Power Rankings: An angry Yao should make Rockets happy

Updated Dec. 11

Yao Ming is walking around with a very strange look on his face these days.

It's equal parts focus and determination, but with the stench of disappointment lingering around a Rockets team that didn't envision itself at .500 a quarter of the way into this season resonating, there's a sour nature in it, too. It's mean.

Watch out, Yao Ming is wearing a frown. (AP)

Yao looks angry. Yao is angry. Good for Yao. Great for Houston.

Bad for the rest of the NBA.

For years, Yao has been deemed too nice by critics, who have lumped his affable demeanor right up near the top of the list as to why he and Tracy McGrady haven't been able to get the Rockets out of the first round of the playoffs since joining forces. He's been called too passive, with some even citing his being brought up in the respectful Chinese culture as a drawback. He won't get in teammates faces. He won't instill fear in opponents. He's not passionate enough.

Flush all those theories down the drain.

"When you are soft yourself, everything will feel tough," Yao told the Houston Chronicle. "It's not because they are so tough. It's because of how soft we are. It's weird that we changed that quick. I never had that feeling. I feel like they traded me to another team, a new team I've never been on before."

Yao is well aware his team is underachieving and doesn't have to be Americanized to know that his team has come to rely on him for leadership. There's nothing more to sit back and absorb. He knows what to expect and what's expected of him, which is why losses to the likes of Philadelphia, even on the road, won't fly.

If the Rockets are to have the season they envisioned for themselves, things are going to have to start turning around. The schedule offers no aid. Sure, Houston gets to go home, but Detroit, Dallas and Orlando, three of the NBA's top teams thus far, won't go quietly. Tracy McGrady turned an ankle on Tuesday night, so it might be up to Yao to strap the team on his back and get it on the right track.

If so, at least he looks ready. That scowl he's wearing on his face should tell you so. He's already been ejected from a game once this month. For the Rockets sake, hopefully his displeasure results in leaving others doing the frowning.

The week's Power Rankings:

