Hey guys, internet has been down for me for a few weeks, so I have not been around the bbs at all. Waiting to move into a new pad, and the disconnection was early, and I didnt want to connect if for a week or two. Went to the game last night and as soon as I saw Yao falling, I knew we were in trouble. When i was taking a peepee at halftime and I heard bone bruise, I thought we got lucky.... And then, on th rainy drive home, the worst news ever. Contradicts the logic of the same radio station from the previous night, That' Tmac can play 50 games, and be healthy for the playoffs. 27 games into this season, Yao has carried us to a solid record. But Yao, is not walking through that door to play anytime soon. I am not criticizing Tracy McGrady, I dont have back spasms, and I cant say (as none of us can) to have a full knowledge of the situation. But he must, if he can, play and play soon. We have a team, that is built for contention. A half court team with a good to great perimeter player and the dominant inside force in the game. (not to mention, if we make the playoffs, he will be rested) The onus now falls on Tracy McGrady. We know his back is touchy. But at this point we need even 50 percent Tmac. We have the role players. Especially when Snyder comes back. We have the players that we have not had the last two years. 2 years ago, it was our lack of depth that cost us in the first round, and 1 year ago, it was our lack of depth that hurt in us in the regular season, as we were unable to stay afloat. Now we have the depth. Play .500 ball for 24 games. Maybe Yao will be about back by then. But we need Tracy McGrady now. And if he truly wants to win a championship, he cannot settle to give away another year. We need Tmac more now than ever.
Outside of the "pee pee" comment, I don't find anything disagreeable in what you say. McGrady has a chance to keep this team afloat over the next six weeks, but he needs to be on the court to do it. If he can even keep us in the playoff hunt, the guy will become a cult icon in Houston for battling through the back pain.
rserina, I love the term peepee But yes, Tmac if he really wants a championship, has the seize the opportunity this year. Get us to the playoffs and it is there.
You would think with the way every fan is doubting him and the likes of Kenny Smith saying he's not a real superstar he might come back and play with a chip on his shoulder. Let's hope that's the case as the fate of our season depends on it.....at least until the All-Star break.
Last thing anyone wants to hear, but seeing as McGrady has seen two different back specialists (LA, Waco) in the past week despite all the "I'm feeling better" soundbites, I'm fairly positive McGrady is at least considering back surgery for his discs. This is what Peja just had done, and it is most certainly career-altering. In the end, with backs, trying to play through the pain can be the fast track to medical retirement. Evan
haha i was at the game too and took a leak at halftime and heard the "bone bruise" from the radio as well....not that anyone cares.
This doesn't make any sense. It's like saying Yao should come back before the bone is fully healed. He'll come back as soon as the inflammation subsides enough for him not to risk immediate injury. It has nothing to do with toughness and everything to do with being smart and trying to put this injury behind him and not allow it to linger all season long. I have a bad back and if I injure it and keep doing physical work like working on my car, it exacerbates it. Rest and stretching allow the muscle tissue to be free of inflamation so that a simple movement will not trigger new spasms. It will take another injury for the back to go out again.
McGrady's stats last season without Yao (12/18-1/29): Code: [B]mpg ppg rpg apg tpg ts% W L[/B] 37.1 28.7 6.9 5.1 2.8 50.1% 6 10
Back spasm is paraspinal muscle spasm 2nd to spine inflammation. When spine is inflammed, soft tissues like disc, ligament and joints of spine get swollen, may pinching the nerve, all cause pain and muscle spasm. Like arthritis, there is no cure. The fact is: Excercise does same thing as surgery and people gets better but fluctuates. I do not know about Sura's situation, he got surgery but still no return. AI suffers long term of BS, he seems fine. It is about personnelity in most cases. When pain develops, take a rest. Felt better, go back to play. There is no 100% better, unfortunately. If I am right, T-mac will be in and out for the whole season.
When it comes to back spasms, I don't think it is a matter of manliness, guts, etc. It's just about pain, more pain than you can play basketball with, at any level. Let's be reasonable.
Gotta love having a bunch of Internet warriors asking someone to "man up" and athletically perform at a high level through a serious back injury. I mean, it's not like the guy has a regular, much less physically-demanding job like most of us average Joes, he's a freakin' athlete. But I am just glad we have a bunch of Internet tough guys posting here...
