Rockets / TMac Update
The big news first: MRI tests performed last night on Houston Rockets guard/forward Tracy McGrady revealed no tendon or ligament damage. McGrady suffered a sprained right elbow and nerve irritation in the second quarter and did not return to the game. The tests were performed at Memorial Hermann's Roger Clemens Institute for Sports Medicine & Human Performance and reviewed by Rockets Team Physician Tom Clanton. McGrady will be listed as day-to-day.
Now, to the last two games...
...Last night's loss to the Lakers (93 to 90) showed me a few things: obviously, the Rockets' offense takes a huge hit with Tracy McGrady out of action.
"Even if Tracy wasn't out, we were all going to have to step up our play. Now, we have to do it (step up); but, we're going to do it collectively. No one guy is going to try to score twenty, twenty-five points. Bonzi had a big night tonight; so, we're going to have to keep him in rhythm. Also, we're going to have to incorporate Shane (Battier) and Mike (James) into the offense as well."
McGrady's absence is huge; however, other problems are appearing for the Rockets (6-3) as well.
"The effort wasn't there," said Rafer Alston Wednesday night after the game. "We gave them everything from the start. From the first two quarters actually. We gave them the sidelines. We gave them the three point shot. We gave them in the paint. We gave them the dunks.
"We did a much better job in the second half," Alston continued. "We limited them from all the easy baskets."
Defense has bogged down for the Rockets these last two games. Tuesday versus Memphis, the Rockets couldn't contain the frontcourt tandem of Pau Gasol and Darko Milicic while versus the Lakers Wednesday night, the Rockets' perimeter defense was a sieve in the first half.
In addition to the porous defense, the perimeter shooting has been bad as well. Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, and Mike James are all in slumps shooting the basketball from the outside.
Adding to those two problems, Yao Ming and Bonzi Wells missed 11 out of 32 free throws versus the Lakers.
Combine those problems with their next three opponents: at San Antonio (11/16); home versus Phoenix (11/17); and home versus Dallas (11/21/07), the Rockets could lose five straight games after starting the season 6 and 1. However, I'm not declaring "gloom and doom". The Rockets have some problems which need to be corrected. The sooner those problems are solved the better.
Now, to the last two games...
...Last night's loss to the Lakers (93 to 90) showed me a few things: obviously, the Rockets' offense takes a huge hit with Tracy McGrady out of action.
"Even if Tracy wasn't out, we were all going to have to step up our play. Now, we have to do it (step up); but, we're going to do it collectively. No one guy is going to try to score twenty, twenty-five points. Bonzi had a big night tonight; so, we're going to have to keep him in rhythm. Also, we're going to have to incorporate Shane (Battier) and Mike (James) into the offense as well."
McGrady's absence is huge; however, other problems are appearing for the Rockets (6-3) as well.
"The effort wasn't there," said Rafer Alston Wednesday night after the game. "We gave them everything from the start. From the first two quarters actually. We gave them the sidelines. We gave them the three point shot. We gave them in the paint. We gave them the dunks.
"We did a much better job in the second half," Alston continued. "We limited them from all the easy baskets."
Defense has bogged down for the Rockets these last two games. Tuesday versus Memphis, the Rockets couldn't contain the frontcourt tandem of Pau Gasol and Darko Milicic while versus the Lakers Wednesday night, the Rockets' perimeter defense was a sieve in the first half.
In addition to the porous defense, the perimeter shooting has been bad as well. Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, and Mike James are all in slumps shooting the basketball from the outside.
Adding to those two problems, Yao Ming and Bonzi Wells missed 11 out of 32 free throws versus the Lakers.
Combine those problems with their next three opponents: at San Antonio (11/16); home versus Phoenix (11/17); and home versus Dallas (11/21/07), the Rockets could lose five straight games after starting the season 6 and 1. However, I'm not declaring "gloom and doom". The Rockets have some problems which need to be corrected. The sooner those problems are solved the better.
posted by Kris Gardner @ 2:24 PM
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