It looks like Yao is going to be able to play for the Chinese national team in Tokyo come late August! Click here for the story.

Yao takes time out from his rehabilitation to participate in the inaugural launch of a series of commercials promoting the 2007 Special Olympics in Shanghai. Click here to go to the page with more photos of Yao from the festivities.

Raymond in China has a short report for us regarding Yao’s participation in some Special Olympics activities since he is a Global Ambassador for the organization. Click here for more photos.

Yao gives some interviews after doing some of his rehab work in Beijing on Monday, July 17th. Click here for more photos of Yao working out and his participation in ‘Open Day to the Media.’

Our ClubYao correspondent Raymond in China has another report for us on Yao’s latest status in China:

“It was ‘Open Day to the Media’ for the Chinese national team today (July 17) before they depart Beijing for another series of warm-up tournaments in Europe/France on the 19th.

“Yao Ming will stay behind in Beijing to continue his rehabilitation. When the national team returns to China in early August, he could then rejoin them in team practices to get ready to play against the USA team in Guangzhou on August 7th. Afterwards, he could participate in the 2nd FIBA Stankovic Continental Champion Cup in Nanjing (August 10 ~ 15) against the national teams of Brazil, Greece, Australia, France, and Germany before the World Championship commences August 19th ~ September 3rd.”

Click here for more photos of Yao working out and his participation in ‘Open Day to the Media.’

To see photos from the Chinese national team practice, click here.

I met briefly with Bill Sanders of Team Yao yesterday in LA, and he told me the story that Yao will be making a cameo in a Taiwanese film is NOT true. We didn’t have time to go into the details, but I’m guessing it was a publicity stunt by the film producers. I will not go into the name of the film or the producers involved in this rumor. No need to give them more attention than they deserve.

What’s amazing to me is all the media coverage this untrue story received. After I reported on it, I saw the same story in the Houston Chronicle, and even on NBA.com.

Yao and Wang Zhi-Zhi are reunited again in China in advance of the Tokyo World Championships in August. Click here for more photos of Yao Ming and Wang Zhi-Zhi, and an interview of Yao.

Raymond in China has another translation of an interview with Yao Ming. Click here for the interview and more photos of Yao and Wang Zhi-Zhi.

I’ve been in Vegas for the Vegas Summer League for about a week now, and a couple of days ago I was able to talk about 15 minutes with Rockets’ second round pick Steve Novak. Humble and nice guy. Now that the Rockets have completed their five games here in Vegas, Novak’s stats were pretty good, especially in the first 3 games where he averaged over 18 points per game and shot 12-of-22 (54.5%) from three-point territory.

He dropped off a little bit in the fourth and fifth game, but maybe that was a result of fatigue (which Novak confirmed). After all, the Rockets had played 5 games in six days, and before getting to Vegas, they had some very hard practices.

Novak wasn’t alone. Everyone seemed to drop off statistically after Game 3, including John Lucas III. But Novak and Lewis got some props from ESPN’s Marc Stein in this article, who also was here in Vegas. And although Novak only shot 5-of-13 from the field (2-of-7 from downtown) in the final game yesterday, he scored six of his points in the final 3:40 to help hold off a late fury from the L.A. Clippers.

I was able to get some time with Novak and ask him a few questions so Rocket fans could get to know their recent draft pick:

* I asked if he had been contacted by Yao or T-Mac yet, and he said not yet. Most of his communication has been with the Rockets’ assistant coaches, especially head assistant coach Tom Thibodeau who is coaching Houston’s Vegas league team.

* I wondered how he had become such a proficient 3-point shooter, and he said it was mainly through determination and hard work along with a natural shooting touch. When he was in the 8th grade, he was 6’5”, and he realized with that kind of height with much growth ahead of him (he’s now 6’10”) that if he worked hard, he could accomplish his goal of reaching the NBA.

* I asked who he has been compared to in his career, and for obvious reasons, everyone in Houston he has come across has been comparing him to former power forward and three-point specialist Matt Bullard. I think those comparisons will continue to be made throughout the year and beyond, but before arriving in Houston, he said he been compared more to Pat Garrity.

* Just like everyone here in Vegas, Novak has been impressed with John Lucas’ play. He said Lucas is easy to play with, and that Lucas’ head is always up when he dribbles it up court, which is always a plus for teammates.

* I told him I had noticed Lucas being pretty vocal with his teammates when plays didn’t develop as he expected, and asked Novak if that kind of demonstrative behavior was causing any issues on the court. Novak replied he has always played with point guards who have an “edge,” and point guards are expected to be leaders, so he didn’t mind how visibly agitated Lucas was when things didn’t go as planned.

* One of Novak’s other Vegas teammates — Pat Carroll — had been lighting it up over the first two games (5-of-9 from three). Novak said that when his teammates are hitting three-pointers, it’s contagious and makes it easier for him to hit his own treys.

* His agent is Doug Neustadt who is also the same agent for Travis Diener, a former Marquette player and teammate, Boris Diaw, and Sarunas Jasikevicius. He said he talked with Diener before selecting Neustadt.

* I had noticed that the Rockets’ offense in Vegas was putting their forwards more in motion rather than having them park beyond the three-point line and shoot spot-up threes. I mentioned I anticipate that won’t happen much once he starts playing for the Rockets with Yao posting up down low and kicking it out to him for open threes. But he thought the team was trying to get him accustomed to doing different things offensively.

* After the Vegas league is over, Novak is heading back home and workout before coming to Houston in late July or early August (or whenever the team wants him in Houston). I asked him how long it takes for him to lose the touch on his shot without practice, and he said it doesn’t take long – maybe one day. So he’s going to keep practicing his shot before he comes to Houston.

