his team.

Here is the full transcript from Yao’s press conference:

Good afternoon!

Today is an important day for me. It is a day of special significance for both my past professional career and future endeavors.

At the end of last year, I once again had a stress fracture in my left foot and had to sit out of basketball. Since then, like many friends who cared about me, I waited and hoped that I could return. It was also a frustrating period, many thoughts crossed my mind. Today, I am ready to announce to everyone my decision: I will end my athletic career and formally retire from the game of basketball.

At this moment, looking towards the future and looking back through the past, my heart is full of gratitude.

First and foremost, I want to thank the game of basketball. This great sport has brought joy to untold numbers of people, including myself. When I was four years old, I got my first basketball. At nine, I entered a youth sports school in Xuhui district (in Shanghai). I joined the Shanghai Junior Team at 14. And when I was 16 years old, I put on my dad’s former number, and joined the Shanghai Sharks senior team in competition.

Basketball has allowed me to follow in my family’s footsteps. Whenever I see the joy and satisfaction in my parents’ eyes, I feel a strong sense of pride. I was also fortunate to win a CBA Championship with my teammates for the city of Shanghai in 2002. From that moment on, basketball has connected me with this great city. During that same year, I entered the NBA. Basketball has led me to a bigger and broader stage to showcase my abilities. It’s a dream for many to play for the National Team. So in fulfilling my dream, I am especially grateful of the opportunity to play for my country for so many years. And because of basketball, I have found the love of my life Ye Li, and a lifetime of happiness. Basketball has given me so much and for this, I want to thank the game of basketball.

I also want to thank life. No matter if it’s my beloved basketball or other endeavors. It is all just a part of life. I believe life is like a guide. If you follow him faithfully, he will open doors to wonderful worlds for you. Today, I am retired from basketball, and one of those doors is closed. But elsewhere, another door is opening and outside that door is a new world waiting for me to experience and explore。

Even though I am leaving the basketball court, I will not leave the game. The Shanghai Sharks team is how my professional life will continue. I am continuing to learn about managing and running the team and will do my best to bring honor and glory to my hometown and to Chinese basketball.

I will continue my philanthropic work. The Yao Foundation has been established for three years now. I will work with the foundation to influence more people to join philanthropic activities to help others. I wish to meet and work with new and old friends on projects of mutual interest. I believe that through meeting and working with people from different fields and professions, I can gain new knowledge and new understandings. Life has guided me from Shanghai to China, from Chinato the world. I want to thank life and continue to repay my good fortune by embracing and treasuring every moment.

Finally, I want to thank the many special people in my life, my family and my friends. I have a long list of people. But due to time, I can only mention a few here. I am missing a lot of names, but I hope my friends will understand. First, I want to thank my family. My parents were my first teachers in life. My wife, Ye Li is my best friend and best listener. Our lovely daughter, Amy, is our new hope for the future.

I also want to thank my coaches. They educated and guided me and have watched over me every step of way. I want to thank my first coach Li Zhangming, coaches LiQiuping, Wang Qun, and Wang Chongguang from the Shanghai Sharks, coach Ma Lianbao with the Chinese National Junior team, head coaches Wang Fei, Jiang Qingquan, Del Harris, and Jonas Kazlauskas from the Chinese National Team, and head coaches Rudy Tomjanovich, Jeff Van Gundy, Rick Adelman and Tom Thibodeau with the Houston Rockets. I also wish to thank officials and organizations that have helped me, especially officials from National Sports Administration, city of Shanghai, China Basketball Association, Shanghai Sports Administration, the Shanghai Media Group, and Shanghai Oriental Basketball Club (Shanghai Sharks). It is through their care, interest, support, and encouragement that allowed me to develop and reach where I am today. I want to thank the NBA and the Houston Rockets. Their understanding and support helped me overcome the language and cultural barrier to play in the highest level basketball games in the world.

