chron: Rockets' McGrady to seek second opinions on knee

T Mac hesitates to drive to the basket, because he's afraid of re-injuring his back, and now he's giving up more of his game, because he's afraid of re-injuring his knee.

He's basically allowing fear to chip away at his game bit by bit.

 

but i am not gonna trust, doc, unless you prescribe what i believe...

 

Sometimes those things can work, but it could also be that his back just got better, and the timing of him going to Patterson just made it look like he healed him.

Also, weren't the back spasms in one case rumored to be made up BS, because he was actually dealing with that pregnant lady in Orlando?

As soon as Yao went out that year, Tmac was magically healed...uh..yeah..right.

Tmac is just a guy who has no credibility, he coasts, and he has run out of excuses.

I believe he is full of crap, his knee is bothering him, but not that much, I think he is just scared more than anything....and he is embarrased that he can not play like he is used to playing, why? Because he has not strengthened his knee.

And, I also believe this team does not need him....if he is not going to play hard, and get better, they are better off without him on the floor...he has become a drag on the entire team.

The body language of the players is noticably worse when Tmac is on the floor....it is clear his teamates are bothered by him......

So, let him sit.....for however long......and do not bring him back...he sits, if he wants back (and as soon as the team starts winning a lot he will want to come back) you can not let him back...as a starter....make him earn his way like any other player.

Stop coddling the guy, that has caused at least 50% of this ongoing problem.

DD

 

the doctors said he'd be fine by playing games. what they meant was his knee could be strengthened and healed by playing on the knee - something he never did. that is where the problem is.

 

Maybe because he rarely tests his left knee in games. He hardly ever drives right. He doesn't jump off that leg very often on his drives. He doesn't run the court hard, really in either direction. Oh, and he gets discouraged and takes games off every few weeks instead of pushing himself.

 

I think this year his knee really is hurting. He even said in the interview during the Kings' game that he really has a problem on his knee. He even threw out a few curses, about how people are being critical to him, A la DaDakota.

But, He really does need to sit out for the season. He's done for. Stick a fork in him for this season, I am not sure about his career. But this season? He's done for.

 

Well you can't strengthen the knee by playing 5 games, then sitting 6, then playing 5, then sitting 4, then playing 5.......wash rinse repeat.

The guy has not done what he is supposed to......the doctors say play and he will get better.

Tmac whines that he can't dunk (though he didn't really try due to fear) and now is back to sitting....and uh...by the way.....NOT STRENGTHENING it again.

DD

 

lol, then a 7 points game in Spurs? Then another injection in Hornots to make it 18? Then an 8 points game in Thunder? Then another injection?

Come on man!

 

hahah, it's called psychology, mental science.

 

To me he definitely gave up all games, national TV or not, when he knew he has no chance to be an Allstar again in the rest of his career.

 

lol i'm sure you remember those clips of him lying down at mid-court in pain and had to be carried out by a stretcher due to back spasms. i thought his career was done then (remember that game??). every doctor said to tracy: just rest and it'll get better. and yet it is re-aggravated multiple times throughout the 05-06 season and beginning of 06-07 season before he went to patterson.

he "magically" got better after yao went down last yr simply b/c he took quite a few injections in order to play. morey has confirmed this.

i'm sure if you give him bi-weekly injections, he'll play great and everything DD.

 

You are confusing 2 seperate back incidents, I think.

But you are correct, injections help, but only for a while.....he needs to get his mind right first.

DD

 

he did test it for 4-5 games straight when he returned in this recent 2 week off. remember that attempt to dunk when he blew by chandler v. the knicks OFF HIS LEFT LEG??? (HE BARELY HAD THE BALL OVER THE RIM). that's after 2 weeks of strong rehab.

and he tried more moves in the next few games cutting here and there (remember that cut that caused his knee to buckle and limp off of a pass to scola?)

and that missed dunk v. the bucks just compounded in tracy's mind that his knee just isn't ok.

again, at this rate, tracy should just sit out.

 

i was referring to last yr in regards to injections how tracy "magically" got better when yao went out.

 

really? charlie ward referred him b/c charlie went to him for his back problems too.

 

rockets team doctors sucks that is why he is looking for a second opinion.

 

I dont think this is an issue of coddling Tmac vs. not coddling him. He just isnt ready to play. Being ready may be about rehabbing his knee or getting past mental barriers or both. Either way, he should be in the injured list until he either comes back healed(of whatever) or gets traded.

The cancer in the team is not Tmac and his knee issues. The cancer is the way the team has handled his return to the team. Over and over you would hear from both the coach and the players that they couldnt get anywhere without TMac. Well... you know what, with that kind of attitude that may be exactly the case.

That kind of thinking in and of itself is a mental barrier that the whole team (and the coach) need to overcome. They need to forget about TMac, play team ball and believe in themselves. As long as they are waiting for the old Tmac to come save them they aint getting anywhere.

 

exactly. the moment the team saw tracy limping to start the season, SIT HIM DOWN IMMEDIATELY. the moment they see tracy "struggling" mentally with the knee, SIT HIM DOWN.

unfortunately, they let tracy determines the path of action. that's not a way to do it. this team needs to know it has the talent to compete this year. put tracy on IR. let him do whatever he needs to do and only come back when he feels he's ready. and let him practice hard in practice for 4-5 straight sessions testing his left knee hardcore before letting him return.

this could all have been solved if morey and adelman just sit tracy down and say PROVE TO ME YOU'RE READY. i dont' think tracy will say no to that.

 

Tmac is scaled of his performance. Simple and Plain!

Actually, inconsistency is expected since he came back from a surgery. Most players show it in similar situations.

Some rockets fans treat him too harsh and make things worse!

 

I agree with some of this as well, but there is no injured list, and in some of the old Chronicle writings it was implied that they were afraid of sitting Tmac because he would not be dilligent in his rehab, and that it was better to have him play because that too would strengthen his knee.

Too bad there is no more injured list.....the team would be better off just sitting him and taking the "I will or won't play" out of his hands.

Just move on, Marbury him....and when he wants to come back.....then tell him he is coming off the bench....until he earns his spot back.

I was highly dissappointed the team did not continue to start Wafer, he was playing much better than Tmac.......he should not have lost the starting job.

DD