http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4392773.html T-Mac's status up in air Rockets appear better equipped for competition without McGrady this season By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Ever the optimist, and usually armed with a dry wit to describe the many turns of an NBA season, Yao Ming considered the possibility of Tracy McGrady missing time with back spasms and chose to find good in the familiar bad. "First of all, we got some experience last year. OK, a lot actually," he said, through exhales of laughter. "We got that experience. Also, I think I know how to play without him." The Rockets did not know then if McGrady will be out. A day later, they still did not. McGrady came in for treatment Sunday feeling "very stiff and very sore," Rockets trainer Keith Jones said. But McGrady responded to treatment, a good sign. Jones said McGrady was sent home with anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers and instructions to stretch and exercise, but could not predict whether McGrady could play Tuesday. "With his back, he could come in tomorrow and feel better," Jones said. "He could feel worse. You just don't know." But Yao, after his jab of gallows humor, had hit on a major change in the Rockets since last season and on vivid display Saturday in Washington. Even without McGrady, Yao is capable of dominating a game. He scored 23 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter when he made all six of his shots and 11 of 12 free throws. His baseline jumper with 11 seconds left was the game-winner. The Wizards did not have time to revamp a game plan to defend the Rockets without McGrady as the Lakers, whom the Rockets face Tuesday at Toyota Center, would. Washington was by then without its top centers, Etan Thomas, who sprained his left ankle, and Brendan Haywood, who left with a bruised thigh. Yao knows the drill But Yao said he knew what he had to do with McGrady out. "Shoot more," he said. "Secure the ball and be more aggressive." The Rockets seem better equipped to compete without McGrady this season than last, when they went 7-28 without him. They are stronger defensively and with more shooters to respond should teams send two or three players at Yao. McGrady has left three games with injuries this season, going out (but returning) with a bruised abdomen against the Timberwolves, a concussion against the Cavaliers and with back spasms Saturday. The Rockets won all three. "We have a better team," McGrady said. "We have a better overall team. Yao has improved his game this year. It helps to have a guy like Shane Battier on your team, someone we didn't have last year. We have a team where if one of our key guys goes down, we have enough depth to sustain playing good basketball." The Rockets also have improved at getting Yao the ball. Yao has improved at getting better position, often by re-posting. Rafer Alston and Luther Head are better at feeding him the ball deep. Battier is strong at getting the ball inside, as he did on Yao's last bucket Saturday. "When Mac's in there, we try to go to Yao," Head said. "We always go there. When Mac's out, we know Yao's got a lot more on his back so we get him the ball. He's the best, man. "We went through so much last year, we got experience with it. The guys that came back this year, we're comfortable. We know what to expect when he's out. Yao's playing better than ever. Rafer's leading the team. We're just playing. If Mac's out, we just have to deal with it." Though Kirk Snyder is out with a broken hand, Bob Sura's return remains uncertain and Bonzi Wells has been inactive since Nov. 7, the Rockets also don't have quite as many injuries as when McGrady was hurt last season. It also might have helped the mood that McGrady did not seem as pained as with last season's episodes. Learning from adversity Still, the Rockets, said they have grown stronger from last season's adversity. "Like I'm always saying, we can hang tough," Alston said. "It looks like he's hurting. I'm sure he'll get some treatment, get some tests done and some work done, and see if he can play." If he can't, the Rockets will have little choice but to find out what they can do without him. "No matter who gets injured, you see over time what happens," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "We don't want to find out. We'll see, but we don't want to find out. Hopefully, we don't have to." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4392775.html Big game fires Yao up for more By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle Yao Ming, coming off one of the best games of his career and with the performance seeming closer to routine than an aberration, said he does feel momentary vindication given the criticism he has received, but will not dwell on it. "That lets me feel success," Yao said. "But I look forward, always look forward. "Today's game. Tomorrow's game. Whatever I did yesterday is over. "I'm just trying to follow all those big men, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O'Neal. I learn a lot from them." When he was asked if he learns from going against four-time defensive player of the year Dikembe Mutombo in practices, Yao went further than that. "Oh, I forgot Deke," Yao said, adding Mutombo to the list. "Sorry." Seeking balance Here's something you don't expect from NBA coaches, and especially from defensively driven Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy. With the Rockets first in the NBA in scoring and field-goal percentage defense, but 23rd in scoring and 24th in shooting with an offense that has been inconsistent, Van Gundy said the Rockets need to devote the energy on the offensive end that they have brought to their defense. "Usually, low offensive energy starts it," Van Gundy said. "Low offensive energy turns into random possessions which turns into bad shots and turnovers. "You got to play with a certain amount of — or a lot of — offensive energy in this league. "Without question, I think our players buy into the notion of defensive energy, but are not quite as sold on offensive energy." The Rockets are fourth in the NBA in point differential — trailing Phoenix, Utah and San Antonio — outscoring opponents by 3.3 points per game.
