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[Rockets.com] He's Back: McGrady feels poised for big season

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Omer, Oct 4, 2006.

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  1. Omer

    Omer Member

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    He's Back

    [​IMG]

    McGrady feels poised for big season after dealing with back injury
    After missing 34 games with back problems, Tracy McGrady is hungry to return to his old form.

    Damien Pierce
    Rockets.com Staff Writer

    AUSTIN -- Before reporting to training camp or taking a three-hour bus ride to the Hill Country, Tracy McGrady was playing video games inside the NBA Store in Manhattan.

    McGrady, by his own admission, didn't win a single game on NBA Live 07 against Spurs point guard Tony Parker or anyone else in the building during his promotional appearance.

    The good news is that he was impressed with the computerized version of T-Mac.

    "It's incredible how realistic the game is," said McGrady, who is the cover boy of the video game. "I have hot streaks on the perimeter and I'm a high flyer on the game."

    And that, in a nut shell, is exactly what McGrady wants to get back to doing this season.

    McGrady, a six-time All-Star, was back on the practice court Wednesday afternoon at the University of Texas' Cooley Pavilion after missing 34 games of the 2005-06 season with a nagging back injury.

    He drilled jumpers. He pulled up for floaters. And, of course, he attacked the bucket.

    Not everything swished through the basket, McGrady admitted, in his second workout of training camp as he gets himself back into the flow of the game.

    McGrady, however, doesn't feel any pain in his back and believes he is poised to reestablish himself as one of the most prolific scorers in the NBA.

    He just needs to knock off the rust.

    "We're doing a lot more (scrimmaging) and I actually think that's good for me because I've been out since March," McGrady said. "It will get me in great game-shape right away with all the banging. I can just see how my body reacts to all of that because I haven't done it since March."

    Despite constantly informing reporters that his back is healed and he's fully recovered heading into the season, how McGrady holds up in training camp will continue to be perhaps the most closely-watched topic in training camp.

    McGrady dealt with back problems throughout the 2005-06 season before having his year end on March 8, missing the final 20 games of the regular season.

    In an effort to avoid a similar finish, the 6-foot-8 scoring machine spent the offseason doing exercises to strengthen his back and lighten his body.

    McGrady said he has dropped about 15 pounds since the summer, down to about 225 pounds.

    "I feel great out there," he said. "I feel light and I feel quicker. The only thing I'm trying to catch up with is my rhythm and my timing when I make moves. Everything is off. It's been a while since I played. I almost forgot how to play ball."

    His teammates haven't noticed.

    "Tracy is playing hard," swingman Bonzi Wells said. "He can get by anybody."

    Besides simply returning the court, McGrady must get acclimated to playing more minutes at the guard positions since the team acquired Shane Battier and Wells in the offseason. Both Battier and Wells are forwards, although Wells can play some shooting guard.

    The altered role could force McGrady to chase more guards on the defensive end and bring the basketball up the court on more occasions.

    So far, the extra running hasn't bothered the Rockets' star.

    "Usually, I'm aching through the first few days of training camp," McGrady said. "I feel good right now, I really do. It's good to be playing."

    McGrady is hardly the only one glad that he's back on the court.

    "It's feels good to be playing with him again," star center Yao Ming said. "He makes the game much easier with his shooting and his passing. He will make our season much easier."
     
    #1 Omer, Oct 4, 2006
  2. YaozaMac

    YaozaMac Member

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    cool thanks. 5 days to first preseason game :mad:
     
    #2 YaozaMac, Oct 4, 2006
  3. aussie rocket

    aussie rocket Member

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    i'm getting sick and tired of reading these attempted feelgood inducing write ups about how McGrady's raring to go and his back's 100%,yada yad yada.

    same deal this time last year. Deja Vu.

    the time for talking is over. Lets see what happens on the court.
     
    #3 aussie rocket, Oct 5, 2006
  4. BigM

    BigM Member

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    these articles aren't the same as the start of last season because t-mac didn't have back problems in 04-05. he played 78 games that season.
     
