Houston Rockets' Yao Ming (11), of China, shoots over New York Knicks' Eddy Curry (34) during the first quarter of their NBA basketball game Friday, Nov. 10, 2006, in Houston. [AP]

"Coach (Jeff Van Gundy) has told me there are two things that if you do them well, you play well. One of them is rebound, the other is block shots," Yao said. "I think he just wants me to have more energy on the defensive side."

He still had some left over after the game. After playing 38 minutes, Yao headed straight to the weight room in anticipation of Sunday's meeting with Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat.

"I've got another big guy coming," Yao said. "I want to be ready for him."

Yao's postgame detour didn't surprise teammate Shane Battier.

"He's a worker," Battier said. "He's the first one at practice every day and he's one of the last ones to leave. A player does not become dominant like he is becoming by watching highlights on ESPN."

Yao hit 15 of 21 shots and also had a steal and two assists as the Rockets beat the Knicks for the fourth straight time.

Tracy McGrady and Rafer Alston scored 13 points apiece for the Rockets, who shot 55 percent (40-of-73) and outrebounded New York 45-33.

McGrady went 4-for-12 and had eight assists, but the six-time All-Star realizes even he's in a supporting role when Yao plays like this.

"It's crazy to me," McGrady said. "If I go out and have a subpar game and I don't shoot the ball well or play well and I get 13 points, every team I've been on, we're going to lose that game.

"The role is kind of reversed now. I'm the distributor and I like that role."

McGrady can't wait to see how Yao performs on Sunday - and even gave Shaq some bulletin-board material to ponder.

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