Next, I want to thank all of my teammates and opponents. First is Liu Wei. We grew up together, played and battled together, and those experiences are some of my most precious memories in life. I also want to thank Wang Zhizhi and ShaquilleO’Neal. They were the benchmark players that I was chasing after. They motivated me and pushed me forward, and without them, I would not be the player I am today. I want to thank Fan Bin, my friend and mentor on the National team; Shen Wei, Jia Xiaozhong, Zhang Wenqi, Li Nan, Mengke Bateer, Yi Jianlian, Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley, Tracy McGrady, Shane Battier, Dikembe Mutombo, Chuck Hayes, Luis Scola, Aaron Brooks, Kyle Lowry, as well as all of my former teammates from the Xuhui District Youth Sports School, the Shanghai Sharks Junior team, the Shanghai Sharks, the National Junior Team, the Chinese National Team, andthe Houston Rockets, and of course all my opponents in CBA and NBA who I played against. The time we spent sweating and competing will forever be etched in my memory.

I also want to thank my management team, “Team Yao”. I want to thank Erik Zhang, Lu Hao, John Huizinga, Bill Duffy, Bill Sanders, Huang Xiaopeng, Li Lu, Ilana, and Larry Zhang, as well as everyone who has worked behind the scenes. I will never forget everything you have done for me over the years.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to thank my friends in the media, my sponsors, and partners. I am honored to have worked with all of you. Finally I want to sincerely thank all of the fans. Those who liked me or those who didn’t, those who are in China, or those abroad, I want to thank everyone who has watched me over the years. It is through everyone’s support that has allowed me to play with confidence and courage; and through everyone’s criticism that has helped me improve in areas that I was lacking. For those I have mentioned, and for those I have not, you are all in my heart. In short, I want to thank everyone who has accompanied me these years. And I will continueto do my best and will continue to be with everyone.

Finally, I want to thank this enlightened time of progress that we live in: giving me the opportunities to realize my dreams, and find my self-worth.

I have once said, when I retire from my professional career, I hope that it is a comma, not a period. Today, that day has finally arrived, but I am not leaving the sport of basketball that I love. My life will continue. I am still Yao Ming and there are still many things that I wish to accomplish. The day of drawing a period is still far far away.

I wish everyone health and happiness, I wish the best blessings for my motherland, my home Shanghai, and my second home Houston. And I wish that my beloved sport of basketball will continue to have a bright and prosperous future.

Thank you.

Save Us McHale!

Kevin McHale has been offered the Houston Rockets‘ head coach job, according to Yahoo!’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Houston Chronicle beat writer Jonathan Feigen has confirmed the story.

McHale, the Boston Celtics‘ legendary power forward and a longtime general manager for the Minnesota Timberwolves, has worked for Turner Sports for the past two years on NBA TV and TNT broadcasts. He has some pro head coaching experience, having twice stepped into the hot seat with the Timberwolves, after firing Flip Saunders in 2005 and Randy Wittman in 2009. Under McHale as coach, the Wolves went 39-55. In each case, the Wolves’ performance improved under McHale.

Woj reports that while nothing is final, McHale and the Rockets want to get a deal done(sometime next week). Houston let Rick Adelman‘s contract expire at the end of the season. Reports suggested the Rockets wanted Adelman to agree to groom a successor if re-signed; Adelman declined.

The Rockets also promoted RGV Vipers head coach Chris Finch to assistant coach. Finch has shown that he has what it takes to succeed as a head coach during his two seasons with the Rockets-owned Vipers (if his gig as the British National Team’s head coach didn’t qualify him enough already). Along with assistant Paul Mokeski, Finch led the Vipers to a D-League championship in his first season as the team’s head coach and followed that up with another trip to the D-League Finals this season before losing to the Iowa Energy in the three-game series.

McHale will mentor Finch, but will be most effective with Rockets bigs. Patrick Patterson, Jordan Hill, and Haseem Thabeet will all garner valuable experience having a Hall of Fame power forward instructing their development.

The city of Houston is desperate to root for anything successful. SAVE US MCHALE!

#1. San Antonio Spurs vs. #8 Memphis Grizzlies

The Spurs  shot at the gate, surprising everyone outside of San Antonio en route to the best record in the West. The Grizzlies suffered a huge setback with the loss of Rudy gay for the Playoffs. The two headed defensive monster of Shane battier and Tony Allen were key reasons the Grizzlies were able to hold on to the bottom spot.

The key matchup of the series is Tim Duncan-Zach Randolph. Tim Duncan is no longer the offensive focal point and averaged a career-low 13.4 points, but is still effective enough to lure double teams. Memphis scored a league-high 51.6 points in the post and its interior size of Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol should pose problems for San Antonio. The Spurs are on a mission, but the Grizzlies have been playing great ball down the stretch. This series has the capabilities to go the distance.

