After missing all of last season due to a fractured left foot, All-Star center Yao Ming will return to the Houston Rockets lineup for the 2010-2011 NBA season.
But Yao's time in the lineup will be limited.
According to Houston's athletic trainer Keith Jones, Yao will have a strict limitation of 24 minutes per game.
The Rockets hope that their reduced-minutes plan will limit the amount of stress on Yao's surgically repaired left foot and give him a chance to play throughout the entire season. Even in limited minutes, the 7'6" Yao will impact basketball games.
His size and skill-set will give the Rockets something that they lacked all of last season-a legitimate post presence.
With Yao back in the lineup, Houston will have an all-star talent that they can dump the ball into on the post. Yao will be able to play aggressively on both the offensive and defensive ends of the floor since he will not have to worry about foul trouble.
When Yao is in the game, the Rockets will run their offense through him and he will make plays for himself and his teammates.
Defensively, Houston's perimeter defenders will be able to guard their opponents more aggressively knowing that Yao will be back there to protect the paint. Since they played all of last season without him, Aaron Brooks and the rest of the Rockets will be able to easily transition into their up-tempo offense whenever Yao leaves the game.
The experience Houston gained last year-along with the acquisition of veteran center Brad Miller-make the Rockets better prepared to handle any absences by Yao this season. Here are game-by-game predictions for the 2010-2011 Houston Rockets: Game 1, Tuesday, October 26 at Los Angeles Lakers- Rockets lose to the Lakers after watching Kobe Bryant and his teammates receive their NBA Championship rings (Record 0-1). Game 2, Wednesday, October 27 at Golden State- Rockets defeat the Golden State Warriors for the 10th consecutive time and capture the second half of a back-to-back (Record 1-1). Game 3, Saturday, October 30 versus Nuggets- Rockets win their home opener by beating the Denver Nuggets (Record 2-1). Game 4, Wednesday, November 3 versus Hornets- Rockets win a close game over Chris Paul and the New Orleans Hornets (Record 3-1). Game 5, Saturday, November 6 at San Antonio- Rockets fall to intrastate rival San Antonio Spurs at the AT&T Center (Record 3-2). Game 6, Sunday, November 7 versus Timberwolves- Rockets beat the Minnesota Timberwolves for the 12th straight time (Record 4-2). Game 7, Wednesday, November 10 at Washington- Rockets begin a three-game road trip with a victory over the Washington Wizards at the Verizon Center (Record 5-2). Game 8, Friday, November 12 at Indiana- Rockets fall to the pesky Indiana Pacers for the fifth consecutive time (Record 5-3). Game 9, Sunday, November 14 at New York- Rockets defeat the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (Record 6-3). Game 10, Tuesday, November 16 versus Bulls- Rockets get a home win over the visiting Chicago Bulls at the Toyota Center (Record 7-3). Game 11, Wednesday, November 17 at Oklahoma City- Rockets get a solid road win over the young Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 8-3). Game 12, Friday, November 19 at Toronto- Rockets lose to the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre for the fourth straight time (Record 8-4). Game 13, Monday, November 22 versus Suns- Rockets drop a home game to the high-scoring Phoenix Suns (Record 8-5). Game 14, Wednesday, November 24 versus Warriors- Rockets rebound with a double-digit victory over the Golden State Warriors (Record 9-5). Game 15, Friday, November 26 at Charlotte- Rockets lose a road game to the defensive-minded Charlotte Bobcats (Record 9-6). Game 16, Sunday, November 28 versus Thunder- Rockets win a close game over the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 10-6). Game 17, Monday, November 29 at Dallas- Rockets lose to the Dallas Mavericks in the second half of a back-to-back (Record 10-7). Game 18, Wednesday, December 1 versus Lakers- Rockets begin December with a victory over the NBA Champion Los Angeles Lakers (Record 11-7). Game 19, Friday, December 3 at Memphis- Rockets defeat the Memphis Grizzlies at the FedExForum (Record 12-7). Game 20, Saturday, December 4 at Chicago- Rockets beat the Chicago Bulls and get