Bodog Beat

A stress fracture in his left foot has ended Yao Ming's season. (AP Images)

Just when you thought the Houston Rockets were finally stepping up, they've been dealt a huge blow. Six-time All-Star Yao Ming will be sidelined for the season with a stress fracture in his left foot.

While the headlines were all about the blockbuster moves in the Western Conference, the Rockets quietly moved up in the West with 12 wins in a row and a 10-2 record against the spread.

But with this shocking development, you can officially bury any chance of this squad finally meeting the lofty expectations in place since Yao and Tracy McGrady were put together. How can the Rockets ever build around a center that's averaged just 53 games in the past three seasons?

All the progress the Rockets made this year has been stripped away with the loss of center Yao Ming, read up Bodog Nation's take in NBA Betting: Failure to Launch.