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Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty Images
"When coach tells everybody I am out for the season, everybody is like quiet. That kind of quietness makes me feel kind of scared," Yao said to Rockets.com.
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By Lauren Brill
The Global Top 10 is your weekly guide to NBA global news. In this week's edition find out whose season has been cut short, who is happy in their new home and which reserve led their team to an overtime victory.
The Ming Dynasty On Hold  On Tuesday, Houston's general manager Daryl Morey announced that center Yao Ming will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs as the 7-6 center will be recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot. To treat the stress fracture, the Chinese import could choose either surgery or a cast and crutches. Either way, The Ming Dynasty will be completely out of commission for three to four months. Yao, understandably, down about the situation. He explained to Rockets.com, "I felt so horrible walking in this building knowing I need to tell coach and my teammates the situation. When coach tells everybody I am out for the season, everybody is like quiet. That kind of quietness makes me feel kind of scared."
 Photo: Yao is Out
1. The Ming Dynasty On Hold On Tuesday, Houston's general manager Daryl Morey announced that center Yao Ming will be sidelined for the remainder of the season, including the playoffs as the 7-6 center will be recovering from a stress fracture in his left foot. To treat the stress fracture, the Chinese import could choose either surgery or a cast and crutches. Either way, The Ming Dynasty will be completely out of commission for three to four months. Yao, understandably, down about the situation. He explained to Rockets.com, "I felt so horrible walking in this building knowing I need to tell coach and my teammates the situation. When coach tells everybody I am out for the season, everybody is like quiet. That kind of quietness makes me feel kind of scared."
Photo: Yao is Out
2. Dirk Feels Kidd-Effect Dirk Nowitzki is without a doubt feeling the Kidd-effect. Dallas recently acquired nine-time All-Star Jason Kidd. The veteran point guard is known for his deft passing skills and ability to enhance the play of his teammates. Kidd has lived up to expectations as Nowitzki's game has improved since the arrival of J-Kidd. In each of the the Mavs' three games from Feb. 22–25, which were all wins, the Germany-native led the Mavs in scoring. Also, over the course of those three games the power forward shot 6-for-7 from the beyond the arc. After only playing alongside Mr. Triple Double for a short period, Dirk said confidently to ESPN, "It's going to be great. He makes work fun."
Photo: The Kidd-Effect
3. Gasol is Liking La-La Land Catapulting to the top of NBA.com's Power Rankings, the L.A. Lakers recent jump has much to do with the newly acquired center, Pau Gasol. On Sunday the former Grizzly expressed his confidence with the Lakers' squad as he told HOOPSWORLD,"I adjusted pretty well (to the Lakers) and I'm in positions where I am comfortable and can be very effective. I'm out there and know how to play the game, so that makes things easier for me." After talking the talk, he walked the walk, logging a game-high 22 points en route to a 111-91 victory over Seattle, marking the Lakers eighth straight win. In addition to a game-high in points, Gasol received the Assist of the Night honor for a behind the head feed to Lamar Odom.
Video:
Gasol: Assist of the Night
4. Hedo is a HeroHedo Turkoglu worked his magic for the Magic down the stretch in Orlando's 102-92 road win over the Nets. The native of Turkey hit clutch shots and turned on his fire power late in the game on Wednesday to ensure his team the win. Tied at 70 nearly a minute into the final period, Turkoglu gave the fans at the Meadowlands quite a show, logging 17 of his 25 points in the fourth. In his nearly flawless final quarter, Turkoglu nailed all four of his shots from the field, drained 7-of-8 from the charity stripe and also contributed an assist and a steal. The game marked the 13th time this season Turkoglu has scored 10 or more points in the fourth. Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy told the AP after the game, "We have great confidence in him (Turkoglu). He gets the opportunities and he comes through when we have put the ball in his hands in those situations."