both halves of a back-to-back (Record 13-7). Game 21, Tuesday, December 7 versus Pistons- Rockets get a home win over the visiting Detroit Pistons (Record 14-7). Game 22, Friday, December 10 at Milwaukee- Rockets fall to the Milwaukee Bucks at the Bradley Center (Record 14-8). Game 23, Saturday, December 11 versus Cavaliers- Rockets get right back on track with a home win over the Cleveland Cavaliers (Record 15-8). Game 24, Tuesday, December 14 versus Kings- Rockets get a home win over the Sacramento Kings (Record 16-8). Game 25, Wednesday, December 15 at Oklahoma City- Rockets lose a road game to the young, athletic Thunder (Record 16-9). Game 26, Friday, December 17 versus Grizzlies- Rockets play for the third time in four nights and fall to the visiting Memphis Grizzlies (Record 16-10). Game 27, Sunday, December 19 at Sacramento- Rockets fall to the Kings at Arco Arena (Record 16-11). Game 28, Monday, December 20 at Golden State- Rockets lose to the Golden State Warriors and drop both halves of a Northern California back-to-back (Record 16-12). Game 29, Wednesday, December 22 at Los Angeles Clippers- Rockets close a 1-2 road trip with a victory over the Clippers (Record 17-12). Game 30, Monday, December 27 versus Wizards- Rockets get a home win over the visiting Washington Wizards (Record 18-12). Game 31, Wednesday, December 29 versus Heat- Rockets beat the Miami Heat All-Star Trio at the Toyota Center (Record 19-12). Game 32, Friday, December 31 versus Raptors- Rockets close a perfect 3-0 home stand with a victory over the Toronto Raptors (Record 20-12). Game 33, Sunday, January 2 at Portland- Rockets drop a close game to the Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden (Record 20-13). Game 34, Monday, January 3 at Denver- Rockets fall to the Denver Nuggets in the second half of a tough back-to-back (Record 20-14). Game 35, Wednesday, January 5 versus Trail Blazers- Rockets get their first win of the New Year by defeating the Portland Trail Blazers (Record 21-14). Game 36, Friday, January 7 at Orlando- Rockets get an impressive road win over Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic (Record 22-14). Game 37, Saturday, January 8 versus Jazz- Rockets win a close game against the tough Utah Jazz (Record 23-14). Game 38, Monday, January 10 at Boston- Rockets get their fourth straight win with a victory over the Boston Celtics (Record 24-14). Game 39, Wednesday, January 12 versus Thunder- Rockets drop a home game to Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder (Record 24-15). Game 40, Friday, January 14 versus Hornets- Rockets lose to the visiting New Orleans Hornets (Record 24-16). Game 41, Saturday, January 15 at Atlanta- Rockets fall to the Atlanta Hawks and drop both halves of a back-to-back (Record 24-17). Game 42, Monday, January 17 versus Bucks- Rockets get a much-needed win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Martin Luther King Day (Record 25-17). Game 43, Wednesday, January 19 versus Knicks- Rockets suffer a home loss to Amar'e Stoudemire and the New York Knicks (Record 25-18). Game 44, Friday, January 21 at Memphis- Rockets drop a road game to the Grizzlies (Record 25-19). Game 45, Saturday, January 22 versus Magic- Rockets fall to the Orlando Magic and lose their third straight game (Record 25-20). Game 46, Monday, January 24 at Minnesota- Rockets get back on track with a victory over the Timberwolves (Record 26-20). Game 47, Wednesday, January 26 versus Clippers- Rockets get a home win over the visiting Los Angeles Clippers (Record 27-20). Game 48, Thursday, January 27 at Dallas- Rockets beat Southwest Division rival Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center (Record 28-20). Game 49, Saturday, January 29 at San Antonio- Rockets drop a road game to the Spurs (Record 28-21). Game 50, Tuesday, February 1 at Los Angeles Lakers- Rockets begin the month of February with a victory over the Lakers (Record 29-21). Game 51, Wednesday, February 2 at Utah- Rockets close a respectable 2-2 road trip with a loss to the Jazz (Record 29-22). Game 52, Saturday, February 5 versus Grizzlies- Rockets get their 30th win of the season with a victory over the Memphis Grizzlies (Record 30-22). Game 53, Monday, February 7 at Denver- Rockets fall to the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center (Record 