Rockets C Yao Ming had hoped to spend the summer resting for the first time in his professional career, but a Chinese official said last week that Yao will be required to play for the national team in the Asian Games. Yao has a contract that stipulates he must play for China in the offseason, but his nonstop schedule has him worn down. Despite the official's insistence that Yao will play, there still is hope in Yao's camp that he will be allowed to sit out. . . .