<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady will miss three weeks because of back spasms, coach Jeff Van Gundy said. McGrady hurt his back in practice Friday when he landed awkwardly after a baseline layup, trainer Keith Jones said. The injury is a recurrence of a back problem that plagued McGrady when he played in Orlando, Jones said. Jones said McGrady went to the hospital on Friday night and tests showed the injury wasn't as serious as it's been in the past. "All that structural stuff was good," Jones said. "This is more of a compression injury and basically a bruise around the spine -- not the spinal cord, but the spine itself." McGrady did not attend the Rockets' game against New Orleans on Saturday night. Jones said McGrady was already exercising and could be back sooner than three weeks. "But I'm not betting on that," Jones said. "We'll get him up and get him going as soon as his range of motion allows him to. We'll know more in four or five days." David Wesley replaced McGrady in the Rockets' starting lineup against the Hornets. "Every team relies on greatness down the stretch," Van Gundy said. "However, I do believe that good teams can function efficiently with or without one player. Our chore to function without the one player is going to be tested." The back spasms are the latest in a growing list of injuries that have slowed McGrady in the past few weeks. The five-time All-Star missed Houston's last two preseason games because of tendinitis in both knees. He bruised his left knee in a collision with Yao Ming in the practice before Wednesday's opener against Sacramento. McGrady scored 23 points in the opener, playing with a tight wrap on his left leg. Jon Barry, who led the Rockets with 24 in the opener, said the loss of McGrady will be "a great test" for a team envisioning a deep playoff run. "Obviously, you hate to lose your best player, but fortunately it's early in the year," Barry said. "We need to get used to it. It will be a tremendous challenge for all of us." McGrady was sixth in the NBA in scoring last season with 25.7 points per game. The Rockets were 2-2 in four games without him last season, but Van Gundy is optimistic the team can win with him sidelined. "We were expecting him to play big minutes, score, be a primary playmaker, defensive stopper, defensive rebounder, backup point guard," Van Gundy said. "But that being said, I have total belief we have more than enough to win with."</div> Source This really blows. However, if Yao, Swift, Alston, and D.A. can really step it up I think we'll be fine. Wonder when Bob Sura will be back? That would boost our morale quite a reasonable amount.
Is it just me, or does McGrady seem to have the body of a 38 year old? Hopefully McGrady can get a good rest and come back strong for the rest of the season. We don't want these problems to linger for the whole year and severely reduce his effectiveness.
If this was last year's squad, then maybe this wouldnt have been such a problem with mike james and bobby sura. We need tmac to get healthy as soon as possible. Yao doesnt seem capable of handling this pressure. During the game, he missed his final eight shots and was clearly struggling. This guy still cant play big minutes obvioulsly. No one else stepped up for a good game to help support him though. THis is a big op[purtunity to show what he is worth though.
Houston do not need Tracy so much. it is not big deal because Yao is far superior and he will handle team on his own.
We lost the game to Hornet today. Without T-Mac on the court, Yao apparently took over the obligation of launching the rockets, though not hard enough, at least tonite. I can't say that TMAC's absence from the game for the coming 3 weeks is a good news, but there's a silver lining if you would like to see, that it's blood moment to put Yao's aggression and solidity under the spotlight, without his dynamite partner. Most important, through the games without tmac, hopefully he grows up becoming more mature and calm and reliable. To this extent, Tmac's absence comes at a good time. We never expect this to happen in postseason when Yao still hasn't pick up how to fight on his own.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YaoWarrior:</div><div class="quote_post">Houston do not need Tracy so much. it is not big deal because Yao is far superior and he will handle team on his own.</div> It's Miami, New-Jersey, San-Antonio, Detroit, Indiana, Dallas and Phoenix until Tracy McGrady will be able to play. you didn't win New Orleans/Okla Cty without Tmac, how do want to win these games? The Rockets absolutely needs Tracy McGrady so much.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Is it just me, or does McGrady seem to have the body of a 38 year old? </div> no its that he has the length of a pf with the weight of a pg.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Proz4k:</div><div class="quote_post">It's Miami, New-Jersey, San-Antonio, Detroit, Indiana, Dallas and Phoenix until Tracy McGrady will be able to play. you didn't win New Orleans/Okla Cty without Tmac, how do want to win these games? The Rockets absolutely needs Tracy McGrady so much.</div> Patience don't judge tonights game as an indication of the typical Rockets because i guarantee you that it was only an offnight.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Proz4k:</div><div class="quote_post">It's Miami, New-Jersey, San-Antonio, Detroit, Indiana, Dallas and Phoenix until Tracy McGrady will be able to play. you didn't win New Orleans/Okla Cty without Tmac, how do want to win these games? The Rockets absolutely needs Tracy McGrady so much.</div> It's clear why the Rockets lost to the Hornets, they just didn't have a good night as a team. Derek Anderson didn't step up into that supporting role that the Rockets needed. We'll be okay without Tmac as long as our role players can hit their shots and play good defense. Yao can't do it all by himself.
