Yao Ming Out for The Rest of the Playoffs

The injury bug has hit Houston and this time it might be too much to overcome.  Yao Ming, who is averaging 17 points and 11 rebounds during the post-season, will miss the rest of the season with a broken left foot.  Yao limped off the court at the end of the Lakers victory in Game 3 but team doctors thought it was just a sprain.

However, after closer evaluation, the crushing news hit and the Rockets will now be without their big man.  This is not the first time he broke his left foot as five games before the end of last season, he broke the same foot.  They went 19-8 without Yao during the season (not all due to the foot) but lost in the first round.  

With Dikembe Mutombo already out and now Yao, the Rockets have now zero true centers on their roster.  Carl Landry, who has played very well against the Lakers should get the start. This changes everything in the series and I expect specifically Pau Gasol to benefit the most from the absence of Yao.

Lakers in five.

-Matt Soldano