CHRON: Tracy admits his new role!

This time, they really mean it.

Tracy McGrady returned from his sprained ankle on Monday, went through the entire practice and unless something happens before tip-off, will play Tuesday against the Chicago Bulls.

With that, the Rockets will have their rotation in place the way they thought they would last week and hoped to all season.

This time, they really do believe they'll keep it that way long enough not only to play at full strength, but to figure out what full strength really means.

"We're a long ways from where we can be on both sides of the court," Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We got better defensively in the last game, but we have to keep pursuing that. We're a long ways from where we need to be.

"We just need consistency with people there everyday and keep building on it. We have the ability to do it. We have to go out and do it."

The Rockets had their planned rotation available for only three games this season, all losses including last week to the 76ers. They had believed the two practices that followed that game would be the start of the needed re-tooling. Then McGrady went out late in Friday's practice with a sprained left ankle.

Some of the improvements made since the Philadelphia loss, particularly on the defensive end, seemed to continue without McGrady in the win against the Warriors on Saturday. On Monday, he said he was ready to join what the Rockets hope is a start of a trend.

"The last couple days we've shown some improvement," McGrady said. "Last game we showed improvement. Although I wasn't out there, guys showed improvement on both ends of the court effort wise, and (Monday) we had a good practice. It looks more (fluid) with our offense. Defensively, it looks like guys are more in (tune) to where to be, rotations and things of that nature. We're getting there.

"I think we can continue it. Guys have to play their role. It's kind of tough on guys, they've been shifted into so many different roles on this team. We've got our full roster now and I think guys can go back to being themselves and playing the way they were playing when guys were out. If we can have guys playing with that same type of effort and same confidence, we can be a really good team because we have depth now."

McGrady said his role has also changed to an emphasis on distributing the ball more often and on "mixing up" his own shots to look to drive more. He made 21 of 54 shots in his past three games since returning from his two weeks of conditioning, but he missed his last five shots - almost all from the perimeter - at the end of his past two games.

"The last couple games I've been mixing it up, trying to get to the basket, trying to get to the free throw line," McGrady said. "My thing is I just want to be efficient, take less shots."

The Rockets as a whole remain something of an experiment. Adelman said he needs to see his latest combinations to really know how the Rockets' oft-broken parts best fit. With his sudden glut at small forward and shooting guard, he so far knows certain that each plays best when with Yao Ming. After that, he needs to see his latest rotation in action.

"I need to get a good look at it," Adelman said. "Probably the biggest thing is who plays together best and who finishes games. We have kind of a logjam. I have to get a look at it and guys have to get a feel. One game is not going to do it. It's going to be weeks before we figure it out, and that's if everybody stays healthy and everybody plays."

Ron Artest started with McGrady out on Saturday, scoring 27 points on 10 of 17 shooting. He has generally shot better (41.3 percent) off the bench than as a starter (36.8 percent), but said he in unaffected by when he is on the court.

"I play the same way," Artest said. "Whether I'm starting or coming off the bench, I always look at myself as one of the better players in the NBA so I'm not going to second guess myself because I'm not starting or starting.

"Guys are coming along. Von (Wafer) is slowly learning how to hustle and learn how to play defense. Once he learns some concepts, he can become a better defender and start trying to lock up guys. Right now, he has a lot to learn, but I saw him out there the other night trying. Mac is in practice, getting after it, playing defense and moving better. It's a good sign."

The Rockets have thought that before, but this time they are convinced the parts will finally fall into place without breaking.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6242986.html

he's set to play on tuesday also. and it appears with more time off and more practices, the team is regaining its chemistry. watch out this month guys.