If this is old news to you, lock it up. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2214888 McGrady sidelined with back painAssociated Press HOUSTON -- Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady will miss three weeks because of back spasms, coach Jeff Van Gundy said. McGrady McGrady hurt his back in practice Friday when he landed awkwardly after a baseline layup, trainer Keith Jones said. The injury is a recurrence of a back problem that plagued McGrady when he played in Orlando, Jones said. Jones said McGrady went to the hospital on Friday night and tests showed the injury wasn't as serious as it's been in the past. "All that structural stuff was good," Jones said. "This is more of a compression injury and basically a bruise around the spine -- not the spinal cord, but the spine itself." McGrady did not attend the Rockets' game against New Orleans on Saturday night. Jones said McGrady was already exercising and could be back sooner than three weeks. "But I'm not betting on that," Jones said. "We'll get him up and get him going as soon as his range of motion allows him to. We'll know more in four or five days." David Wesley replaced McGrady in the Rockets' starting lineup against the Hornets. "Every team relies on greatness down the stretch," Van Gundy said. "However, I do believe that good teams can function efficiently with or without one player. Our chore to function without the one player is going to be tested." The back spasms are the latest in a growing list of injuries that have slowed McGrady in the past few weeks. The five-time All-Star missed Houston's last two preseason games because of tendinitis in both knees. He bruised his left knee in a collision with Yao Ming in the practice before Wednesday's opener against Sacramento. McGrady scored 23 points in the opener, playing with a tight wrap on his left leg. Jon Barry, who led the Rockets with 24 in the opener, said the loss of McGrady will be "a great test" for a team envisioning a deep playoff run. "Obviously, you hate to lose your best player, but fortunately it's early in the year," Barry said. "We need to get used to it. It will be a tremendous challenge for all of us." McGrady was sixth in the NBA in scoring last season with 25.7 points per game. The Rockets were 2-2 in four games without him last season, but Van Gundy is optimistic the team can win with him sidelined. "We were expecting him to play big minutes, score, be a primary playmaker, defensive stopper, defensive rebounder, backup point guard," Van Gundy said. "But that being said, I have total belief we have more than enough to win with."
In case you were wondering, here's our schedule over the next three weeks: Sat 5 NO/Oklahoma City Tue 8 Orlando Thu 10 at Miami Sat 12 at New Jersey Sun 13 at Boston Tue 15 at Minnesota Thu 17 at San Antonio Fri 18 Detroit Sun 20 at Indiana Tue 22 at Dallas Wed 23 Phoenix Fri 25 at Memphis Sat 26 Chicago Ouch
****, bad news, bad news. I was gonna see TMac & Yao to play New Jersey next Saturday. I'm so bummed out right now.
13 games is a lot to miss. i would like to see us go 7-6 through that stretch. a lot of tough games in the next 3 weeks.
here is the thing with T-Mac's injury: This is going to make our new guys (and Yao) step up and see what they got. This is why we are bringing them in, to compliament Yao and T-Mac, but they are also insurance. We will see if we can compete with out Tracy. But think of it this way, if we don't do hot, its because we don't have McGrady, if we do great, think how we will do WITH Mcgrady (and when you think like that, its really not so bad anymore).
I only see losses to San An .. Detroit. . Indiana . .. . maybe Miami MAYBE This is a good team . .. even without T=Mac Rocket River
You mean 5-9 (you counted the last game as a win and a loss). I dont think they will be that bad. Hopefully 6-8 or even 7-7. Like someone said earlier others will have to step up and that can only help us later in the season.
yeah, but what's the deal? Back spasms? cancer? what? tendonitis can't possibly set him out 3 weeks can it?
