Lock if posted of course http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6090496.html The NBA upheld the technical foul assessed to Rockets forward Ron Artest in Thursday’s game. Artest was given the technical for running to a confrontation after Dallas’ Josh Howard fouled Yao Ming. The league is still reviewing video the Rockets provided of an incident earlier in the game when Howard tripped Yao. Schedule aids McGrady As difficult as it was for Rockets guard Tracy McGrady to have played the second game in as many nights Thursday, he said Saturday that playing both games, taking a day off and then playing again Saturday might be an ideal schedule for building the strength back in his left leg after missing most of the preseason. “I think it helps, playing on it, letting it rest and coming back the next day and working on it,” McGrady said. “That’s how you build strength. “When I’m playing I try not to think about it. I try to go out there and try to be as normal as possible. Sometimes when I make a move in my mind, it’s definitely in the back of my head.” Bench players step up In the first game of the season, the Rockets’ bench combined for 10 points. In the second game, the Rockets reserves had 29. Much of the difference might be attributable to the return of Aaron Brooks, who had 14 points and five assists off the bench, but Rockets coach Rick Adelman said the team will need consistency no matter who plays. “It’s going to be important for us,” Adelman said. “We need to have consistency there coming off the bench game in, game out. Aaron can give us a lift there. Coming off the bench and being consistent, it really helps us. It adds another dimension in the game for us with the game.” More than that, Tracy McGrady said it can lift the Rockets to a different echelon. “That’s what makes a team a great,” he said. “You got to have your starters get off to a great start and a bench that comes in and maintains that. Those guys are creating a lot of energy. In order for us to be good, that’s what we’re going to need.” Getting back on defense In the Rockets preseason game against the Thunder, Oklahoma City had 19 fast break points. In the Rockets’ game Thursday against the Mavericks, they allowed 37 points on the break. With another game against the Thunder, there was an emphasis on cutting off the break, but Rockets coach Rick Adelman said that more is needed than to just turn around and run fast. “It’s habits that you have, too. If one of our perimeter people goes to the basket, the other two have to get back, and we weren’t doing that. I think sometimes guys aren’t used to doing it, Tracy (McGrady) and Ron (Artest) in particular. That’s one thing Shane (Battier) always did for us; he was always back. “We just have to concentrate on it. If you’re not going to the boards, and you see somebody penetrate, you’ve got to get Brooks returns early Fans might have been surprised to see Aaron Brooks play on Thursday after missing three days with an injury that was expected to keep him out as much as three weeks, but even his teammates were stunned during the game. “Tracy (McGrady) and I couldn’t believe it,” Rockets guard Rafer Alston said. “I said, ‘Are you even taped?’ I thought he was just in uniform on the bench because he didn’t have a jacket (required by the NBA to sit on the bench).”
It should. I mean I'm glad he did what he did, but he did run up and shove a guy after the situation was already dissolving.
someone mentioned this before in one of the threads about Shane's value in stopping transition defense...bravo
You know...it's gotten to the point where I don't even read what Tracy McGrady says....because the guy can say one thing, and 2 seconds later, go 180 degrees and say another thing... I'm not sure why the Media takes seriously anything that Tracy says anymore...The guy may be a very good player, but he's just not very intelligent. Having only a highschool diploma is probably why the guy sounds so uneducated.
^ The problem I have with tracy mcgrady is not the stuff he says, but the way he thinks. I mean he exaggerates any and every injury in his mind. Even him saying that "When I'm playing I try not to think about it.....its in the back of my head" just shows that he is constantly over thinking his injuries. Why even talk about it like that? Why not just shrug it off and make it sound like he is stronger than any injury and he will overcome it with ease. If he had that kind of mindset than I know for sure his play would not be as fragile as it has been since post 2004. It's his mindset that holds him back from doing the great things he is capable of. He truly is a prisoner of his own mind.
Are you blind? Artest didn't shove Howard. Howard actually shoved Artest after Artest ran into him. It's such an embarrassment to the league that this call wasn't rescinded. It was a game on national television for everybody to see, and messed it up.
Seven says it right.. Look at it from here: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CB9MlgM3XzY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CB9MlgM3XzY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
I still think Ron didn't have to run in there. He kind of overplayed the whole 'protect your big guy' thing. Everyone knew there was no fight going to happen between Yao and ... that Howard guy. Still a bad techincal though.
I think your blind. The very first person to get touched by Artest is Howard regardless if it was to move him and JKidd aside or if it was a slight intentional but regardless he was trying to to get to Yao.
I can't stand the NBA referees. In no other so called "Sport" would such obvious botched referee calls be allowed. NBA is a joke regarding it's referees. It ruins the sport for everyone, and that David Stern allows this to continue is a disgrace. NBA is not 100% sport like MLB or NFL. It's part WWF, part sport.
okay, if Artest's T stands, then I think the league should give Howard suspension for tripping Yao. otherwise it wouldn't be fair for the Rockets!!! I was watching the game live, and I watched the video of Artest's T for numerous times but I still can't find out why Artest was given a T. That just pure BS
It happened so fast that I missed it during the game. In the youtube clip, you can see Artest give Howard a one handed push before pulling Yao away. The refs would never call that on T-Mac or Yao, but a technical is crazy. It's a double standard. Five years ago, Ron would have shoved Howard hard to the ground, and give the refs a real reason to give him a T. This is a different Ron.
So...Artest is trying to get to Yao...and that's a shove? Artest didn't shove anybody. He ran up and tried to get through Kidd and Howard to get to Yao. Look at Kidd's reaction it tells the whole story. At first he looks like he angry at Artest for running up but then quickly just nods to Artest and starts moving. Howard's the one that shoved Artest. The league..or at least whoever made the decision to uphold that T is an idiot.
The very first person to put their hand on someone is Artest. Howard wasn't between he and Yao, and he gives Howard a slight push and hOward pushes his hand off of him. He deserved the technical.