5. Nash Adjusts to Shaq  Since Shaquille O'Neal joined the Suns squad, Phoenix has been going through an adjustment period. On Tuesday night the boys from the desert appeared to be clicking on all cylinders. For the first time since The Big Aristotle dressed in Phoenix threads, Steve Nash reached double-digits in assists. Nash registered 25 points and 13 dimes en route to a 127-113 victory over the Grizzlies. Ahead by only one point at the end of the third, the Suns went on a 19-8 run in the fourth quarter to secure the win. Despite their triumph over Memphis, Captain Canada told the AP, "We've still got a lot of things to work out and finding that cohesion. It's possible that it could take us the rest of the season.''
Photo: Nash Takes Control
 6. Okur Helps Utah Beat Odds The chances of Utah defeating Detroit looked about as good as the odds of Shaq winning a three-point competition. Then again this is the NBA and it is Where "Hey, You Never Know" Happens. Down by 15 with less than five minutes in the third, the Jazz began their comeback, and triumphed 103-95 over the veteran Pistons. Utah did not allow the boys from the Motor City to score a single field goal for 12 minutes between the end of the third and the middle of the final period. Offensively, Mehmet Okur stepped up to make pivotal shots down the stretch. A former Piston, Okur hit three three's late in the game, including a trey with 50.8 seconds left that put the Jazz up 97-92. On the night Utah's Turkish center registered a game-high 24 points to go along with seven rebounds and four dimes. The win marked Utah's 15th consecutive home win and sixth straight triumph over the Pistons.
7. Garcia Leads Kings to Victory The mood was solemn at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena on Friday night, following an incident that left Gerald Wallace unconscious. Still, there was a game to play. Francisco Garcia, a native of the Dominican Republic, provided the Kings with a spark off the bench, registering a team-high 23 points along with three blocks to help Sacramento grab a 116-115 overtime victory. Garcia looked sharp all night long draining 8-of-12 from the field and 6-of-8 from downtown. After the game Garcia told HOOPSWORLD, "I just wanted to bring a lot of energy and help this team."
8. Udrih Faces Bibby  Beno Udrih and Mike Bibby faced-off in Atlanta on Wednesday night. After Bibby was traded to the Hawks on Feb. 16, Udrih took over as the Kings' starting point guard. Both played like they had something to prove as the Slovenia-native, Udrih, had one of the best nights of his career with 25 points and eight dimes. Despite Udrih's gallant effort, his predecessor, Bibby, led the young Hawks team to a 123-117 victory with 24 points and 12 assists. Despite the loss, Udrih's solid performance foreshadows a promising future for Sacramento. Still young, the four-year vet has spent the majority of his career on the bench in San Antonio. Now coming into his own with more playing time in Sacto, Udrih has shown fans a glimpse of the player he could become.
Photo: Bibby Isn't the Only One Udrih Challenged
9. Horford is Making His Case Al Horford has been making his case for the Rookie of the Year. Horford had moments of greatness in a loss to the Spurs on Feb. 25. The Dominican-Republic native, who has become a permanent fixture in the starting lineup, registered a double-double with 12 points and 13 rebounds. TheHawks proved to be tough on defense as they held the Spurs to a franchise-low five points in the first period. So, what went wrong? "I felt that our intensity went down as the second half started. We had a lot of opportunities but unfortunately we couldn't take care of the ball. And that's something where if we want any hope or anything we have to clean those things up,'' Horford explained to the AP. While Atlanta let this win slip right through their fingers, Horford along with his teammates put their potential on display.
10. Sefolosha's Phenomenal Steal With Jason Kidd and Dirk Nowitzki dressed in Mavericks threads, Dallas was too much for Chicago to handle on Monday night when the Bulls lost to the Mavs 102-94. However a play by the Bulls late in the second quarter made Dallas look like they were the team that couldn’t keep up. After Erick Dampier attempted a long pass to Jerry Stackhouse, Thabo Sefolosha stepped up for a phenomenal steal. He made the most out the play by dishing the ball to Andres Nocioni who nailed a three-pointer. For his stellar display of athleticism, the Switzerland-native received the Steal of the Night honor.
Video:
It Is So Nice You May Need To Watch It Twice
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