Top-pick Yao Ming finally arrives

By Bill Ingram Sports Central Columnist

After a long summer of waiting to hear when and if the top draft pick in the NBA might report to the team that drafted him, Yao Ming finally arrived in Houston to join the Rockets for the last two games of the exhibition season.

His debut came against David Robinson and Tim Duncan -- and wasn't pretty. Duncan lit him up and kept him glued to the pine in foul trouble, but the next game gave Rudy Tomjanovich reason to have hope. Ming came off the Houston bench to contribute 13 points, two blocks, and five rebounds in 24 minutes of action. He still had trouble with picking up fouls and he had to learn not to step into the lane after a free throw is shot, but the drastic improvement from his first game is reason for the Rockets to feel optimistic about the contribution their top rookie will be able to make to the team.

This is the year of the Rockets -- or else. Owner Les Alexander has made it clear that if this group doesn't make the playoffs this year, he is going to make major changes, starting with the top. He will make administrative changes, coaching changes, and break up the core group of players that has been together for three years and has yet to see postseason play.

The one thing they were missing last season (apart from health) was a center who could intimidate opposing guards and provide the rebounding and passing that made Hakeem Olajuwon's team so successful. Ming is expected to take care of all of those issues.

The Rockets have all of the pieces, but the question remains whether or not they can actually function together and share the ball well enough to put together a serious playoff run.

Steve Francis may be the best point guard in the league, but too often he resorts to his shoot-first mentality and forgets that his teammates have to be involved in the offense, too. Cuttino Mobley has the quickest first step in the NBA, but also must realize that he has other people there to help him when the opposition zones him into a corner. If the two incumbent stars don't buy into Ming's greatness, the end of the story for the Rockets will be anything but a fairy tale.

All systems appear to be go in Houston. They lift off in Indiana on Wednesday with a cast of healthy stars, the rookie sensation of the year, and a mission to accomplish. Can Francis, Mobley and Ming come together to start a new playoff tradition for the Rockets? We'll find out soon.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.