[CHRONIC] No T-Mac, no surprise for Rockets players

Rockets34Legend · 02-18-2009, 06:17 PM

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...n/6269653.html

No one saw the announcement coming, yet there was no surprise, no need to regroup to continue on.

Rockets guard Tracy McGrady did not tell his team or teammates that he would need microfracture surgery and that his season would be over. Yet, the news could not begin to inspire the sort of shock that came last season when Yao Ming told them that a stress fracture found in his left foot would end his season.

"When Yao went down, that was devastating," forward Shane Battier said. "Obviously, Tracy is a great player. He's a big part of what we did. Yao at the time was our foundation. This, we knew Mac wasn't right from the beginning.

"The thing about microfracture if he goes through with it, that's a huge step. I hope that people appreciate the severity of the surgery. Most people think that ACLs and Achilles are tough and they are, but it's proved you can come back from ACLs and Achilles and be strong. Microfracture, there is no guarantee that he may ever play again. It's a pretty severe step for him to take."

Unlike past season, the Rockets have won more regularly without McGrady (going 13-6 in games he missed) than with him. They had considered him part of their plans this season and on Tuesday, Rockets owner Leslie Alexander said the team would not trade McGrady because he is "a superstar."

Though the Rockets have not confirmed that McGrady will need season-ending surgery, they also sounded ready to "move on."

"I'm going to concern myself with the guys I have right now," Adelman said. "That's an issue that sounds like it's over and done with so we have to move on as a team.

"We believe we can win. That's the most important thing, but we have to be more consistent than we have been. I think we played at times pretty well, and now we have to build on it. We have to win games at home. We have to start winning on the road again. I don't know how good we can be, but we certainly can win games."

Adelman, however, did not think the Rockets would be distracted by the latest chapter in a season-long saga.

"We went through this all year long," he said. "I think guys anticipated that something was going to happen that probably was not going to be great news as far as Tracy is concerned. I don't think it is going to have an effect because the team has been through a lot of ups and downs all year long. Maybe it is good it is settled one way or another and we can go on."

With McGrady out, Ron Artest has started at shooting guard with Von Wafer and Brent Barry getting increased playing time off the bench.

"The last two games, we responded pretty well," Artest said. "We just hope we can keep that up. I don't want to say that we're better off because he's a part of this team. I would say his health is the most important thing.

"I don't care if I'm playing my grandmother, rest in peace, we always have a chance to win, we're always going to be a contender."

The Rockets had, however, spent the season trying to escape the uncertainty about who could and could not play. While McGrady's announcement did add a great deal more confusion in the short term, it could end those issues should the Rockets eventually concur with McGrady's decision.

"If the reports are true, it gives us certainty, Battier said. "We can finally move on. We know who we have. We don't have to worry about coming back from injury. We move forward. We do the same things we have all year long facing the injuries that we have. Today was no different than yesterday, no different than a week ago. Life goes on.

"That's the way it is in the NBA. We're in a playoff race. We're in the middle of it (in the fifth seed in the Western Conference). All the other stuff doesn't really matter to us."

Dave_78 · 02-18-2009, 06:20 PM

I would love to be a fly on the wall in the locker room or better yet, in Les Alexander's office. I imagine there are a lot of comparisons to McGrady and all things feminine.

RocketKobe24 · 02-18-2009, 06:22 PM

Good to know the team doesn't really care. Artest probably put it in the nicest way possible, I can't say we are a better team without T-Mac because he's a part of this team. It's good to know Artest isn't laughing at his face or saying we are better without him.

I feel the same way as Battier, I just wanted T-Mac to realize he was out for the season so this team can focus and know they are playing without T-Mac.

Rocketman95 · 02-18-2009, 06:22 PM

sounds good. they realize they're not losing much, if anything, so they're over it. i bet the players are relieved to have this happen. no more zigging then zagging. straight-on to the playoffs.

KDavis · 02-18-2009, 06:25 PM

"I don't care if I'm playing my grandmother, rest in peace, we always have a chance to win, we're always going to be a contender."

Ron Artest is so awesome! Gotta love this guy.

jVgOwnsYou · 02-18-2009, 06:25 PM

Love Battier's attitude. Ron's too. You always have a chance to win. We have enough depth and talent to challenge anyone. Losing tracy sucks, but you play on.

roslolian · 02-18-2009, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jVgOwnsYou

Love Battier's attitude. Ron's too. You always have a chance to win. We have enough depth and talent to challenge anyone. Losing tracy sucks, but you play on.

