It's no wonder that even reluctant praiser Jeff Van Gundy calls Yao the "best regular-season center in the NBA." That obvious qualifier no doubt is in deference to O'Neal, who, unlike Yao, has done big things in the playoffs. Yao's playoff resume is skimpy when compared with O'Neal's.

That the Rockets are even talking playoffs, though, is largely because of Yao. Houston will head toward the homestretch without McGrady, who might miss the remainder of the regular season because of a back injury. So it's on Yao to guide what has become a severely undermanned squad to eighth place in the Western Conference standings.

That's a big-time challenge -- the kind O'Neal, in his prime, likely would have been up for. And the kind Yao, in just his fourth season, seems ready to handle.