[ProBasketballNews] McGrady hopeful, yet back pain will always linger

Sam -- you have seen Billy Madison, right?

 

I'm curious as to what everyone is riled up about. If no one knew better, one would think the article has no premise, which is untrue--McGrady's pain is CHRONIC, meaning it will NOT go away. It lasts. That's the point of the story. No matter what everyone says or does, the pain will hinder him. To what degree? No one's sure. But it's safe to say that he'll play with more caution and safety as he knows the impact one bad fall or slip will have.

The quote--which everyone seems to nitpick as being out of place--is to contradict the story with what McGrady says. Of course if you rest something chronic for 3-4 months with little movement, it will feel fine. Duh. That's common sense. No one will know what impact McGrady will have till training camp, when his back will go through the rigors of conditioning and impact. How many times did we hear Grant Hill say that he felt great during the offseason, only for his injury to flare up during camp or early in the year? The most games he has played in a season since his chronic ankle injury is what, 67 games?

I understand that many on this board have a hard time dealing with truth. We want to believe the Rockets are championship contenders when the only consistent and legit impact player they've acquired is Battier. We want to trust that McGrady will return to his 26 ppg superhuman efforts of 04-05. But, odds are against that. Apparently the spin that the Rockets and Chronicle have placed upon this offseason has blinded many of you. Which is fine, you're all fans--as am I, a diehard--but look at matters objectively. We surely would be lambasting Mavericks fans if Nowitzki had a chronic back injury and they still expected him to be All-World.

It doesn't bother me that many dislike the article. Honestly, coming from this site, I expected it. But at least have logical reasoning behind your arguments. We're all rooting for the same team but try and look more realistically at the probablities this team is facing.

 

See, e.g., any of your posts on Rafer Alston, IIRC.

 

The truth is oftentimes a painful thing. Sigh.

 

Well, it hindered him to lead the league in scoring two years in a row. Last year was not CHRONIC - the chronic part dates back...that is the point of people responding negatively to the article.

 

So was McGrady's back a problem in his first season with the Rockets? No.
This article is crap, all players develop more or a mid range game as their career matures, ala Jordan. McGrady will be fine.

 

No, Keith Jones stated earlier during last season that he had some chronic ailments. McGrady had two separate back injuries last season, the first one (during the first half of the season) was because of chronic injury.

 

One thing is for sure - the limelight of McGrady's career is over. He may have a great season, but his greatest season is behind him. The chronic injury will always need to be managed and probably will forever limit his game in some ways.

Still, with McGrady as good as he is, that just might be enough.

 

This is just not true.....the guy is 100% healthy and is only like 27 years old....his back may flair up from time to time, but as long as he doesn't land on his tailbone before the season again, he should be fine.

He averaged 75+ games a year before last year......and no reason to think he won't go back to that.

Dennis - I enjoyed your game recaps, but I always felt it was from a high school student, and not very well put together, this article follows that same path.

I hope you are in a university program and learn how to properly write a sports article, heck Clutch does a heck of a job here.....

DD

 

Link?

McGrady has said he is 100% pain free. I'll take the man at his word until I hear otherwise. And if he comes back and has a big year missing less than, say, 10 games, you are going to...

 

Holy crap dude. You're a fortune teller AND a doctor? I'm amazed you can find time to post between researching back ailments and envisioning the future.

 

I have to say, I share Dennis' skepticism regarding McGrady's ailing back...I don't know why I have a feeling that the Rox are desperately trying to 'gloss' over the memory of last season and are urging T-Mac to reassure the public at every turn that he's "fine, 100% healthy".

Let's just say I will believe it when I see it...

 

Did you read what Keith Jones said just 3 days ago in China ??

 

http://cbs.sportsline.com/nba/story/9299217/rss

" McGrady was examined on Friday in Los Angeles by renowned back specialist Dr. Robert Watkins. His latest injury is not a recurrence of the chronic problems that have bothered him since November, Watkins said, but the result of a fall McGrady took in the Rockets' 102-84 win over Portland on March 5."


And, Jeff, I will completely eat crow if I'm wrong. It's just my opinion. I don't see how people mistake this article as me disrespecting McGrady or dogging him. I said it's still likely he'll have a great season--hell, 21/6/6 would be great. However, it's my belief that his days as a 33 ppg scorer who was willing to attack the basket time and time again are over.

Pryuen,

It's easy to say the back feels great when it's been given 3 months of pure rest and rehab. I would hope that would be the case. But as I've said before, the great majority of his ailments last season were due because his issues were CHRONIC. They just don't disappear. We'll see how his back responds after a week or two of rigorous training and pounding in training camp.

 

I sure hope you are wrong, but I concede that it is easy to feel your back is perfect if you are just doing rehab and non contact activities.What a bummer it would be if Tracy goes down.

How many weeks till pre-season? Sure seems like a long off-season.

 

I really hope I'm wrong as well.

 

Omer do you know what optimistic means ? look it up in the dictionary...This article sucks its just a bash on T-Mac..I can't wait for him to prove all the doubters wrong...

 

Hey all you T-Mac Hatin Doubters go to another board like the Hawks...Season hasn't even started and you guys are already bashing T-Mac...I think I hear the Magic's Board calling you guys..Bye..Bye...