Yao is starting tommorow against the Cavs

[king]

Cant wait 8)

[KFDM COOP]

Me either!!!!!! 8)

[BMTSoulja1]

have they found a long enough leg/knee brace? ;D

[king]

CLEVELAND - Suddenly in clear need of many things, the Rockets on Sunday received what they needed — or at least wanted — most.

Center Yao Ming was cleared to play tonight against the Cavaliers, moving to the active roster for the first time since he fractured the tibia in his right leg Dec. 23 in a collision with the Los Angeles Clippers' Tim Thomas and teammate Chuck Hayes.

Rockets athletic trainer Keith Jones and general manager Carroll Dawson said only that Yao would be on the active roster. But coach Jeff Van Gundy said Sunday that Yao will start tonight.

Hayes will also return to the starting lineup, Van Gundy said.

"When they say he can play," Van Gundy said of Yao on Friday, "I'm playing him."

The doctors finally said it Sunday after Yao went through a morning workout attended by team physician Dr. Tom Clanton and test results were examined by specialist Dr. Brian Cole in Chicago.

As late as 1 p.m. Sunday, the Rockets were considering having Yao fly to Chicago, rather than board the 2 p.m. flight to Cleveland with the team, for one more examination by Cole. But it was decided it would be enough for Cole to see results of Yao's MRIs and bone scans.

Clanton attended both Yao's workout before Saturday's game on the Toyota Center court and his additional running on the practice court. Clanton also watched Yao work out Sunday before giving the go-ahead for him to play.

"His workouts have been tremendous," Dawson said. "They were kind of blown away. Clanton was really impressed. So we're going ahead as scheduled. He will be on the active list."

Aside from the examinations by Clanton and the test results also viewed by Cole, Yao had returned from Denver a day earlier than scheduled to be examined by Dr. Walter Lowe. He also switched to a different knee brace, dramatically improving his comfort.

"The new brace Keith found is doing its thing really well," Dawson said. "Yao likes it. Everything is looking good. He's made a lot of progress."

[king]

Chuck hayes will start over juwan howard

[Morgan]

good to see yao back.....