Yao’s Big Night

And I think it’s gonna be a long long time ’till touch down brings me round again to find I’m not the man they think I am at home.  Oh no no no.  I’m a Rocket man.  -Elton John

Public Service Announcement:  Ok, here we go!  Yao Ming.  The Ming Dynasty.  The Great Wall of China.  Chairman Yao.  All of it.  Could this be it?  Could this finally be his year?  Year of the Yao?   

After missing only two games in his first three years of NBA play, Yao has been the posterchild for injuries.  First, his little piggy went to market.  Then he got capped in the knee.  Then it was a stress fracture to his left foot.  Lucky he’s not Christy Brown.  But lucky or not, during those three injury riddled seasons, he still managed two starting spots on the All Star Team.  He still managed a Second Team All NBA position.  Imagine if he had stayed healthy?

He was healthy last night.  Last night, in a win at Dallas, Yao Ming had thirty points.  Last night, Yao Ming had thirteen rebounds.  Last night, Yao Ming shot eleven-for-fifteen from the floor.  Big deal you say?  Who cares you say?  I say it was a long time coming.  I say it was the first time Yao had thirty plus points, ten plus rebounds and shot better than 70% in a game since November 10, 2006.  I say from his debut in 2002 to that game in 2006, Yao had five such games.  I say Yao had the third most of those games in the NBA over that span.  I say only the Big Shogun and the Big Ticket had more.  I say if he were healthy all those years, he’d be in the lead.  He’d be hands down the best center in the world.

Yao is only twenty-eight years old.  You could argue he’s the NBA’s best center.  Right here.  Right now.  Even with the injuries, he’s averaged twenty-two points and ten boards the last three seasons.  He has fine-tuned his game around the basket to the point that only turnovers remain an issue.  His absence from the playoffs last season was probably the biggest reason the Rockets once more failed to get out of the first round.  If he could just stay on the floor, he could be an immortal.  Kareem immortal.  Hakeem immortal.  Wilt immortal.  Shaq immortal.  This is his year to prove it.

Public Spectacle:

Yao Wish (Tirico Suave)

Peace out homies.  Six two and Even!

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