28-year old center Yao Ming will undergo surgery to repair a hairline fracture in his left foot next week likely ending his 2009-2010 season before it starts. Yao played in 77 games (all starts) for the Rockets last season and he averaged 33.6 minutes, 19.7 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 2.0 blocks per game last season. Yao is irreplaceable for the Rockets as he is one of the best centers in the NBA. Yao has now played in 481 games (471 starts) in his seven year career with the Rockets and he has averaged 32.7 minutes, 19.1 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.9 blocked shots per game. This is a HUGE loss for the Rockets.

Yao Ming will miss the rest of the season for the Houston Rockets after it was found that he has a stress fracture in his foot. This will really hurt the Rockets as Yao has been the best player on the team by far. He played in 55 games this season (all starts) and he averaged 37.2 minutes, 22.0 points, 10.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.0 blocked shots per game. He also shot the ball well as he hit 50.7% of his shots from the floor and 80.5% from the free throw line. The Rockets will likely either move rookie power forward Luis Scola over to center or they will start Dikembe Mutombo. Either way it’s a huge dropoff.

Yao has now played in 404 games (394 starts) in his NBA career and he has averaged 32.5 minutes, 19.0 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.8 blocked shots per game. Yao has now made 52% of his shots from the floor and 82.6% of his shots from the free throw line.

Stevie Francis is out indefinately with a quadriceps injury. Francis’ return to Houston has been a disaster as he hasn’t played well at all this season. Francis has played in only 10 games this season and he’s averaging 19.9 minutes, 5.5 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game. Francis also has been shooting more than his fair share of bricks as he only has hit 33.3% of his shots from the floor and 56.5% of his shots from the free throw line.

Tracy McGrady will miss the next few games with a right elbow strain. In 9 games this season McGrady has averaged 35.8 minutes, 26.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Bonzi Wells will probably start at shooting guard while T-Mac is out and he should do a good job. Still, the Rockets will miss McGrady as he’s one of the best offensive players in the entire NBA.

Bonzi Wells has left the Rockets indefinately due to personal problems.  This couldn’t have come at a worse time for the Rockets as the playoffs start in less than two weeks.  The Rockets bench isn’t very deep and they will need Wells veteran presence and experience in the playoffs.  Wells has played in 28 games this season and he’s averaged 21.1 minutes, 7.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game.