As someone else posted above, you can't just run him in the game off the bench. If his back is in spasm, he can't play AT ALL. It isn't a question of reduction of minutes. These things are tricky. They happen at weird times and aren't due to someone playing too much. They just get tweaked and that's it. Another poster pointed out that this is something he's dealt with for years and he misses a few games every season because of it. In reality, last year was the first year he's ever missed large numbers of games due to his back. He had one lost year in Orlando that was more about a problem with his leg than his back. Given that this isn't considered nearly as bad as last season, he'll probably rest a few games and come back. Hopefully, the problem will be limited to this.
I don't think TMac would EVER want to come off the bench; that's not how star players think... That's why despite not having any explosive plays so far this year and a generally poor offensive performance by his standards, he is still talking like he's the same guy just being more of a playmaker...
My prediction, Tmac won't be playing against Warriors but definitely playing against with Kobe and Co.
tmac will be fine this year I really think that he is holding back so far this year and is actually preparing for the playoffs. So I say get us in the playoffs Tracy McGrady and then turn back into T-Mac and we will ride to the finals with you and Yao WE WILL BE ALRIGHT. oh yea need a trade for corey maggette do what it takes and bring him to houston. his salary isn't that high. Luther head and a pick or whatever it may take maybe they will take rafer (NOT)
I thought once a player takes a steroid shot that they would automatically be out for the rest of the season?
So if you get mono during the season and they give you steriods to build up your immunity system that would end your season too?? I don't think that's a rule. If its prescribed for a specific ailment like inflammation or immunity there is no way they can keep you from playing. Where's a clutchfans doc to confirm this??
Calm down Chuckie I just remember Bill Worrell saying last season that because T-MAC recieved a Steroid injection that by rule his season ended concurrent with that. Blame Bill Worrell, maybe he was drunk
--Al Harrington returned to action Tuesday after missing Saturday's game in Milwaukee and Monday's practice with back spasms. He gave credit to an acupuncture treatment for his recovery. http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/teams/report/IND/9821506
"If I can walk or jog, I can play," O'Neal said. "Once I got warm, it was OK. I'll get some acupuncture (back in Los Angeles) and get rid of it. I've always been a connoisseur of ancient medicine." http://espn.go.com/nba/2000/20000313/recap/lalden.html
Clippers F Vladimir Radmanovic played despite his sprained left wrist, and had eight points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. He took an acupuncture treatment Sunday that lasted about an hour. "You can feel it right away -- big pain relief," he said. http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/gamecenter/recap/NBA_20060424_DEN@LAC
This is kind of random but I agree with people who say that he has had this his whole career. He's always had back problems and he's always missed time and he's dealt with this all his career. Almost every player gets back spasms once in a while, it's a normal thing. We are just freaking out because we think it might be related to the massive injury he sustained last season. Hopefully it is not, if it isn't then it's normal to T-Mac by now and he knows how to deal with it. Remember that last season was the only season he missed a significant amount of time due to his back and the whole end of the season was something else entirely, right? It was because he fell on it or whatever. That injury he sustained in practice after the first game of the season last season was probably just a BAD back spasm, a rough tweak, this one didn't seem as bad and hopefully there is no link to last season's injury because there shouldn't be. It's just another back spasm, he'll get them, he should be back soon enough. It seems like he has no cure, he was just born like it, and that's something we're going to have to accept. It's not going to change unless he goes. If it really is as "tricky" as some people put it though, and have nothing to do with physical punishment, why did he get his first one after a 4 game - 5 day stretch where he played extremely hard? That's my question. If it just a matter of bad luck, why would not playing aggressive have anything to do with it? Just a question.
He is holding back and rightfully so! He has be cautious about his back, After this last incident, expect him to be extra cautious. He could play out his carrer as a quality playmaker but with limited scoring attempts. Yet I expect some big playoff games from him.
you gotta think that someone, somewhere has recommended acupunture for tracy, but you never know. if i were him i'd be open to almost anything as long as it was safe.
I suffr from back spasms and it feel like some one has literaly stabbed you in the back and trust me you can't walk. I was in a car wreck and they come and go. Its funny because I can play basketball and do just about anything but when I twist the wrong way or do something to bring it on thats it. I have to hit the pain pills and just wait for sometimes up to 2 weeks before I am better. Back Spasms are the worst !!
Not a doc, yet... second year medical school, does that count? anyway, the steroid shot Mac received is different than the "performance enhancing" steroids that are illegal. they are similar in structure but have totally different actions. the shot they gave Mac was a corticosteroid, and what those do is reduce the flair-up of the affected area so that it will be able to heal faster and help with the pain.
