and discussing with GSO.

I like GSO's nice analysis. What does GSO stand for? Graduate student office? I am just kidding, pal.

However, there are some disagreements of mine:

1. Cato has never been good on offense, no matter at center or power forward.

2. Oakley's ability is questionable at the age of 40, but his experience and toughness are much needed for the Rockets.

You know his first comment made after joinning the Rockets "Yao Ming doesn't have to worry about Shaq any more".

I doubt Yao Ming still worrys about Shaq after dropping 25+ points on him, but I like this dude's attitude.

However, the most important asset he has is playoff experience. Signing him now is not only to cover the current low post weakness due to injuries, but also has a very important implication: playoff. After all, with the rate of NBA firing coaches as fast as my girlfriend's shoe changes, you better win it sooner than later. Who knows where you will end up the next year.

If my memory serves me correctly, Rockets has been flirting with Oakley since the beginning of the season. Giving him a ten day contract is because JVG wants to test his ability -- does Oakley still have the stamina, toughness and jumping as well as running ability to play the game at a high level night in and night out?

Because Oakley didn't play very well at the teams after leaving New York doesn't mean he can't play now.

At Toronto, he was a very important part and they enjoyed their best season and playoff history.

Washington and Chicago just plain sucked with anybody, one even with Jordan and one after Jordan left, respectively.

Does the name of Rodman ring a bell? Before resigning with Bulls, he sucked everywhere after leaving pistons. Sometimes, those "thugs" (more like genius) need an environment to grow up or shall we say, succeed on. Rodman helped Jordan to win 3 rings. I hope Oakley can help Yao Ming too.

Look at Rockets' roster, only Cat Mobley and Jim Jackson has played in the playoffs. With cat, that was five years ago. Does a 2 year boy (he was a sophomore at that time) still remember the taste? Jim Jackson was a bench player with Kings and never was the main option. So signing Oakley is very important to the play off success of the rockets, if they dream any. He can tell the current players how it is going to be; what we should prepare for and what we shouldn't; what should we worry about or what we shouldn't; what kind of fouls will the refs call differently from the regular season; he can tell the players not to lose confidence when losing a couple of games because he has been there before and eventually came back sometimes; etc. Some of those things sound trivia, but it becomes a diaster when nobody on the court can lead you. A coach can do only that much. A game changes so quickly that a few time-outs by the coaches are sure not enough. You need the vocal leaders on the court? SF is one, but does he know how to lead in the playoffs if he hasn't even been there?

Contrary to many of the fans of the Rockets here, or anywhere, I believe the weakest point on the Rockets is not

point guard -- SF is no John Stockton and often makes the bone-headed plays. However, he is at least an above average point guard in the NBA with very nice athletic ablities. The reason of never playing with someone great before Yao joinning could contribute to his lack of passes or "selfishness" sometimes. Right now, he has understood that Yao is the first option and the best tribute of SF: he doesn't screw up the team chemistry. He is a "bro" to his teammates and protects them as a bigger "bro". Isn't the Amare incident still fresh?

Shooting guard -- Cat can even guard Kobe to a decent level, what more can you ask for a 2 guard who can score points too? Just restrain him, just restrain him!!! Take the ball out of his hands in the final minutes and don't allow him to take it to the crowd and shoot the fadeway 3s, unless no other options.

Small forward -- Jim has been playing really well, especially recently. Although a little under sized as a wing forward, he has a bigger heart.

Power forward -- this is what I am talking about--the weakest link! Cato is a stiff on offense. That's why people can double down on Yao because they know leaving Cato wide open won't hurt them. He can't even make a 3 foot shoot.
Maurice (the black hole) Taylor is a liablity on defense. He can guard a person who is stronger than him or quicker than him. He can't grab rebounds too. He can score points though, but once he got the ball,you should never expect the reture of the ball. That's why I call him the black hole. Weatherspoon is undersized as a power forward and his fittness is also questionable.

Yao ming needs somebody who stands tall on both ends of floor, does a little bit everything with a very tough attitude and playoff experience. I don't see anybody who is available right now better than Charles Oakley. Even if he can only play 20 minutes of every game, I say that is crucial. He can defend, well you know, he won't back down against anybody, not even Shaq. On offense, if people double Yao, he can take it to hole or finish the short range jumpers. Well, all of these remain to be game tested. But in Oakley, a battle tested verteran, I believe.

Don't ever dream on JVG's style change. I have been his biggest critic ever since he joined the Rockets. His team is plain simple: ugly to watch, no matter it is New York Knicks or the Houston Rockets. He has never been a great tactian too. To me, he is more like a blue collar type of engineer. He relys on his defense to slow people down to a half court battle to win. However, this might play well right into the playoffs. In the playoffs, nobody will allow you to run. Games are so intense and every one of them is so important that most of them come down to a half court battle. That's where JVG can teach and the guy as old as Oakley can contribute. That's why Knicks went so far into the championship game that year before eventually losing to Spurs.

Even though I don't like JVG's style on offense one bit, as long as he remains at the head coach of the Houston Rockets, I will support him whole heartedly.

Can he win it all with his style? This remains to be seen. We never know. Does Pat Railey sound familiar?

Just some random thoughts of mine. Sorry for typing in English. I have no Chinese input access now. Even if I have, I don't know if I will write such a long article.