Kung Hei Fat Choi.

Last Sunday was the start of a brand new year for our Chinese brothers. Yep, the Chinese have their calendars slightly different to that of the rest of the world and God, don’t ask me why.

As the Chinese celebrated the brand new year with… well… more Chinese folks, the Houston Rockets entered the Chinese new year without their Chinese giant Yao Ming. And man, do they need Yao back, desperately.

While Yao Ming and probably the rest of China town in Houston, Texas, were eating Chinese food and setting up fireworks here and there, the Houston Rockets were getting their asses kicked by the dynamic duo of Dwyane Wade and Shaquille O’Neal of the Miami Heat.

Not even Tracy McGrady’s 37 points, 12 rebounds and six assists could give Houston the win as they fell to a devastating 15-22 in this NBA Season.

Dwyane Wade had a team-high of 32 points, 17 of those all came in at the fourth quarter for Miami. Shaquille O’Neal took advantage of Yao Ming’s absence as he controlled the paint for 24 points and 14 rebounds.

Tracy McGrady did everything but his team failed to help him out. Juwan Howard is the ONLY other Rocket who scored in double figures with 10 measly points.

If this trend continues, Tracy McGrady will be forced to carry his team again by himself, taking on the opposing team on his own. And if there’s any indication in this league who can do just that, it’s Kobe Bryant and no one else.

Luckily, Yao Ming made his return to the Rockets lineup against the Memphis Grizzlies as of press time. Yao will definitely ease a little pain from T-Mac’s back as McGrady gets some help offensively.

If T-Mac is forced to do more than he possibly can, it could be a matter of time before T-Mac gets haunted by his bad back again. Tracy McGrady is one of the more talented athletes in the league, yes, but he is no Kobe Bryant and carrying a team alone like Houston, who don’t have any offensive momentum whatsoever this year, will definitely be one tough task to carry, and a back-breaking one at that.

C’mon you silly Chinese freak, T-Mac needs you. Jeezuschrist, remain healthy!