Power Rankings
Current		Team	Previous
	1	Lakers · Trends	5
	Kobe Bryant tops 40 for 100th time; just 171 more to catch Chamberlain. ... Gasol (24 and 13 in season debut vs. Bulls) is best Lakers big man since Little Dipper -- Shaq.
	2	Magic · Trends	4
	Three nice wins dwarfed by one huge loss -- Jameer Nelson to knee surgery. ... New look, same result: Vince Carter outplays Rasheed Wallace in playoff rematch.
	3	Cavaliers · Trends	1
	Club leads by 17, then loses by 17 at Washington. ... Maybe this is why LeBron didn't pick 13 as his new number: Teammate Delonte West beat him to it.
	4	Hawks · Trends	2
	No. 1 in home record (7-0), No. 17 in home attendance. ... Shot of week is closest one: Josh Smith spikes home game winner vs. Rockets.
	5	Suns · Trends	6
	Shaq couldn't do this: New center Channing Frye has at least one 3 in all 14 games, 38 in all. ... 13 vs. 13: Nash leads Wilt in all-time assists 7,667-4,643.
	6	Nuggets · Trends	3
	Looking to move back up: Next five against Nets, Timberwolves twice, Knicks, Warriors. ... Nothing is automatic: Loss to Clippers was first since 2007.
	7	Celtics · Trends	7
	Non-elite team, non-elite star: Kevin Garnett is 72nd in league in scoring, 27th in rebounding. ... Celtics, Knicks go to overtime for 32nd time in history.
	8	Mavericks · Trends	10
	Erick Dampier out of the lineup, team goes on winning streak. Coincidence? ... Replacement center Drew Gooden goes 11-14-11-16 on boards in his first four starts.
	9	Trail Blazers · Trends	9
	Embarrassed club rebounds from loss at Golden State with 28-, 24-point romps. ... Warriors (108) only foe to reach 100 this month.
	10	Rockets · Trends	11
	Impressive aspect of 8-6 record: Rugged schedule that's included Lakers, Blazers twice apiece. ... Tracy McGrady returns to practice, says he's ready to go. Now what?
	11	Jazz · Trends	18
	Out of nowhere: Wesley Matthews starting, Jazz winning. ... Triumph at San Antonio is first in 10-plus years.
	12	Bucks · Trends	15
	No Andrew Bogut, no defense: Grizzlies, Spurs average 105 after just three of Milwaukee's first 10 foes top 100. ... Michael Redd returns vs. Spurs, goes 1 for 6 from line.
	13	Heat · Trends	8
	Team losing (four of six), but Michael Beasley's numbers picking up (19.7 points, 10.0 rebounds last three). ... Last two wins: 1-pointers over Nets, Hornets.
	14	Spurs · Trends	14
	Matt Bonner (23 points) an unlikely star in win over Bucks. ... It's a long season: Team won't rush Manu Ginobili (groin) back.
	15	Thunder · Trends	17
	Sixth Man Award nominee: James Harden drops in 24, 25 points in consecutive games off bench. ... Another comeback looms: More knee surgery for Shaun Livingston.
	16	Raptors · Trends	12
	Two Western trips, same results: Win first game, lose rest. ... Jarrett Jack picking up steam: 17 points vs. Heat, 11 assists vs. Magic.
	17	Bulls · Trends	13
	"Circus Trip" turning into circus: Club drubbed by Lakers, Nuggets, Blazers. ... Best No. 13 center in game today: Gotta be Joakim Noah.
	18	Hornets · Trends	23
	New coach winning with new look: Marcus Thornton and Darren Collison excel during three-game streak. ... Finally a break in schedule: Two apiece vs. Kings, Timberwolves in 11-day stretch.
	19	Bobcats · Trends	20
	First win of Stephen Jackson era: He's nailed with technical in victory over Pacers. ... Jackson factor? Gerald Wallace held to 11 points in three of new teammate's four games.
	20	Pacers · Trends	16
	Losing streak has silver lining: Mike Dunleavy is cleared to return to practice. ... Tar Heels coach Roy Williams watches Tyler Hansbrough lose in North Carolina homecoming.
	21	Wizards · Trends	24
	Club's three wins followed by 11-, 12-, 19-point losses. ... One problem: Gilbert Arenas is averaging 20 shots in past six games, making 34 percent.
	22	Pistons · Trends	19
	Tough trip, rough outcomes: Losses to Lakers, Blazers, Jazz, Suns. ... How the mighty have fallen: Someone named Jonas Jerebko is starting at forward.
	23	76ers · Trends	22
	How to blow possible upset: 10-point fourth melts late lead vs. Cavs. ... Improvement noted: Elton Brand averaging 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds in last three after 9.8, 5.3 in first 10 games.
	24	Kings · Trends	21
	Club survives scare: Tyreke Evans' middle finger is sprained, not broken. ... Streaky team has three-, four-game losing skids sandwiching four-game winning run.
	25	Clippers · Trends	25
	Go figure: Baron Davis shoots 4-for-21 combined in wins over Nuggets, Timberwolves. ... Another Clippers low: Broadcasters ejected for comments about Grizzlies' Hamed Haddadi.
	26	Warriors · Trends	26
	Making new friends: Injured Raja Bell leads spirited effort at Boston, then leaves for wrist surgery. ... Just thinking of Mark Cuban makes Don Nelson sick; he sits out Southwest trip.
	27	Grizzlies · Trends	27
	Lightweight champ: Team beats Timberwolves, Clippers, 76ers, Kings in 10-day stretch. ... Nobody hotter than Rudy Gay: 41 for 72 (.569), 25.5 average in last four games.
	28	Knicks · Trends	28
	Winning can be comical: Nate Robinson shoots at wrong basket in victory over Nets. ... Sad state of Allen Iverson: Even Knicks say he's not worthy.
	29	Timberwolves · Trends	29
	Team has failed to score more than 87 points in the last six games (all losses). ... No holiday treat: Second and final showdown with Nets looms Dec. 23.
	30	Nets · Trends	30
	Better days ahead: Devin Harris returns in loss to Knicks. ... Looking for first win? Club visits Sacramento during weeklong Western trip.