[Chron] McGrady and Francis return to practice

[abcdef]

Some small updates.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/5212350.html

Rockets guard/forward Tracy McGrady practiced Friday and Saturday after missing Thursday's game with a bruised thigh and said he feels no traces of the injury. "It was nothing I was ever concerned about," McGrady said. Rockets guard Steve Francis, who sat out Friday's practice to rest some general soreness went through all of Saturday's practice with no difficulty. Forward Steve Novak is still out with the flu.

[mzymmm]

Doesn't sound like Novak is going to make it. Maybe Panthetako would be interested to form the best one two punch in europe that can regularly beat rockets starters.

[doublehh03]

i'm excited w/ how well francis played in game 2. his stroke was looking good. but TOs still concern me.

hopefully adelman will use this week to implement what he wants in terms of plays run for individual players b/c we cannot depend on just freelancing and seeing what the defense gives us.

and it's good to see adelman is drilling some defense into them. i'm actually not worried about defense by the effort so far in the 2 preseason games. we still seem to keep some of the defensive philosophy kept by JVG (like stay closer to the paint, give up the jumper if have to, quick rotations and closing out your man...).

i'm excited for next week when we have some good opponents. i feel we will have a clearer understanding of the rotation by the end of next week as we head closer to the lakers game.

[rn_xw]

Originally Posted by mzymmm Doesn't sound like Novak is going to make it. Maybe Panthetako would be interested to form the best one two punch in europe that can regularly beat rockets starters.

It was an international one two punch, Novak&Vmac. Sounds much better than Yao/TMac

[mzymmm]

Originally Posted by rn_xw It was an international one two punch, Novak&Vmac. Sounds much better than Yao/TMac

Can you say next three euro champ?
Dynasty.

[Spacemoth]

Originally Posted by doublehh03 i'm excited w/ how well francis played in game 2. his stroke was looking good. but TOs still concern me. hopefully adelman will use this week to implement what he wants in terms of plays run for individual players b/c we cannot depend on just freelancing and seeing what the defense gives us. and it's good to see adelman is drilling some defense into them. i'm actually not worried about defense by the effort so far in the 2 preseason games. we still seem to keep some of the defensive philosophy kept by JVG (like stay closer to the paint, give up the jumper if have to, quick rotations and closing out your man...). i'm excited for next week when we have some good opponents. i feel we will have a clearer understanding of the rotation by the end of next week as we head closer to the lakers game.

Let's all hope Adelman can hide Francis' ballhandling deficiencies by making sure the only time he touches the ball is when catching and finishing an alley-oop.

Oh and let's hide Rafer's too, by making him never shoot and simply feed Francis for those alley-oops.

[Yao4REAL]

Francis play better when Yao is on the floor cuz they're buddy...that's why you see Adelman put him and Yao in together.