[CHRON] T-Mac's status up in air for Rockets

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4392773.html

T-Mac's status up in air
Rockets appear better equipped for competition without McGrady this season


By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Ever the optimist, and usually armed with a dry wit to describe the many turns of an NBA season, Yao Ming considered the possibility of Tracy McGrady missing time with back spasms and chose to find good in the familiar bad.

"First of all, we got some experience last year. OK, a lot actually," he said, through exhales of laughter. "We got that experience. Also, I think I know how to play without him."

The Rockets did not know then if McGrady will be out. A day later, they still did not. McGrady came in for treatment Sunday feeling "very stiff and very sore," Rockets trainer Keith Jones said.

But McGrady responded to treatment, a good sign. Jones said McGrady was sent home with anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxers and instructions to stretch and exercise, but could not predict whether McGrady could play Tuesday.

"With his back, he could come in tomorrow and feel better," Jones said. "He could feel worse. You just don't know."

But Yao, after his jab of gallows humor, had hit on a major change in the Rockets since last season and on vivid display Saturday in Washington. Even without McGrady, Yao is capable of dominating a game. He scored 23 of his 38 points in the fourth quarter when he made all six of his shots and 11 of 12 free throws. His baseline jumper with 11 seconds left was the game-winner.

The Wizards did not have time to revamp a game plan to defend the Rockets without McGrady as the Lakers, whom the Rockets face Tuesday at Toyota Center, would. Washington was by then without its top centers, Etan Thomas, who sprained his left ankle, and Brendan Haywood, who left with a bruised thigh.


Yao knows the drill
But Yao said he knew what he had to do with McGrady out.

"Shoot more," he said. "Secure the ball and be more aggressive."

The Rockets seem better equipped to compete without McGrady this season than last, when they went 7-28 without him. They are stronger defensively and with more shooters to respond should teams send two or three players at Yao.

McGrady has left three games with injuries this season, going out (but returning) with a bruised abdomen against the Timberwolves, a concussion against the Cavaliers and with back spasms Saturday. The Rockets won all three.

"We have a better team," McGrady said. "We have a better overall team. Yao has improved his game this year. It helps to have a guy like Shane Battier on your team, someone we didn't have last year. We have a team where if one of our key guys goes down, we have enough depth to sustain playing good basketball."

The Rockets also have improved at getting Yao the ball. Yao has improved at getting better position, often by re-posting. Rafer Alston and Luther Head are better at feeding him the ball deep. Battier is strong at getting the ball inside, as he did on Yao's last bucket Saturday.

"When Mac's in there, we try to go to Yao," Head said. "We always go there. When Mac's out, we know Yao's got a lot more on his back so we get him the ball. He's the best, man.

"We went through so much last year, we got experience with it. The guys that came back this year, we're comfortable. We know what to expect when he's out. Yao's playing better than ever. Rafer's leading the team. We're just playing. If Mac's out, we just have to deal with it."

Though Kirk Snyder is out with a broken hand, Bob Sura's return remains uncertain and Bonzi Wells has been inactive since Nov. 7, the Rockets also don't have quite as many injuries as when McGrady was hurt last season. It also might have helped the mood that McGrady did not seem as pained as with last season's episodes.


Learning from adversity
Still, the Rockets, said they have grown stronger from last season's adversity.

"Like I'm always saying, we can hang tough," Alston said. "It looks like he's hurting. I'm sure he'll get some treatment, get some tests done and some work done, and see if he can play."

If he can't, the Rockets will have little choice but to find out what they can do without him.

"No matter who gets injured, you see over time what happens," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "We don't want to find out. We'll see, but we don't want to find out. Hopefully, we don't have to."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4392775.html
Big game fires Yao up for more


By JONATHAN FEIGEN
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle

Yao Ming, coming off one of the best games of his career and with the performance seeming closer to routine than an aberration, said he does feel momentary vindication given the criticism he has received, but will not dwell on it.


"That lets me feel success," Yao said. "But I look forward, always look forward.

"Today's game. Tomorrow's game. Whatever I did yesterday is over.

"I'm just trying to follow all those big men, Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing and Shaquille O'Neal. I learn a lot from them."

When he was asked if he learns from going against four-time defensive player of the year Dikembe Mutombo in practices, Yao went further than that.

"Oh, I forgot Deke," Yao said, adding Mutombo to the list. "Sorry."


Seeking balance
Here's something you don't expect from NBA coaches, and especially from defensively driven Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy.

With the Rockets first in the NBA in scoring and field-goal percentage defense, but 23rd in scoring and 24th in shooting with an offense that has been inconsistent, Van Gundy said the Rockets need to devote the energy on the offensive end that they have brought to their defense.

"Usually, low offensive energy starts it," Van Gundy said. "Low offensive energy turns into random possessions which turns into bad shots and turnovers.

"You got to play with a certain amount of — or a lot of — offensive energy in this league.

"Without question, I think our players buy into the notion of defensive energy, but are not quite as sold on offensive energy."

The Rockets are fourth in the NBA in point differential — trailing Phoenix, Utah and San Antonio — outscoring opponents by 3.3 points per game.

 

Don't underestimate JVG's ability to focus on a single opponent and devise a game plan to defend the Lakers well. If we play our best defense and our tempo, we can win it.