    #4 BigM, Oct 5, 2006
  5. aussie rocket

    aussie rocket Member

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    well...

    a number of times during the season at least.

    and this time last year it was we've got Swift, we've got Skip, we've got DA...we're gonna be "special".

    sickening. We haven't done a thing yet.
     
    #5 aussie rocket, Oct 5, 2006
  6. brantonli24

    brantonli24 Member

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    We've got Battier, Bonzi, both of whom are more proven than Swift and DA. Of course we still have Skip but what more can you ask for? I don't think Mike James + Bonzi Wells = Chemistry. No way. And we've got so much potential in our rookies. Be thankful that we don't have Isiah Thomas.
     
    #6 brantonli24, Oct 5, 2006
  7. Tigerknee

    Tigerknee Member

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    Talk is cheap! Show me the painless TMAC!!! :mad:
     
    #7 Tigerknee, Oct 5, 2006
  8. jakedasnake

    jakedasnake Member

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    I am not sure where to ask this question but does anyone know if they will play the rockets preseason games on NBA league pass?
     
    #8 jakedasnake, Oct 5, 2006
  9. GATER

    GATER Member

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    League Pass guarantees a schedule for the regular season only. What they have done in the past regarding pre-season has been totally unpredictable. IIRC, even down to whether you have LP on cable or DIRECTV. I just turn on the tube and hope for the best! :)
     
    #9 GATER, Oct 5, 2006
  10. wreck

    wreck Member

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    Hey guys you cant blame them, they're just trying to sell tickets.

    By the way if they really wanna sell out games, how about having a plus-50% winning percentage at home. If the rockets win 15 of their first 20 home games, not only will we have a great record but the fans will be packing in TC.
     
    #10 wreck, Oct 5, 2006
  11. KALIKULI

    KALIKULI Member

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    I DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU GOT THAT INFO, BUT HE NEVER SAID THAT HE HAS BACK ISSUE LAST YEAR, BEFORE THE SEASON BEGUN.
     
    #11 KALIKULI, Oct 5, 2006
  12. brantonli24

    brantonli24 Member

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    :eek: You post like crazy! I'd swear I saw you had 940 posts the other day and now you've posted another 64 posts! :eek:
     
    #12 brantonli24, Oct 5, 2006
  13. Drift Monkey

    Drift Monkey Member

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    So Bonzi is primarily a forward? :confused:
     
    #13 Drift Monkey, Oct 5, 2006
  14. NewYorker

    NewYorker Ghost of Clutch Fans

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    I've said this before - the key for MacGrady is keeping his weight low. The more weight he has the worse his back will be. So i'm really happy to hear he dropped 15 lbs.
     
    #14 NewYorker, Oct 5, 2006
  15. rm365

    rm365 Member

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    I'm with aussie rocket. I don't much care for feel-good articles ever since I believed in "the revenge of Penny Hardaway" in Slam magazine a number of years ago.

    There are some parallels. Penny had been a 1st team all-NBAer up till his devastating knee injury. Then one summer he claimed his knee was now fine and that he was basically cured. Then the article came out, and I was all excited hoping that my favorite player would return to his vintage form and prove all the haters wrong.

    The fact is there aren't a lot of players who come back the same from serious back and knee injuries in the game of basketball. Off the top of my head, I can only think of Baron Davis and his torn ACL.

    All I know is I really hope T-Mac is back, but screw these hyped up articles.
     
    #15 rm365, Oct 5, 2006
  16. wozudichter

    wozudichter Member

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    i'm totally with you rm, penny hardaway is a great example, but i feel t-mac here, i think he'll be back!!!
     
    #16 wozudichter, Oct 5, 2006
  17. pradaxpimp

    pradaxpimp Member

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    damn, i got scared.

    I thought it said HIS BACK.
     
    #17 pradaxpimp, Oct 5, 2006
  18. aussie rocket

    aussie rocket Member

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    haha.

    yeah i've had 2 weeks off work, been on clutchfans for alot longer than usaul. Chance to post my opinions on more topics.
     
    #18 aussie rocket, Oct 5, 2006
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