Exactly what I mean. I think it is silly to presume that this is some conspiracy by management to repair his image to the fans. They obviously know what the standard time-table would be for someone having this surgery, but after what happened last year, combined with the unique circumstances of this being a lost year/collecting Tracy's insurance/needing to get him back on the court to showcase him, there's no real reason to throw out any expected dates. They will just take it as it comes, and when he finally actually starts feeling like he's ready, you will hear about it.
The season after Dwade dislocated his shoulder, he was battling left knee injure. He wasn't complete healthy. Here, the assumption of Tmac may come back strong is based on the possibility that both his shoulder and knee are healed.
I agree with them going cautiously, but I do think that when they get a better handle on the firmness you will see PR damage control type of announcments. Where they are pumping up how hard he is working, how eager he is to build upon the team's success, how he is ready to prove the world wrong etc... This time it will be coming from the Rockets organization and not just the Tmac camp.....that is what I think they will do.... DD
His attitude irks me to no end, but if he can somehow come back strong he would give the (Yao-less) Rockets a big boost.
I belive D-Wade didn't even undergo a surgery on that shoulder, just after the injury had happen. If I remember correctly, he wanted to just take the treatment and be back for the playoffs. He wasn't even at 70% while playing in the playoffs and Heat lost to Chicago. Than he had to battle with knee injury. And it was serious as well.
at the latest, he'll be back first day of december. i do think he'll be ready for the first game of the season. if he can turn his career around after the disastrous year last year, it'll be pretty awesome.
this is tim grover we're talking about. dwayne wade thought the same thing before last year, and grover put him through a test to see if he was ready. he passed. this is not on tracy to see whether he's ready or not. grover will make sure he's ready before he plays his first game.
Grover has no say whatsoever, the Rockets and their medical staff will make the call. Grover can make a recommendation, but that is all he can do. Let's not forget that Tmac is PAYING Grover....... DD
and tracy is trusting ONLY grover. the rockets will make their say when grover makes his say. like i said, tracy is not going to play unless he can play starter minutes at a high level day in and day out. he saw what happened last year. a repeat -> retirement.
McGrady's basketball value is negligible to other teams at this point. Aside from being an expiring contract, his injury insurance is his biggest selling point. If the Rockets are determined to trade him, he and the team could have a real conflict on their hands about pronouncing him ready to play. He needs to play as much of the season as possible to enhance his contract chances and the Rockets obviously want to keep him off the court (and off their payroll) for as long as possible.
Well, the micro-fracture on Tracy's knee was a pretty tiny spot - which is why they told him to play through it in the first place. He very well may be ready early next season.
Hypothetical for you guys: (I'm singling you two out here because I know that you both are at the least, objective with regards to Tracy. Wanted to start a poll on this, but it could turn ugly due to the nature of some of the hatred here. EDIT: just saw some other quality posters responded while i was typing this, so no offense in not being mentioned in the query.) Tracy comes back and plays pain free up to the deadline. He's not '05 Mac but he is just as good as '07 Mac, meaning you get 21/6/4 on 42% shooting. The team is winning and he is the closer they never had. Chris Bosh is not available nor is Kevin Martin. The best deal on the table is parts from Golden State (Ellis and others). Do you: A) hold onto him B) trade him for the best package if A, and they make the playoffs and he stays healthy, do you resign him? (i have purposely not included the scenario that sees the team merely allow him to expire as i don't see that as a practical option - we would have to gut the team.)
I know I have no credibility.. but this is fact: Saw Carroll Dawson at the driving range yesterday, and he said he will be working out with Tmac soon.. Tmac wants to be ready by November 2009. His words, not mine.
