With Yao Gone for the Year, Are the Lakers That Much Closer to a Title?
By David Neiman | Los Angeles Lakers
According to news reports, Houston Rockets center Yao Ming — anchor of the streaking Houston team that appeared to be one of the contenders in the Western Conference — is done for the year.
Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season with a stress fracture in his left foot, according to a published report Tuesday.
The Houston Chronicle is reporting on its web site that Yao’s condition was confirmed after he was examined at the Memorial Hermann Hospital on Monday.
The Rockets have called a media briefing for 1:00 p.m. local time to announce the diagnosis.
Yao played in Sunday’s 110-97 win over the Chicago on Sunday, collecting 12 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes of action as the Rockets won their 12th consecutive game.
The 7-6 Chinese center is averaging 22.0 points and 10.8 rebounds per game this season.
Obviously, this is a seismic shift in the West.
How do you think this affects the Lakers’ chances?
Where will things shake out now come playoff time?
Discuss:
3 Responses to “With Yao Gone for the Year, Are the Lakers That Much Closer to a Title?”
- 1 Pingback on Feb 26th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
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It certainly doesn’t hurt. Houston is a deep team starting to hit it’s stride and with T-Mac approaching some kind of health, they could have arguably given the Lakers trouble since Yao is a legitimate center. Now Bynum, if he comes back healthy, will be the dominant center along with Shaq and Duncan in this conference.
I was hoping to see Phoenix-Houston in the first round, so Shaq and Yao could play against each other.