McGrady hopes for a cure-all in remaining games Treating shoulder may help solve shooting slump By JONATHAN FEIGEN With the Rockets' playoff spot freshly clinched and the visitor's locker room at the Staples Center filled with satisfaction suitable for the occasion, Tracy McGrady leaned back and laughed. The time, he knew, would soon come when the source of that night's comedy would no longer amuse him so. But he and the Rockets had enough regular-season games remaining to work out the kinks from his sore left shoulder and ailing shooting touch, so McGrady took a moment to mock himself. "I couldn't shoot," McGrady nearly screeched after he had collected nine assists on Sunday to help key the Rockets' 105-79 rout of the Los Angeles Clippers despite his poor shooting. "You have to bring something to the party. I didn't bring a shot." Against the Clippers, McGrady's playmaking was enough. Against the Seattle SuperSonics, the Rockets did not even need that, with McGrady sitting out Wednesday's 103-80 rout. But in the next three games, tonight against the Phoenix Suns and then in a road back-to-back against Denver and Utah on Sunday and Monday, and especially when the postseason bash begins, the Rockets likely will need McGrady to show up with his shot. No time to waste When he returns to the court tonight, McGrady said he will begin the serious work of getting his shooting touch playoff-ready. "It's very important," McGrady said. "I want to be efficient when I'm out there. This is the time to be on top of our game. With my shoulder being the way it is, it's been tough. I've been having some good games, and I've also been having some bad games. Hopefully, I'll turn it around and not worry so much about my shoulder and have it cause me to shoot so badly." Since McGrady bruised and strained the shoulder March 24 against Sacramento, he has made 38 percent of his shots. But the struggles with his shot have not been a development that started with the injury. In the past 12 games, he has made only 36.6 percent of his shots. Prior to the 5-of-16 game Sunday against the Clippers, McGrady had displayed signs of coming out of his shooting slump with strong second-half shooting performances against Portland and Seattle. He said he was helped then by having pregame injections take effect, allowing him to finish those games relatively pain-free. The more extreme treatment he received Tuesday is expected to make the daily treatments unnecessary, and he hopes allow him to shoot more reliably. "I don't know," McGrady said when asked if the latest treatment would be a solution. "The doctor said it should help. (The injection) is the same thing I did to my knee, and it definitely helped. Right now, I don't know. Hopefully. "I still have some soreness, but I will be playing (tonight). I really can't tell because when you get an injection it makes your arm a little sore. We'll see as the days go by and hopefully that soreness will get out of there. But right now, I can't really tell the difference." Giving a pad a try McGrady also experimented in Thursday's practice with a small pad on his shoulder designed to alleviate pain from contact, though he said that it was too soon to know if that would help either. "I'm just trying it out and seeing how it feels on my shoulders," McGrady said. "I don't know if it's going to stop from getting banged and feeling pain. But it will protect it a little bit. That's all I need." He also needs the games remaining to put his shooting slump behind him before the playoffs begin. "We're going to play a lot of games here, four games in six days," coach Rick Adelman said. "It will give him a chance to get on the court and play and see if the injection worked and the shoulder is feeling better each time. That's better for us. It is important we see where he is at after these games." http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/5692273.html
the good thing is guys, he's admitting when he does play bad and he says it himself, which is again completely different from past years. this is the 2nd time this yr he has said that. let's hope he'll blow up in the playoffs
id rather he rest at least another two games. i mean i know the upcoming game is huge but the okayiffs are what its all about
He need to do what he did during the streak. Practise his shots an hour earlier before each game to get his shooting into rythm.
That was somewhat disappointing to read. I thought he (Tmac) was going to say that he was going to practice shooting jumpers for hours on end to get his shot back....but instead, nothing of the sort is mentioned. Instead, its merely just about his "shoulder." It was even pointed out in the article that he was struggling before the injury (and pretty much the entire season). I know he's not lazy by any stretch of the imagination, but when you know you are inconsistent with your jumpshot, it doesn't hurt to go an extra mile by working a little bit more on your jumpshot. I'm sure Kobe works extremely hard on his jumpshot, and certainly more than Tmac does. Come on Tmac, light a fire under that a** of yours.
So you'd rather have him slouch around "resting" his shoulder? I know he needs his rest, but after his shoulder has healed somewhat I fully expect him to work extensively on his jumpshot.
isnt tmac friends with roger clemens?? i'm sure the rocket knows what shots to take, give him a call, and let him shoot you up with some b12 or lidocaine Tmac!!
The dude already comes out early to shoot before games before many other players. Something he never did until recently this season. I know it's easy to hate, but at least make some sense while doing it.
Lol. I ain't a-hatin' on nobody. Just FYI, I've been hailed as one of the most prominent T O F back in the days of the "civil war." So that should tell you all you need to know. And to that point, shouldn't it be expected of EVERY player to come early before shootaround to warm up, not to mention when you're a superstar. I know he doesn't become as he is by being lazy, but I'm saying that he could be SOOOO much more if he can go that extra mile.
T-Mac should really hire a shooting coach and improves his shooting this summer. He calls himself a super-star and shoots at 43%. That's not acceptable!
Too much I .D .I .O .T S vs I .D .I .O .T .S crap I agree. Oh, and there weren't too many (Tmac haters) then I guess? And you weren't certainly a part of it. I remember you popping out of nowhere when Yao announced he was out for the season and making threads and post admiring Tmac But I digress, the past is the past......although you're still the same as always
have you seen the home stats? 17 ppg, 39% fg, 65% FT 27% 3PT it may have changed a bit, but thats how it was last week i believe
he's got about 18 ppg at home but you are right, it is unusual, unbelivable btw he's got abut 26 on the road...