30-23). Game 54, Tuesday, February 8 versus Timberwolves- Rockets defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves and win the second half of a back-to-back (Record 31-23). Game 55, Saturday, February 12 versus Mavericks- Rockets drop a home game to the visiting Dallas Mavericks (Record 31-24). Game 56, Monday, February 14 versus Nuggets- Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets and tie the season series at two games apiece (Record 32-24). Game 57, Wednesday, February 16 versus 76ers- Rockets close a 2-2 home stand with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers (Record 32-25). Game 58, Tuesday, February 22 at Detroit- Rockets begin the second half of the season with a loss to the Detroit Pistons (Record 32-26). Game 59, Wednesday, February 23 at Cleveland- Rockets rebound with a victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers (Record 33-26). Game 60, Saturday, February 26 versus Nets- Rockets defeat the New Jersey Nets for the ninth consecutive time (Record 34-26). Game 61, Sunday, February 27 at New Orleans- Rockets beat the Hornets at New Orleans Arena (Record 35-26). Game 62, Tuesday, March 1 at Portland- Rockets begin March with a road win over the Trail Blazers (Record 36-26). Game 63, Wednesday, March 2 at Los Angeles Clippers- Rockets drop the second half of a back-to-back to the Clippers (Record 36-27). Game 64, Saturday, March 5 versus Pacers- Rockets get back on track with a home win over the Indiana Pacers (Record 37-27). Game 65, Monday, March 7 at Sacramento- Rockets defeat the Kings in the first half of a back-to-back (Record 38-27). Game 66, Tuesday, March 8 at Phoenix- Rockets get their third straight victory by beating the Suns at US Airways Arena (Record 39-27). Game 67, Saturday, March 12 versus Spurs- Rockets beat the San Antonio Spurs to capture their 40th win of the season (Record 40-27). Game 68, Monday, March 14 versus Suns- Rockets defeat the Phoenix Suns and win the season series 2-1 (Record 41-27). Game 69, Wednesday, March 16 versus Bobcats- Rockets get a home win over the visiting Charlotte Bobcats (Record 42-27). Game 70, Friday, March 18 versus Celtics- Rockets fall to the Eastern Conference Champion Boston Celtics (Record 42-28). Game 71, Sunday, March 20 versus Jazz- Rockets drop a home game to the Utah Jazz and lose the season series 1-2 (Record 42-29). Game 72, Wednesday, March 23 versus Warriors- Rockets defeat the Golden State Warriors to close a solid 4-2 home stand (Record 43-29). Game 73, Sunday, March 27 at Miami- Rockets fall to the Heat at American Airlines Arena (Record 43-30). Game 74, Tuesday, March 29 at New Jersey- Rockets get back on track with a double-digit victory over the New Jersey Nets (Record 44-30). Game 75, Wednesday, March 30 at Philadelphia- Rockets play their third game in four nights and fall to the Philadelphia 76ers (Record 44-31). Game 76, Friday, April 1 versus Spurs- Rockets begin a three-game home stand with a victory over the San Antonio Spurs (Record 45-31). Game 77, Sunday, April 3 versus Hawks- Rockets fall to the soaring Atlanta Hawks (Record 45-32). Game 78, Tuesday, April 5 versus Kings- Rockets get back on track by defeating the Sacramento Kings (Record 46-32). Game 79, Wednesday, April 6 at New Orleans- Rockets lose to the Hornets and drop the second half of a back-to-back (Record 46-33). Game 80, Saturday, April 9 versus Clippers- Rockets defeat the Los Angeles Clippers (Record 47-33). Game 81, Monday, April 11 versus Mavericks- Rockets get a home win over the Dallas Mavericks and tie the season series 2-2 (Record 48-33). Game 82, Wednesday, April 13 at Minnesota- Rockets close the regular season with a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves (Record 49-33). Prediction: With Yao Ming back in the lineup, the Houston Rockets will come close to a 50-win season. More 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions: San Antonio Spurs 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions Chicago Bulls 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions Utah Jazz 2010-2011 Game-by-Game Predictions Information from ESPN.com's Houston Rockets Schedule and Yao Ming will play no more than 24 minutes a game to reduce bone stress was used for this article.
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