Spurs in 6

#2 Los Angeles Lakers vs. #7 New Orleans Hornets

The Lakers earned the privilege to play the David West-less Hornets in the first round. If the Lakers don’t sweep the Hornets, prepare for panic out of Los Angeles. The Lakers swept the Hornets, 4-0, in the regular season.

Lakers in 4

#3 Dallas Mavericks vs. #6 Portland Trail Blazers

*The Best First Round Matchup* The loss of Caron Butler dealt a heavy blow to the Mavs. The toughest player taken from your team makes deep Playoff runs next to impossible. Despite nearly a decade’s worth of regular-season success, Dallas has advanced only once to the finals.

The Mavericks draw a tough first-round matchup in Portland, which benefited after a midseason trade by obtaining Gerald Wallace. Brandon Roy is somewhat back from injury, but the team now revolves around LaMarcus Aldridge (21.8 points, 8.8 rebounds), who is a native of Dallas. The teams split their regular-season games with each winning twice at home.

Portland in 6

#4 Oklahoma City Thunder vs. #5 Denver Nuggets

The most intriguing first-round matchups between the benefactors of deadline deals. The Thunder may pose the largest obstacle to the Lakers of escaping the Western Conference a fourth straight year. Denver hasn’t lost a step after dealing Chauncey Billups and Carmelo Anthony to New York. Denver is similar to a college team complete with two ex-North Carolina Tar Heels in Raymond Felton and Ty Lawson.

Kevin Durant remains the best basketball player not named Kobe, or LeBron. The addition of Kendrick Perkins adds a touch of toughness the Thunder have yet to achieve. Oklahoma won the season series, 3-1, including taking two games after the trading deadline.

Thunder in 6

AP Photo/Matt York

With 16 games to play, the 11th-place Rockets trail the eighth-place Memphis Grizzlies by three games and the seventh-place New Orleans Hornets by 41/2 . The ninth-place Suns and 10th-place Utah Jazz also stand between the Rockets and the eighth spot.

Starting Saturday against the West-Best San Antonio Spurs, the Rockets have a season long six game homestand. If the Rockets are serious about the Playoffs the six home games must all be wins. A six game winning streak would be the longest of the season. The Rockets are 17-13 at home, and only the Memphis Grizzlies, and Sacramento Kings have worst home records in the West.

The Rockets have the tiebreaker against the Grizzlies and could claim the tiebreaker against the Jazz by beating Utah on March 20 during the homestand. But the Suns clinched the tiebreaker against the Rockets with their win Tuesday.

The Rockets don’t play a back-to-back at any point in the homestand, which ends against the Warriors, who will be completing a four-game road trip.

Perhaps more important than where the Rockets will spend the next two weeks will be having time to work between games. With all but one of their previous nine games part of a back-to-back, they have had just two practices since the All-Star break. Backup point guard Goran Dragic, acquired Feb. 24, has had just one practice with the Rockets.

The Rockets have proved that they can score a boatload of points, but in order to MAKE the Playoffs and compete, they MUST turn up the defense intensity. Making the Playoffs would definitely be an amazing feat based on the injuries the team has faced, but their first round matchup (Mavs, Spurs, Lakers) will not take them lightly.

But those leads were not enough to secure a victory, with the Rockets’ 110-105 overtime loss to the Hornets the latest vivid example of why their season is sinking fast.

The Rockets led by 16 points late in the third quarter, matching the largest lead they have blown this season. Indeed, they squandered a 16-point, first-half lead against Utah just last Saturday.

Following a season-best five-game winning streak, Houston finds itself mired in a 2-8 skid.

The Rockets fell to 1-7 this month, 5-14 in games decided by seven or fewer points and 0-4 in overtime games.

Friday’s loss was the fifth in which the Rockets held a double-digit lead and could not come away with a victory

They have allowed at least 100 points for a 10th consecutive game – their longest such stretch since surrendering 100-plus points in 25 straight from March 8-April 24, 1988. The Rockets have struggled from long distance in their last five games, shooting 30.0 percent from beyond the arc.

Of course the Rockets had other plans this season, with the return of Yao Ming from injury, and the addition of Brad Miller, and a full season with Kevin Martin. Unfortunately Yao is out for the season, Aaron Brooks has missed 20 games, Brad Miller has bad knees, Kevin Martin has been banged up, and Rick Adelman is forced to play Jared Jeffries….JARED JEFFRIES!

