A dejected Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets watches from the bench as the Los Angeles Lakers increase their third-quarter lead in Game 5 of their NBA Western Conference first-round series in Los Angeles Wednesday, April 28, 2004. [AP]

A dejected Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets watches from the bench as the Los Angeles Lakers increase their third-quarter lead in Game 5 of their NBA Western Conference first-round series in Los Angeles Wednesday, April 28, 2004. [AP]