Missed connection

Patriots tight end Ben Watson drove to the Garden Wednesday night for the sole purpose of taking a picture with Rockets center Yao Ming on the Garden's parquet floor. The two athletes have deals with Reebok, and the picture was to have been a promotion for the company.

Watson waited for Yao for a good 30 minutes in one of the tunnels, but the Rockets big man, finished with his workout, never ventured back onto the court. Yao said last night he didn't want to back out on the court because it would interrupt his game preparation. Yao could be seen in the Houston locker room before the game watching film of the Celtics.

The two athletes eventually took the picture in the locker room before the game. Watson, we're told, was very excited to meet Yao.