The Rockets were at the same position two years ago, when Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming were out with injury. In the off-season the Rockets signed Ron Artest who helped the Rockets get to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in 12 seasons. Artest promptly left the following season for Los Angeles, helping the Lakers to another championship.

It’s time for the Rockets to end the No-Ego Era. There has to be a player that has the confidence to put the team on his back offensively and defensively. The player that can beat everyone on the team one-on-one. The Rockets are missing that player that demands the ball, and refuses to let a 16 point lead slip away.

The NBA granted a disabled-player salary exception to the Rockets in the wake of Yao Ming’s ankle injury. The exception allows the Rockets to acquire a free agent, or trade for a player without having to match salaries, up to the value of the midlevel exception (about $5.765 million).

The Rockets are currently last in the Southwest Division, 17 games back of division rival San Antonio Spurs.

Good Luck Rockets.

After crossing the finish line, participants are invited to head to Jackson Street, where a post-race party awaits. The celebration includes trophy presentations for the top finishers, along with free food, drinks, and entertainment.

The fun does not end after the post-race party, however. Every participant receives one ticket voucher to choose from one of the following games to attend: 1/26/11 vs. LA Clippers or 2/5/11 vs. Memphis or 2/8/11 vs. Minnesota.

The LA Clippers game is a must. Two words Blake Griffin!

The registration fee includes admission to the race, a race packet complete with T-shirt and other sponsor gifts, plus the post-race party and a Rockets game ticket.

The Rockets Run takes place at Toyota Center on Saturday, January 22, 2011. Check-in and disposable tag pick-up begins at 6:30 a.m. Start times for the races are 7:30 a.m. for the Kids 1K, 8:00 a.m. for the 5K and 8:20 a.m. 2 Mile walk. Free parking will be available in the Tundra Garage, located just next to Toyota Center.

Register Here.

Questions?
Race Hotline: 713-758-7701
Email: rocketsrun@rocketball.com

With the start of a new year, teams make their own resolutions.  Here is a team by team look at those resolutions.

ATLANTA HAWKS

We resolve to get to the bottom of why we gave Joe Johnson so much damn money. He does lead us in points, but will we make it deep in the playoffs….of course not.

BOSTON CELTICS

We the Boston Celtics resolve to play at least one game with both O’Neal’s on the court at the same time. I, the Boston Celtics  fan resolve to relax and enjoy each game because if anyone gets injured the world will not end.

CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

I, Michael Jordan resolve to stop wearing all my rings on one necklace to every Bobcats meeting.

CHICAGO BULLS

We resolve to kept nurturing Derrick Rose, and to keep Carlos Boozer and his weird beard away from him.

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS

We resolve to simply exist before the NBA goes through with contraction and makes us a NBDL team. I, the Cavs fan will save up and buy the Fathead of Daniel Gibson for no reason whatsoever.

DALLAS MAVERICKS

I, Rick Carlisle resolve to stop making faces like Jim Carrey, and to let jason Terry do whatever he wants in the 4th quarter.

DETROIT PISTONS

I, Tayshaun Prince resolve to ask Joe Dumars nicely if I can be traded, then pray its not to Toronto.

DENVER NUGGETS

We resolve to trade Carmelo to the highest bidder, then struggle until we draft anthoer Carmelo and repeat the same process.

GOLDEN ST. WARRIORS

We resolve to never sign a legitimate big man so we can never truly play defense.

HOUSTON ROCKETS

I, the Houston Rockets fan resolve to lower our expectations until Michael Jordan goes and plays baseball for two years.

INDIANA PACERS

We resolve to sleep through the rest of this year, and promptly wake up during the lottery selection this summer.

L.A. CLIPPERS

I, Donald Sterling resolve to continue being concerned about only money, and as long as Blake Griffin makes me money he stays….for cheap of course.

L.A. LAKERS

We resolve to work all year so we actually play a competitive game on Christmas. We also resolve to never let Kobe and Nike convince us that Lime green sneakers are cool.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES

We resolve to save our money, to pay for the shipping of all the equipment to our new home in Seattle.

MIAMI HEAT

I, Miami Heat fan resolve to show up to games on time, especially once the playoffs start. At least we will make it seem that basketball games are more fun then the beach, or clubs full of young hispanic women.