god i dont think hes going to play on tuesday....man ****, o well i hope he gets well soon and wen he comes back to keep playin in the post because his fg% is aloooot better that way
If he doesn't play there is a small chance of winning even with Yao playing great. If there's no T-Mac there's no one to keep the defense honest-as-can-be while Yao is in the post. Lamar Odom/Kobe Bryant will be able to fall off their man with no REAL threat... The only way is if our role players keep the D honest and if Yao plays great. Yao will murder the scrubs the Lakers pass as centers but Yao can only do so much alone, right?
Don't underestimate JVG's ability to focus on a single opponent and devise a game plan to defend the Lakers well. If we play our best defense and our tempo, we can win it.
I hope Tmac do get rested well, no need to take any risk. This is not like last year, we can afford losing some games and will still make the playoff.
But without TMAC, no one can give an answer to Kobe, While Odom could offset Yao's effort to a certain degree.
Well, if your goal is just playoffs, that would be fine. But if you want to pass the 1st round, you'd better to fight you azz off right now to get a good seed.
I'm probably in the minority here that doesn't underestimate JVG's ability to devise a successful gameplan when given proper time (as he has for this game) but I don't underestimate Phil Jackson's ability to do the same. This is one game where gameplan will only go so far, and our players will have to execute it perfectly if they want to win (if McGrady is out anyway).
odom will occupy battier on kobe?.. no mac, kirk, bonzi, or sura this is the gamble of carrying two players with long term injuries.
I'm particularly pleased at that last quote from JVG -- the need for our players to devote some energy to offensive execution. It's obvious that they're a lot more active and focused on the defensive end ... if they can come close to matching that focus and energy on the offensive end, we will be dominant over most teams, more often than not.
Fourth in point differential???? We've been second place for the last several days, and 6.4 is a far cry from 3.3. It looks like they took the assist per game totals instead of the point-per-game totals. Shoddy journalism. http://www.nba.com/statistics/sortable_team_statistics/sortable1.html#top
Good find. You look to be absolutely right. Maybe Feigen saw "APG" and thought "Average Per Game". Who knows...?
I feel better about going up against Kobe with Shane on-board. He'll be a million times more effective than Wesley last year. But if T-mac can't go then our depth at the swing position will be really poor. Methinks we'll see Bonzi on the court this week. I mean if he can't crack the rotation with Tracy banged up like this, then he's officially done as a Rocket.
Ehh, it depends on which McGrady we're missing. The one who goes to the rim or the one who clangs away. Gee having another perimeter scorer would be useful now....wonder who could have filled that bill........
Funnily enough, if Mac is out, Rocks are going to miss... Ryan bowen, big time. From memory I think JVG had him on Kobe throughout a game and he actually did well in that role.
Ehh..let's not kid ourselves. These Lakers are good, they're very good. Kwame Brown is actually one of the better defenders at the center position in the NBA these days. He can't handle Yao one on one (and really, nobody - NOBODY can), but I expect him to do a better job than most NBA big men will. Also, I'm particularly worried about Lamar Odom. Without T-Mac in the lineup, we won't have anyone who can match up with him well (especially since Battier's probably going to spend most of the time guarding Kobe). We'll need to play some very good team defense and hope that Odom's outside jumper isn't falling. It will be a good game, but without T-Mac in the lineup, we could struggle. It's a good thing we're playing this game at home.
This is the time to see what Bonzi can give us...and that will determine his status with this club. Hopefully Mac can go and not cause himself further damage. I was just hoping for once we could have a healthy season but with Kirk hurt and now this with Mac...man it makes it difficult to hang with the big boys in the west. I like our chances against anybody when we have all of our bodies and I was looking forward to seeing us bang with Kobe, Odom and company for two games this week...hopefully we can have both our stars.
