SI: NBA PREVIEW :ROCKETS # 4 IN WESTERN CONFERENCE http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/magazine/10/14/rockets/ Hey guys, This is from Sports Illustrated's NBA Preview Issue with Shaq on the cover-- Rockets are predicted to be # 4 in the West. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sports Illustrated Issue date: October 25, 2004 Starting afresh, the NBA's top scorer has a few points he wants to make If Tracy McGrady had any second thoughts about leaving Orlando, they vanished when he heard Magic G.M. John Weisbrod say he was not his type of player. "It shows you the difference between the two organizations," says McGrady, whose threat to opt out of his contract next summer led to Houston's acquiring him for Steve Francis in a seven-player trade. "I'm sure the Rockets had some dirt on Steve when he left here, but what did they say about him? Nothing but good things. They were professional." McGrady's case for being the NBA's most talented player took a hit last season when the Magic finished with the league's worst record and critics branded him lazy and selfish. To counter them, he ratcheted up his summer conditioning program and spent the preseason preparing to play both guard positions as well as small forward to better mesh with All-Star center Yao Ming. "These are two guys who can stay together for 10 years -- personally they're a lot alike, and basketballwise they're on the same page," says general manager Carroll Dawson. "Yao had already impressed me with his passing, and Tracy's passing is unbelievable." McGrady admits he often settled for jumpers while winning his second straight scoring title last year, causing his shooting percentage to sink to a career-low .417. But he also notes that because he was Orlando's only threat, teams stacked their defenses to stop him from driving. He'll have more space in the structured attack of coach Jeff Van Gundy, who feels Houston is getting the 25-year-old at just the right time -- when he has something to prove. "Tracy's seen how quickly [your reputation] can change," Van Gundy says. Now T-Mac is intent on getting back to being what he used to be: everyone's type of player. --Ian Thomsen
ALSO FROM THE ARTICLE ABOVE--- To reach his potential, the 7'6" Yao must learn to be more aggressive and to punish lesser players in the post. Greg Nelson FAST FACTS Record: 45-37 (7th in West) Points Scored: 89.8 (25th in NBA) Points Allowed: 88.0 (5th) Coach: Jeff Van Gundy (second season with the Rockets) 2004 Schedule | 2004 Draft Picks | 2003 Stats Houston's acquisition of Tracy McGrady from Orlando marks the first time a reigning scoring champ has been traded during the offseason.
Nothing makes me happier then the Rockets getting respect from other places not named Houston, besides the Rockets winning of course. I'll be even happier after the Rockets earn that respect with the great season they'll have this year.
It makes you really appreciate being a sports fan in Houston. All 3 clubs (Astros, Texans, Rockets) are all classy organizations. Something a lot of other cities aren't.
