Cue the crippling Tracy McGrady back injury, he's up next.

Here's why you don't pick the Houston Rockets to win at the start of each season. Either Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady are bound to be hampered by injuries.

In 2005-2006, Yao suffered from osteomyelitis in his big toe that kept him out for some time and then a broken bone in his left foot that kept him out the remainder of the season and hindered his early 2007 campaign.

2006-2007 brought a fractured tibia that forced him to miss two months of action.  He was having another great season, but the injury clearly disrupted his progress and left the Rockets in a bad situation come playoffs.

Now this. It's unfortunate, I really like Yao when he's healthy, but the Rockets can no longer bank on their stars making it through a season healthy. I realize this could be viewed as a big overreaction, but I'd start looking to rebuild with a more reliable center and wing.

Yao out for season with stress fracture [Houston Chronicle]