Houston Chronicle Tuesday highly praised Chinese basketball player Yao Ming, but suggested that the Houston Rockets' All-Star center might need backup.

According to the newspaper, Yao's combination of size and offensive skills allows the Rockets to use him differently than any other center, but he also missed 59 games in the past two seasons.

"It is especially important to choose his backup," said the report.

After a slow start, Dikembe Mutombo, the NBA's oldest player, did a wonderful job when Yao was injured last season, and the Rockets' coach Rick Adelman believed his team does need Mutombo against bigger guys since he's totally different from Yao.

"But Mutombo's age might be a problem, the backup needs a backup also," said the newspaper.

With 20 players under contract, the Rockets' roster might not leave much room for that luxury.

Adelman faces a tough choice in deciding which big men will fill out his roster. He said: "That's something you have to think about, insurance."

(Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2007)