Tue 8 Orlando Thu 10 @ Miami Sat 12 @ New Jersey Sun 13 @ Boston Tue 15 @ Minnesota Thu 17 @ San Antonio Fri 18 Detroit Sun 20 @ Indiana Tue 22 @ Dallas Wed 23 Phoenix Fri 25 @ Memphis Sat 26 Chicago That is a really bad schedule for us, none of those teams will come easy. They are at the worst playoff contenders, and too add to that, its a really long road trip. Without tmac, this stretch will come back to us during the playoffs.
The Rockets are more than capable of winning short term without Tmac. If the Suns can do it without Amarie, we're damn sure capable. This reminds me of the beginning of last year. When we had alot of new faces and nobody really knew they're role. I think the key is Derek Anderson. He needs to be more aggressive. Now that Tmac is out, he's the second option. He needs to atleast give us atleat 15pts a night.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Rockets are more than capable of winning short term without Tmac. If the Suns can do it without Amarie, we're damn sure capable. This reminds me of the beginning of last year. When we had alot of new faces and nobody really knew they're role. I think the key is Derek Anderson. He needs to be more aggressive. Now that Tmac is out, he's the second option. He needs to atleast give us atleat 15pts a night.</div> The Suns can do it without Amare because aside from him they have Nash and Marion. Plus, Nash actually makes everyone around him better- just take a look at Bell's and Jones' numbers this season. Meanwhile, aside from Yao all we have are role players that are supposed to compliment the duo. Anderson has been playing horrible these past two games so I really don't expect him to drastically improve his numbers in the next stretch of games, but rather a gradual thing. I really doubt Anderson will give us fifteen points though, but hopefully he'll surprise me.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">The Suns can do it without Amare because aside from him they have Nash and Marion. Plus, Nash actually makes everyone around him better- just take a look at Bell's and Jones' numbers this season. Meanwhile, aside from Yao all we have are role players that are supposed to compliment the duo. Anderson has been playing horrible these past two games so I really don't expect him to drastically improve his numbers in the next stretch of games, but rather a gradual thing. I really doubt Anderson will give us fifteen points though, but hopefully he'll surprise me.</div> Horrible? You haven't watched any of the games. I admit he might look a little timid at times, but that's understandable. Anderson has played average, but "horrible" is exaggerated. By the way, have you seen David Wesley's numbers, that's about as "horrible" as it gets. The same guy that you made the case for to start, has been by far the worst Rocket on the team. His shot has been "horrible", his defense has been "horrible", and he's had too many silly turnovers. Do you still think he should've been starting?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Horrible? You haven't watched any of the games. I admit he might look a little timid at times, but that's understandable. Anderson has played average, but "horrible" is exaggerated. By the way, have you seen David Wesley's numbers, that's about as "horrible" as it gets. The same guy that you made the case for to start, has been by far the worst Rocket on the team. His shot has been "horrible", his defense has been "horrible", and he's had too many silly turnovers. Do you still think he should've been starting?</div> For starters, he's shooting horribly from the field with .300 shooting percentage. Every other stat category is pretty much average like you mentioned but I find his shooting to be too subpar to overlook. To say the least, its not everything you hyped him up to be. Oh, and apparently, you're pretty insecure about picking Anderson as starter since you immediate fired back with the old Wesley attack. Very smooth. But yes, I'll admit that Wesley shouldn't be starting at this point, there's obviously something bothering him. I don't know whether its the injury or his shooting touch.
Shouldn't we split Wesley and Head's playing time? I mean, with T-mac out, Wesley struggling and us facing so many playoff teams in the next few weeks, what do we have to lose?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AznxBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">For starters, he's shooting horribly from the field with .300 shooting percentage. Every other stat category is pretty much average like you mentioned but I find his shooting to be too subpar to overlook. To say the least, its not everything you hyped him up to be. Oh, and apparently, you're pretty insecure about picking Anderson as starter since you immediate fired back with the old Wesley attack. Very smooth. But yes, I'll admit that Wesley shouldn't be starting at this point, there's obviously something bothering him. I don't know whether its the injury or his shooting touch.</div> It's simple. Everybody is playing bad right now, except maybe Yao. Anderson should be the starter. Period. I knew that when we first got him. I never questioned that either. I'm glad your finally in touch with reality, and realize that Wesley should be on the bench. All the praise you gave this guy, and he's turning out to be everything I described him as this offseason. Short, slow, and old. I tried to warn you guys, but..................
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> It's simple. Everybody is playing bad right now, except maybe Yao. Anderson should be the starter. Period. I knew that when we first got him. I never questioned that either. I'm glad your finally in touch with reality, and realize that Wesley should be on the bench. All the praise you gave this guy, and he's turning out to be everything I described him as this offseason. Short, slow, and old. I tried to warn you guys, but..................</div> ...And the point of that post was? I beg to differ. Barry and Alston's performance weren't really that bad considering what you usually expect out of them.
This will hurt the Rockets more than they think in my opnion - they now have nobody to lead them or score 23+ points per night.
