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Best of the West
Yao selected as West's Player of the Month
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Damien Pierce
Rockets.com Staff Writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- Despite guiding the Rockets to a respectable record and compiling
some nice numbers in January, Yao Ming didn't feel like he played all that well
over the month.
He'd find plenty of disagreement around the NBA.
With one of the most impressive stretches of his career, Yao earned the Western
Conference's Player of the Month award on Friday, earning the honor for the
second time in his six-year career.
The All-Star center guided the Rockets to a 10-4 month even though Yao and Co.
played nine games without fellow star Tracy McGrady. Yao averaged 25.1 points,
11.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.92 blocks.
Still, Yao was shocked when he learned that he had received the NBA's monthly
honor. He didn't think he played well enough to get it.
"Actually, I'm surprised I won it for January," Yao said. "It's surprising. I
don't think I'm playing as good as I can. That's why I'm surprised."
The numbers suggest that Yao might be being a bit modest.
During the impressive month, Yao had nine double-doubles and had three games in
which he collected at least 30 points and 13 rebounds. He netted a season-high 36
points and 19 rebounds in a recent win over Golden State.
With that, Yao became the third player in franchise history to win the award at
least twice, joining Hakeem Olajuwon and Moses Malone.
The center, however, only saw areas where he needed to improve.
"I need to cut down turnovers and (help my team) win more games," Yao said.
Yao's teammates, though, weren't surprised that their big man received the
honor.
Rockets guard Rafer Alston said the improved play of the center's supporting cast
allowed Yao to have a big month.
"I'm not surprised," Rockets point guard Rafer Alston said. "He was already
playing well and then you had three or four guys helping out. They couldn't key
on him so much. He's a tough cover for anybody one-on-one. He wasn't the only one
having a great month so that took some of the defense off him and allowed him to
operate by himself down there."