MILWAUKEE BUCKS

We resolve to continue doing whatever it was we did to beat the Lakers. *Brandon Jennings didn’t play

MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES

I, Kevin Love resolve to rebound every ball, on every shot, from every basketball game in the world.

NEW JERSEY NETS

We resolve to never put an ad across from Madison Square Garden again. Unless of course, if we get Carmelo Anthony then we get to play in the Garden.

NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

We the NBA speak for the Hornets, and the Hornets have nothing to say.

NEW YORK KNICKS

I, Spike Lee resolve to continue wearing clothes too big for me to games, and my Landry Fields jersey, even if he gets traded.

OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER

We resolve to take out as many loans as possible to keep Russell Westbrook away from Los Angeles.

ORLANDO MAGIC

I, Dwight Howard will work on my three point shooting so I can fit in better with the team.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS

We resolve to hire Michael Vick as soon as the NFL season is over. He will suit up and be in the starting lineup, just for the player introductions, but he wont play any minutes.

PHOENIX SUNS

I, Marcin Gortat, will continue to plead with my teammates to play defense, even if they speak another language.

PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS

I, Trail Blazers fan will take a class in physical therapy so I can be more hands on with the players.

SACRAMENTO KINGS

We, the Maloof Brothers resolve to finish construction on our secret basketball stadium in Las Vegas. We also must sit Tyreke Evans down and ask that he not hit 50 footers to win games and instead keep piling on the loses.

SAN ANTONIO SPURS

We resolve to casually ignore the age of our Big 3, but encourage fans to purchase DeJuan Blair Bears from the gift shop

TORONTO RAPTORS

We resolve to call the NBA everyday, and send flowers so that they remember there is a team in Toronto.

UTAH JAZZ

We resolve to continue research into age-defying potions that can make it possible for Jerry Sloan to coach the Jazz forever.

WASHINGTON WIZARDS

We resolve to finally change our name back to the Bullets, and once again lose out on front page reports to real bullets.

Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season(again) because of the stress fracture in his left ankle.

The Rockets announced the decision Friday, a day after the injury was found in an MRI exam. Team physician Walter Lowe said surgery is the usual treatment for such an injury, which has sidelined Yao since Nov. 10.

The 30-year-old Yao is still consulting with doctors to determine how he will proceed. If he chooses surgery, it could be up to 10 months before he can return to the court.

The seven-time All-Star sat out last season after reconstructive surgery to repair his broken left foot. Lowe said this injury is related to last year’s injury. He said the reconstructive surgery on his foot does not put him at a greater risk of stress fractures, but that Yao has always been prone to them.

“I think until we learn more, we still see Yao Ming as a potential future part of the team,” said Morey. “We need to continue to talk to the doctors and see where that goes. Obviously, Yao Ming is an All-Star center. You look throughout the league and there’s not many of them. So if it looks like there’s a good prognosis here, and we’re still learning how good that prognosis will be, then for sure we’re going to look at Yao Ming past this season.”

So what do the Rockets do now?

The amount of attention and revenue Yao has brought to the Rockets is without question. Yao is responsible for opening up the global community to the NBA, and the Rockets have invested over $70 million into Yao over his career. $31 million + Yao earned over the last two years, while playing only 91 minutes.

Yao has played in only 9 games but remains the most popular center in the Western Conference with 430,984 votes in the 2011 All-Star Game. He sits 232,940 ahead of Andrew Bynum of the Los Angeles Lakers in second place.

The right thing to do for the Rockets is to show loyalty, and re-sign Yao to a much, much smaller amount, with the hopes he can used off the bench sparingly throughout the season. Then come playoff time add height and an ability to space the floor on offense. Yao could end up being a phenomenal sixth-man.

The Rockets went 42-40 and missed the playoffs with Yao on the sideline last season, and are just 10-15 so far this year, at the bottom of the Southwest Division.

Morey said the team has prepared for this possibility and that the Rockets are resilient and will get past this setback.

“We still feel like we’re a team that can make the playoffs this season,” Morey said. “We feel like we’re fighting with about four or five other teams for maybe the seven, eight seed this season. I know our guys in the locker room aren’t writing the season off. I know I’m not. I know coach [Rick] Adelman isn’t. We still think this can be a great season.”