Rockets to limit Yao Ming’s playing time
In an attempt to utilize his size and inside prowess for the rest of the year, the Houston Rockets announced that Chinese star Yao Ming will not play more than 24 minutes a game next season.
Rockets vice president and athletic trainer Keith Jones said that this strategy aims to limit the stress factor on the 7ft 6in centre’s bone, who has been bothered by stress fracture for
the past two years, forcing him to miss crucial game for his team, including play-off games.
The 2002 first overall pick has not completed a full season with the Rockets for the past five years because of bone-related injuries, which also forced him to miss his Chinese national team
duties.
"Twenty-four is his number all year," Jones said in an interview with the Houston Chronicles. “We're trying to get him through April. We're trying to give him the best chance to play the
whole season by limiting stress. There is no bank. If he played 18 tonight, he doesn’t play 30 tomorrow.”
Yao, who was cleared to play in August by their team doctors, will not be allowed to play even in crucial parts of the game if he has already reached the 24-minute limit. The Rockets will
also be forced to sit him out on the second game of a back-to-back, but this proposal will be subjected for observations.
However, the policy could be tweaked if the Rockets will manage to reach the play-offs next season. Head coach Rick Adelman said that he’ll stick with the policy because he believes that
that this strategy will make the eight-year veteran fresher in their post-season campaign.
“At the end of the day, it’s all about winning,” Morey said. “It’s about winning in the playoffs. We’re choosing to limit Yao Ming and Yao Ming is in agreement that this is the best plan.
We want him when it counts the most.”
On the other hand, the Rockets are also considering limiting the playing time of their veterans like Luis Scola and Shane Battier, but the plan still depends on how deep their bench will
be in the upcoming NBA season.
The Rockets, who offered a two-year deal to free agent centre Erik Dampier today, will open their training camp on 25 September, before travelling to China for a series of pre-season games
against the New Jersey Nets.
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