* I asked Novak if he was ready to carry around veterans’ bags around on road trips and run errands for them, and a big smile came across his face. “I’ll be glad to carry as many bags as they want,” Novak replied, “as long as I get that per diem.”

I’m in Las Vegas this week and attending the Vegas Summer League where 16 NBA teams, including the Rockets, are playing their rookie draft picks and invited free agents to decide who they will invite to training camp later this fall.

Yesterday morning (Friday), I met Daryl Morey, the new GM-to-be for the Rockets starting with the 2007-08 season after current GM Carroll Dawson retires after next season. I also met a colleague of Daryl’s named Sam (I won’t try to spell his last name) who works with Daryl in the front office. Daryl and Sam were great guys, and sharp, too (as you would expect).

During my visit with them and some of my colleagues, a very relaxed, courteous, and pleasant Jeff Van Gundy dropped by to say hello to us. JVG was relaxed wearing a pair of shorts and a T-shirt, had his two small daughters with him, and they all looked like they were having a good time in Vegas. As you know, Van Gundy puts a lot of pressure on himself, and although he is probably here in Vegas mostly on business, it’s nice to see him without the stress of the regular season on his shoulders.

Later in the day, I introduced myself to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, who covers the Rockets and whose columns I’ve been reading (and linking to from YaoMania!) for years. Feigen was a nice guy, too. Jonathan reported on Friday that Mike James had whittled down his list of teams to three — the Rockets, Minnesota, and Dallas — and James will decide on Monday where he’s going to sign. Even if James surprises everyone and doesn’t choose the Rockets (after being very vocal that he would like to come back to Houston), it’s good to see the Rockets made a very strong run at signing James.

During summer league play, which started Thursday, three players have stood out for the Rockets. John Lucas IIIhas been looking great over the two games already played, averaging 25.5 points per game, making 61.8% of his shots and hitting 3-of-6 three-pointers. Lucas, who played briefly for the Rockets last season, is showing in Vegas that he can get to the hole quickly, has displayed a nice teardrop runner in the lane, a sweet fadeaway from the free throw line area, and has been doling out some nice, crisp assists (6.5 per game). The way Lucas is playing, he’ll definitely be invited to training camp and will most make the team as a backup. Feigen has a good story about him in the Saturday edition of the Chronicle.

Also impressive has been second round pick Steve Novak from Marquette, whose 3-point shooting is as good as advertised (better shooting % than J.J. Redick last year), hitting 9-of-15 (60%) from behind the arc, 15-27 overall (56%), and averaging 21 points for the first two games.

A bonus surprise has been Pat Carroll from St. Joseph’s. Although his name is plain, his shooting isn’t. He has been hitting everything, averaging 23 points and making 62% from the field, and 5-of-9 from three-point land.

If things keep going as they are, who would have thought the Rockets would have this kind of selection to choose from to bolster their bench scoring.

Chuck Hayes has been solid (see another Feigen article by clicking here), as always, from a rebounding perspective (7.5 per game) and 7-of-9 from the field (mostly down low), but his free throw form is worse than Shaq’s, having a hitch at the top of his release while also leaning forward. There was one free throw attempt where he crossed over the line before releasing the ball, committing his own lane violation. On the next attempt, he didn’t cross over the line, but the other players standing along side the lane did, committing a lane violation. I have a feeling that will happen a lot more this season.

John
john@YaoMingFanClub.com

It has been awhile since we have heard anything about Tracy McGrady and the rehabilitation on his back. The Houston Chronicle unveils the mystery with an article this morning.

Good to see that T-Mac is feeling good (so far) and is working out hard. He also mentions that he will try to recruit Mike James to sign with the Rockets again as a free agent this summer.

Yao continues his workouts, and works ups a sweat, in Shanghai before leaving for Beijing on Saturday, July 1st. Click here for more photos from Yao’s workout.

Raymond in China has another update for us on Yao Ming’s whereabouts as of this past Saturday:

“Yao Ming left Shanghai on Saturday (July 1st) and is now in Beijing. He went for his rehab training Saturday morning at the National Sports Bureau training centre. He will rejoin the national team when they return from Europe on July 4th, but he will not take part in team practice yet, as he will continue his rehabilitation training with David Macha and Anthony Falsone. David Macha will soon leave a healthy Yao Ming in the hands of Anthony Falsone to bring him back to his competitive shape and form.”

Click here for more photos and video from Yao’s workout. 

I’m pleased that the Rockets appear to be making an effort to sign free agent and former Rocket Mike James, contrary to previous reports from other ‘analysts’ who thought they knew what they were talking about. Late Friday night Jeff Van Gundy paid a visit to James’ house a minute after the timeframe opened up for teams to talk to free agents. No doubt, this is a very significant development!

James’ agent is Bill Duffy, who also represents Yao Ming. James has made clear in the past couple of months that he would like to play in Houston again…and badly. But Duffy stated that James is still keeping an open mind to other teams, as anyone would do in his situation. The Rockets cannot pay as much as other teams can afford, so it will be interesting to see what happens, and Duffy said it would ultimately be James’ decision. The earliest that teams can sign free agent contracts is July 12th.

Here’s a Houston Chronicle article that describes the current landscape of free agent shooting guards that are available for signing.

I’ve stated it before that I hope the Rockets can sign James. Losing the chance to sign him will remind me of how another “James,” James Posey, decided to leave the Rockets during free agency a couple of years ago for more money, and we all know how valuable a role player he was to helping the Miami Heat to winning a championship.