Some major news coming from the Houston Rockets reporting that Yao Ming is likely to miss the 2009-2010 season with the same lingering foot injury that sidelined him in this years playoffs.
“At this point, the injury has the potential for him missing this next season and could be career threatening,” team physician Tom Clanton said.
So it appears with that news that the Houston Rockets strategy for this upcoming season is going to have to alter course as it seems they are to be playing without their big man. The Rockets continue to be a tragic tale as they have never had a solid run with their three best players (Yao, McGrady, Artest) all relatively healthy and it looks as though that will continue this season.
For Yao Ming being an ambassador of the game and in the Asian market I hope he gets better but it appears now he may never play injury free again.
The Rockets now find themselves in an interesting position. They can continue to play small, as they did in the conference semi-finals using a tandem of Carl Landry (6-9) and Chuck Hayes (6-6) to man the middle. Or they can explore options in free agency or via trade to get a replacement for Yao.
The Rockets also, as explained by the Houston Chronicle, can now throw their hats into the ever growing list of teams that can be major players in the 2010 free agency class.