The good news is DM has done such a good job we still have a pretty good team even with Tmac out. Ron Artest can do a reasonable 2nd superstar impersonation, and with Wafer playing like he is and Rafer Alston emergence as a "true" pass first pg we basically have substitutes for all the things Tmac provides:

*Playmaking-Alston
*2nd superstar-Ron Artest
*Volume scoring and driving to the hole-Wafer

Hopefully these three guys will step up big time with Tmac out. 3 pt bombs from sunburned Battier wouldn't hurt either

YallMean · 02-18-2009, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roslolian

The good news is DM has done such a good job we still have a pretty good team even with Tmac out. Ron Artest can do a reasonable 2nd superstar impersonation, and with Wafer playing like he is and Rafer Alston emergence as a "true" pass first pg we basically have substitutes for all the things Tmac provides:

*Playmaking-Alston
*2nd superstar-Ron Artest
*Volume scoring and driving to the hole-Wafer

Hopefully these three guys will step up big time with Tmac out. 3 pt bombs from sunburned Battier wouldn't hurt either

:D

Dream on.

pgabriel · 02-18-2009, 06:38 PM

this is crazy, everyone has accepted he needs surgery, yet there is nothing official from the team

ArgentinaSlayer · 02-18-2009, 06:52 PM

Looks like the players have moved on. Doesn't look like the fans will though.

kkkpopov · 02-18-2009, 07:21 PM

I admit I just caught the wrong point from the title"NO T-Mac....",I thought it was a paean for him

Sweet Lou 4 2 · 02-18-2009, 07:27 PM

t-mac is a me-mac and not a t-mate.

He's done as a Rocket. Let him have his surgery, and we all know he won't be able to play until the fall 2010 when he signs as a free agent with some team.

His only value to us now is to trade away his hefty salary next Feb before the trade deadline for some sort of value.

I am not a fan of his any longer.

REEKO_HTOWN · 02-18-2009, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sweet Lou 4 2

t-mac is a me-mac and not a t-mate....

LOL, I'm sorry but that sounded so cheezy. sorry who knows how long it took to think of that.

startover · 02-18-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nWo34Life

[url]
...
"The last two games, we responded pretty well," Artest said. "We just hope we can keep that up. I don't want to say that we're better off because he's a part of this team. I would say his health is the most important thing.
...

LOL! Ron, you just said that...

rodmanhust · 02-18-2009, 07:42 PM

if we become consistent in regular season and build up our chemistry again, we may still have a chance to win one or more playoff series.

have faith and hope for the best~

sgt.pepper · 02-18-2009, 07:47 PM

does it feel like orlando all over again?

LCII · 02-18-2009, 07:50 PM

Battier:

"When Yao went down, that was devastating," forward Shane Battier said. "Obviously, Tracy is a great player. He's a big part of what we did. Yao at the time was our foundation. This, we knew Mac wasn't right from the beginning."

Translation:

It was devastating to lose Yao last season, but losing T-mac this season was 'meh' cuz T-mac has been acting like a fragile drama queen right from the start of the season and wasn't contributing positively to the team anyways.

Hmm · 02-18-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCII

Battier:

"When Yao went down, that was devastating," forward Shane Battier said. "Obviously, Tracy is a great player. He's a big part of what we did. Yao at the time was our foundation. This, we knew Mac wasn't right from the beginning."

Translation:

It was devastating to lose Yao last season, but losing T-mac this season was 'meh' cuz T-mac has been acting like a fragile drama queen right from the start of the season and wasn't contributing positively to the team anyways.

can always count on Shane to be diplomatic..

SF3isBack!! · 02-18-2009, 07:56 PM

I honestly believe this roster is better than the one that won 22. Can we do it again, yet to be seen. But, with von playing the way he has been playin I like our chances of at the very least gettin past the first round. Even though i'm a t-mac fan and hope the best for him, him bein out for the season feels like a breath of fresh air. Utimately one player cannot be allowed to cause this much drama for a team and stay. It is what it is and we can juss move on now finally.

SF3isBack!! · 02-18-2009, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LCII

Battier:

"When Yao went down, that was devastating," forward Shane Battier said. "Obviously, Tracy is a great player. He's a big part of what we did. Yao at the time was our foundation. This, we knew Mac wasn't right from the beginning."

Translation:

It was devastating to lose Yao last season, but losing T-mac this season was 'meh' cuz T-mac has been acting like a fragile drama queen right from the start of the season and wasn't contributing positively to the team anyways.

yeh pretty much