Yao Tries to Remain Positive

If the Rockets’ franchise player is depressed following his season-ending injury, he sure isn’t letting it show: “But this wasn’t the teary-eyed and downtrodden Yao who appeared at last year’s announcement that his season was over. This Yao was upbeat and optimistic, smiling and even cracking jokes a day after learning he’ll miss Houston’s playoff run with a hairline fracture in his left foot. ‘It’s frustrating, but you have to be positive because it is already better than last year,’ he said Sunday. ‘It’s already happened so I need to look forward and see what’s the next step.’ His sunny attitude was likely because this injury came in May, three months later than in 2008, and is less severe than that one, which required surgery. ‘I think I’ve been in harder situations before, much harder than this one,’ he said. ‘I believe that I can get through this one too.'”