Tracy McGrady had to chastise a teammate for not paying attention during Monday's practice. He did it loudly and in front of everyone. It is not McGrady's nature, but a captain has certain responsibilities. "That's not T-Mac," Coach Doc Rivers said. It has to be now. For the past few years, Darrell Armstrong likely would have been the veteran admonishing another player, his emotions spilling, his voice filling the gym or the locker room. But when the Magic declined to re-sign Armstrong, who returns with the New Orleans Hornets for a preseason game at TD Waterhouse Centre at 7 tonight, they effectively turned the team over to McGrady. Ready or not, McGrady, 24, realized the leadership of the club had been dropped in his lap. And sewn on his jersey. The role of captain "usually goes to a team's best player," said Rivers, who has been preparing McGrady for the job. "When I see guys continually messing up, not giving an all-out effort, I have to get on them, because I see something they don't see in themselves," McGrady said. "We have a guy on this team like that, and I have to take responsibility." McGrady observed the fiery, vocal Armstrong for three seasons, but he can't be something he's not. "My way of leading is not like a Darrell Armstrong. He speaks vocally. That's not my way of leading," he said. "My way is just how I come into camp, how I approach games. That's just the way I lead. I'm not necessarily speaking out." He picks his spots and embraces the role of bad cop-good cop. "Absolutely," McGrady said. "I see these guys are following my lead. When I speak, they listen. I'm the same age as some of them, but I have paid my dues." McGrady got a refresher's course in leadership Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La. It was deja Darrell as Armstrong, 35, willed the Hornets over his old team in their first matchup. With Orlando leading by eight points, Armstrong scored 14 of his 19 points in the fourth quarter to rally New Orleans to a 105-98 victory. Armstrong punctuated his three 3-pointers with a thrust of a fist and was jabbering loud enough for Rivers and his old teammates to hear him. Armstrong is bitter that Rivers did not push to re-sign him. "That [Armstrong's emotional display] was expected," McGrady said. "Darrell felt like he should be a part of this team. "I expect him to be even crazier [tonight]. He's coming back to a place he loves and should be welcomed with open arms. It's going to be a special night." A night when Tracy McGrady and Darrell Armstrong play "follow the
hopefully he can take a more vocal approach and fire his team up a lot, but hopefully he won't take the vocal approach that he has the last 2 years and guaranteeing wins.
