Houston Rockets: Five Things that Would be Different if Yao Ming Were Playing

The Rockets' 7'6" center suffered a hairline fracture in his left foot in a playoff game last May, requiring surgery. The injury raised concerns about his playing future, but Yao said in December that things are progressing well and that he expects to be fine by next season.

But what about this year? How would things have been different for Houston had Yao suited up? Let's take a look.

1. They'd be on the NBA Radar

They should be, already, given their admirable performance without Ming and Tracy McGrady. But that's not how this league works.

The NBA markets stars, and Ming is the Rockets' star. It's hard to argue with that tactic either, given the league's explosion in worldwide popularity during the David Stern era. Ming's fame in China carried over to the United States and made him a global icon—and a consistent leading vote-getter for the All-Star game.

Kobe and LeBron are popular in China, too, but Ming's absence has left a void. His star power is missed in the NBA, let alone Houston.

2. The Foursome of Brooks, Landry, Ariza, and Scola Might nNot be a Foursome at All

Most teams in the NBA have a leading scorer, a secondary scorer, and then everybody else. With Ming out, and McGrady as good as gone, the Rockets and their fans have enjoyed the emergence of Aaron Brooks (18.7 ppg), Carl Landry (16.2), Trevor Ariza (15.5), and Luis Scola (15.2) as a foursome to be reckoned with.

Together they contribute more than 65 points a game, about two-thirds of Houston's offense. Landry, in particular, has been a pleasant surprise. Despite coming off the bench, he's the Rockets' second-leading scorer, and even earned a nod from TNT's Chris Webber for the All-Star game.

Ariza has been inconsistent at times, and they certainly have their flaws, but let's look at the glass as half-full, not half-empty. With Ming on the floor, these four might be good, but they would not have been carrying the offensive load the way they have been.

In a season of less-than-good news, these four have given the Rockets and their fans reason for hope.

3. Coach of the Year Voters Might Ignore Rick Adelman

They might, anyway. That doesn't mean, however, that this underrated magician isn't getting it done yet again. As of this writing, the Rockets are an improbable 24-21 without their biggest-name stars, and remain in the hunt for a playoff spot.

Adelman is known for getting the most out of his players; this year is no exception. How good is Houston, really? Even after a recent slide, if they were in the East and the playoffs were to begin today, they'd be the fifth seed. Remarkable.

4. The Leadership of Shane Battier Would be Overlooked

The Memphis Grizzlies improved after Battier arrived in town. So did the Rockets. Even he couldn't offset the inevitable decline that resulted from Ming's absence, but his leadership has been evident in other ways.

And his example is a key in the development of a player like Chase Budinger, whose numbers are similar to Battier's own this year.

Battier is unselfish and hard-working. When the Rockets play the marquee teams, he takes on the burden of guarding the game's biggest stars, like LeBron and Kobe. He may not stop them, but he frequently makes it tougher for them to do their thing. Battier is often overlooked around the league, and definitely underappreciated.

That shouldn't be the case this season.

5. Houston Fans Might Not Appreciate How Talented the Rockets Really Are

Fans are fans and tend to focus on the negative. It's a self-preservation technique, really. Criticize and you can later say, "I told you so," a safer road than getting your hopes up and having them dashed. (Let's face it, that's what happens in 29 cities every year.)

But take heart, Houston fans. Without Ming (and McGrady), the Rockets have been able to experiment with their lineup and further develop some promising young players.

In doing so, they've uncovered some legitimate talent and have remained competitive, despite a recent tailspin. If GM Daryl Morey can get a decent return on McGrady, and Ming comes back anywhere near his former form, the Rockets could make some real noise in 2010-11—and this season will be remembered for its positives, not its negatives.