[Fran- nba.com] T-Mac's return: Is first step back the first out of Houston?

Hayesfan · Dec 16, 2009

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/fran_blinebury/12/16/tmac.return/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1

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HOUSTON -- As dramatic returns go, it was hardly MacArthur wading ashore at Leyte or even the swallows coming back to Capistrano.

It had been 309 days since Tracy McGrady last played in an NBA game for the Houston Rockets and this was either the end of a new beginning or the beginning of an inevitable end.

When McGrady stood in front of the bench, shed his warm-ups and checked back into the Houston Rockets' lineup early in the first quarter on Tuesday night, most of the Toyota Center crowd was caught off-guard and it took a moment for the moment to sink in before many of the fans rose to their feet for an ovation.

By his own historical standards, there was no T-Mac attack, merely a beauty pageant smile-and-wave down the runway. After McGrady finished his out-of-the-blue 7-minute, 44-second cameo -- 1-for-2 shooting, three points and three rebounds -- there were very few answers and all of the same questions that have hung in the air like rainclouds for nearly a year.

Will McGrady, in the aftermath of microfracture surgery on his left knee, be able to show this season more than his long-distance 3-point stroke and a gait that struggled to get up and down the court? If so, how soon?

Will McGrady, even when he gains back the strength and confidence in his leg, be able to find a place for his control-the-ball, high pick-and-roll game in a Rockets offense that emphasizes a share-the-wealth philosophy and a much faster tempo than he was accustomed?

Then there's this: Do the Rockets really want him back?

For this one night, it was simply important for McGrady to lace up his sneakers, pull on his uniform and get back onto the floor.

"It felt good to be back," he said. "I was a little nervous. I don't know if I was nervous about how I was going to be received by the crowd. I didn't expect that. It was awesome. Thank you.

"I didn't know how my lungs were going to hold up. I had jitters. It had been so long since I played. Just to be back on the basketball court sent chills through my body."

A year ago, McGrady's season came in fits and starts as he was in and out of the lineup with his balky knee, averaging just 15.6 points and shooting 38.8 percent from the field. He played his last game on Feb. 9 in Milwaukee, where he tried to elevate for a breakaway dunk and could only jam the ball against the underside of the rim.

As bad as that play looked, it was only a tip of the ugliness as McGrady often went rogue, pulling himself in and out of the lineup, confounding his teammates, exasperating the front office and infuriating coach Rick Adelman. When McGrady posted the news on his website that he was done for the season and would have the microfracture surgery before informing the Rockets, Adelman's head might as well have exploded.
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Someguy1229 · Dec 16, 2009

If he is willing to take a lesser role and be part of the team. I am hoping we can keep him. As long as he promises to stay healthy.

REEKO_HTOWN · Dec 16, 2009

No back handed compliment or song reference? This is not Fran.

Dream Shake 81 · Dec 16, 2009

Nothing like reading a pile of fresh doo doo coming from Fran(a girls name) Dingleberry. The guy looks like Newman, and writes garbage.

BetterThanEver · Dec 16, 2009

We have seen him rehab and get reinjured every season. I don't need to see this again.

Bandwagoner · Dec 16, 2009

Man i was so happy when this guy was fired, I guess it was a cruel joke though because I just saw his fat ugly face at the top of this article.

Obito · Dec 16, 2009

Aww ****.. I stepped on fran's article.

scottie brooks · Dec 16, 2009

Dream Shake 81 said:

Nothing like reading a pile of fresh doo doo coming from Fran(a girls name) Dingleberry. The guy looks like Newman, and writes garbage.
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I second that. He must have had nothing to write about so he decided to rewrite a boring summary of what everyone already knows about Mac and the Rockets. what a doucher

MiddleMan · Dec 16, 2009

I tend to like his articles.

DaDakota · Dec 16, 2009

MiddleMan said:

I tend to like his articles.
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Ditto....

DD

clos4life · Dec 16, 2009

MiddleMan said:

I tend to like his articles.
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I tend to dislike them more than like them. Too negative for my taste.

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[Fran- nba.com] T-Mac's return: Is first step back the first out of Houston?

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[Fran- nba.com] T-Mac's return: Is first step back the first out of Houston?

Hayesfan Member

Someguy1229 Member

REEKO_HTOWN I'm Rich Biiiiaaatch!

Dream Shake 81 Member

BetterThanEver Member

Bandwagoner Member

Obito Member

scottie brooks Member

MiddleMan Member

DaDakota Balance wins Supporting Member

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