Guys, please calm down and chill out a bit. T-Mac is getting better already. We'll weather the storm.... and hopefully he'll be healthy enough and not rush himself back in to get reinjured. And plus, we see that Wells has continued to get more minutes and play better. These are all good developments. Just bear some more little losses and then our team would be complete late December and January. Link: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4406934.html Van Gundy doesn't want players pressing with T-Mac out By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy does not expect players filling in at shooting guard to do what Tracy McGrady does and neither should they. Luther Head averaged 23.5 points in his two games starting with McGrady out, but Van Gundy said it is important for the Rockets as a whole to do what they do best, as opposed to trying to make the plays, especially as a playmaker, they had come to expect from McGrady. He also calls plays that he would for the players on the court, as opposed to expecting other guards to run McGrady's plays. "You have to go to their strengths," Van Gundy said. "McGrady is obviously a superior pick-and-roll player. We become more limited. We have trouble creating shots for each other. And I think when a guy goes out who does create a lot of offense, people try to fill that void and mistakes ensue because we try to do too much. "We have to go through Yao (Ming), but it can't be solely Yao because the post game does get harder as the game goes on. We need some guys who can create a shot for him. He also has to get on the offensive board." The Rockets committed 20 turnovers at Golden State on Thursday, but Van Gundy said they were from a more primary problem than trying to make up for the loss of McGrady. "We're better when we pass with two hands while we're on the ground looking at our target and pivot into our pass versus the opposite of that," Van Gundy said. "That's just a lack of fundamentals versus trying to do too much." Another step forward Rockets guard Tracy McGrady had no negative reaction to his shooting drills in Oakland on Friday and was able to slightly step up his workload to come back from last week's back spasms episode. McGrady, who today will see the specialist who examined him after his back injury March 8, is doubtful to play Sunday against the Clippers. "He's getting better and better," Rockets trainer Keith Jones said. "He did a little more (Friday) than (Thursday). He's rolling right along. He's going to see Dr. (Robert) Watkins, one of the doctors he saw for his back (in March). "He's going to see him in the morning and we'll keep going. See how he feels. Right now, I'd say he's doubtful (to play Sunday)." Wells' role expands Rockets guard Bonzi Wells played 17 minutes against the Warriors on Friday, a dramatic increase from his six minutes against the Lakers on Tuesday in his first game since being moved to the active roster. But Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said Wells' playing time is in no way designed to sharpen his game after his long inactive period since last season's playoffs. "I don't even think about that," Van Gundy said. "Just trying to play well. How much anyone plays is dependent on what I think is best. It's not about getting anybody up to speed during a game."
To all those people who keep saying 'The season's over!' and 'T-Mac should be traded', in your face! T-Mac will be back and he and Yao will crush the nay-sayers!
T-Mac will be back and the team will start winning again, that's a given. The question is how LONG will he stay back? The thing everyone is worried about is T-Mac's health. His back. Other than that i'm sure everyone'd be happy to have T-Mac on board. Well other than the start of the season but he started rounding into form until he was injured.
Maybe it is a blessing in disguise --- Bonzi is being forced into shape faster. We will have a more complete team by the end of Dec.
Look, we are all true Rockets fans, not YOFs. That's why everyone is so worried about our season. The problem is, read the article, does that sound familiar? T-MAC's feeling better..he's back on court practicing, he's doing good and he'll be getting another treatment and blah blah blah. I feel sorry for a guy so talented getting killed by back spasm. However, the injury has been bothering him since last season, and he would not recovery from it, no matter he's 27 or 37 or 17. It's back spasm, not something you recovery and you forget about it.
TMC can only play 15 nightsafter about six months rest ,I don't know why you are so optimistic with him ? I hate to say he just brings last year's nightmare to us again . sevral weeks' rest ,several nights' play.
Again, I do not think it is advisable to rush him back. Even when he's back, I'd rather to let TMac to stay in his comfortable zone and slowly roll back to his old self. This way we'll get a long term gain.
yeah, all of these guys in the "AI for Tmac" thread must be delighted now. I heard one guy in that thread describing Tmac's injury as "he has three verterbral disks slipping from there place". that's just crazy. I am so glad he is getting better. I knew that it wasn't anything serious. they are just being cautious. it's not a result of the jump, it's a result of sitting down for 30 minutes and coming back without warming up. we need TMac to win. record without Tmac: 0-3 I am sure if Tmac was playing for the past 3 games, we would've won easily. we would've blown the Lakers away last game.
Sorry but McGrady is damaged goods and will need to play with caution for the rest of his career, that is if he wants to be contributing to the team effort. Tracy needs to concentrate on being the playmaker rather that being tempted into being our top scorer. Mc Grady's days as a great scorer are over. Even so if he is willing to play the lesser role then the Rockets can go on winning. Bonzi Wells will make up the difference!
I don't know Yetti. My gut keeps telling me that there is more to this than they (Rockets) are letting on. Something is amiss here and it's quite possiblity a reality that TMac's back condition may very well be chronic. Last night during the game, I believe it was Jon Barry who broached the subject of TMac & back surgery and his comment was that surgery would not not help TMac play basketball but would allow him to live more of a pain-free life. That's when the "Oh S**T!" alarms went off in my head. Since the start of the season, TMac has not looked or played quite right and the way his latest injury occurred was most disturbing. I just hope to God that I'm wrong here because if he does have a chronic condition, then his health becomes completely unpredictable and that would prove to be a killer for this team.
The naysayers weren't wrong saying that McGrady was going to continue having back problems. If we don't get out of the 1st round this year then the Rox need to trade TMac.
haha uuuh its more than a possibility. i thought it was common knowledge that t-mac had chronic back problems. the only issue is whether on any given night the pain is too much for him to play with.
If we trade him then he will end up dunking on Yao and going for 30, 10 and 10 on us. I don't want to see that.
Well then, what would make him dunk on somebody else and go for 30-10-10 with him being a Rocket? BTW Mr. Clutch, now that Bonzi is rounding into shape and starting to play more significant minutes, you can probably take him off your signature. I fully appreciate the power of your signature, if you know what I mean.
