Empty the Bench

The long wait is drawing to a close. Yao Ming (Right, mistaking an all-too-eager Mehmet Okur for a bellboy) is scheduled to return to the lineup for the Houston Rockets in the next two weeks, and it can’t be soon enough. Yao was on the court before the Rockets 105-99 loss to the Atlanta Hawks Friday, taking jump shots with a large brace over his injured right knee. It was a welcome sight to his owners and basketball fans in general. The NBA is entering a new era where the dominant center is all but extinct, and Ming is a dying breed. It was also impossible for owners to replace his 52.5% FGs, 86.7% FTs, 9.4 boards, 25.9 points and 2.2 blocks a game. If you are a Ming owner and fortunate enough to be in a head-to-head league, then the fractured tibia Ming left in your stocking on December 23rd is water under the bridge. He should return slowly for the first week or so, but he will be back to full strength for the fantasy playoffs.

Before the injury, Yao was the best center in the NBA, bar none. That goes for fantasy basketball as well as in the NBA in general. The fantasy effects of Yao are all too familiar to his owners, as he was irreplaceable for fantasy purposes. The Rockets were impressive without him, and now stand poised to surprise a lot of people in the league come playoff time. When the game slows down and teams are forced to play half-court offense and defense in the postseason, I think they are one of the top four contenders out there. Seriously.

Keep in mind that Dikembe Mutombo and Juwan Howard were not fantasy entities prior to the injury, and will have diminished roles when the big guy and his 35 minutes per game return. If you can make a deal for any sort of value involving either, pull the trigger quickly. Perhaps the other owners in your league have not stayed informed on Ming’s recovery, or perhaps they are just in dire need of help up front. If you can’t find a rube to take these guys on, it might be time to consider dumping them for another player who will contribute for you down the stretch. Richard Jefferson was also seen shooting jumpers recently, and he will reportedly return for the Nets upcoming road trip. If he’s been dropped in your league, scoop him up. We also outlined some young guys to keep an eye on this week, so look their way if need be.

The one question that does arise now is: Do you take Yao in the first two rounds of your draft next year? He has shown an affinity for injuries, which has derailed so many promising NBA big men. I say take the risk. You just can’t find another guy like Yao out there, one who can play center, shoot 50+% from the field, 80+% from the line with 20+ points, 10 boards an 2+ blocks a game. At this point, his injuries can be considered isolated incidents. He’s still young, and his game is still improving dramatically from season to season. One more season with him missing significant time though, and he will officially earn the dreaded ‘Injury Prone’ label and will no longer be a safe pick.