Rockets Yao Ming Still Uncertain of his Performance on October 5 Game

Everyone in the Houston Rockets have shown their support for Yao Ming, and it is well deserved. Yao has spent a year dealing with a hairline fracture on his left foot.  And while his medical team have certified that the star player’s foot has already healed, it is still uncertain that he will be able to play full time in the upcoming October 5 game as part of the 2010-11 season. Cautiously optimistic Yao Ming’s recent practice session with the Rockets show that while his foot has healed, his confidence still has a long way to go before it can lift him up again to another All-Star performance this season. This is understandable, considering the relative severity of his injury. But it does highlight one fact: the expectations by everyone around him can hurt Yao more than his body can. In spite of the challenges, Yao believes he is up to the challenge of contributing again to the team. But the situation is now different from years past. Upon his return, one of the things he has to deal with first is the fact that he will be carrying the burden of lifting the team to a better performance without the support of other star players. With all due respect to his current teammates, Yao will return to the team as the only remaining All-Star player. His teammates will expect him to shoulder the responsibilities he used to share with Moses Malone and Hakeem Olajuwon, the other players that have made legendary careers with the Houston Rockets. Not all is lost Yes, Yao Ming will have a lot on his hands when he returns, but the team expects its other players, like Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin, to pick up the slack and contribute more to the team’s playoff efforts. The Rockets have a deep reserve of talents, one that continues to make them a serious contender. But the sad reality is that the achievement of their goals all depend on whether Yao eventually returns to the form that has made him a seven-time All-Star player. It is likely that he will; it’s just a matter of time. The only thing that’s questionable is whether the pressure he will have to deal with, carrying the hopes of everyone in Houston, will serve to lift him to new heights in his career. Yao Ming still has a long way to go and should achieve so much more. At almost 30 years old, Yao Ming’s NBA career still extends over the distant horizon. Even if he has to do it without the help of his former mentors, he still has what it takes to continue his fairytale story in the NBA, and hopefully lift the Houston Rockets to another great season. With this in mind, sports bettors will have to wait and see if betting on Houston Rockets is still the best move.