Rockets Could Have Both Yao And T-Mac Back This Season

[The Franchise]

McGrady has been cleared for camp. Yao may be ready by the end of the season. Just a little good news for us Rocket fans. :)

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2009/08/rockets_could_h.html

[djohn2oo8]

A motivated McGrady could be good, most likely bad....He would have to come off the bench, since he needs to dominate the ball in order to score, but he can pass too...I'd rather develop the young players rather than have Yao come back

[Bob Lanier]

By which point the Rockets won't be in the playoff picture. So what?

[djohn2oo8]

I'll say this, McGrady/Artest matchup would be must see.....

[anonoftheinternets]

hmm i honestly dont remember a healthy yao/tmac playin alongside. I think they might be pretty decent.

[DPG21920]

I think the Rockets are going to be one of those teams that plays extremely hard every single night, so they will win more games than they should.

If they have a healthy T-Mac, they might be able to fight for the 8th seed.

[The Franchise]

I think we are being horribly underestimated if people think a healthy T-mac with the team we have now will just be fighting for an 8th spot. Even without Yao (preferably with) we will be just as good as last years team or better. We have gotten younger (Ariza,Budinger,Taylor), more athletic, bigger in the frontcourt (adding Pops and Anderson who happens to be an incredible shooter), deeper (Battier going to the bench), and Aaron Brooks will go through his first camp as the starter which can only make him better. Even with all the moves made in the west, with this roster in the playoffs there is nobody that scares me, or we can't beat. Please help me to understand how we are an 8th seed in this scenario.

[djohn2oo8]

I think we are being horribly underestimated if people think a healthy T-mac with the team we have now will just be fighting for an 8th spot. Even without Yao (preferably with) we will be just as good as last years team or better. We have gotten younger (Ariza,Budinger,Taylor), more athletic, bigger in the frontcourt (adding Pops and Anderson who happens to be an incredible shooter), deeper (Battier going to the bench), and Aaron Brooks will go through his first camp as the starter which can only make him better. Even with all the moves made in the west, with this roster in the playoffs there is nobody that scares me, or we can't beat. Please help me to understand how we are an 8th seed in this scenario.


Damn, I forgot all about Taylor and Budinger, Budinger is a very streaky shooter, and we really don't know about Taylor yet, other than he will replace Wafer.....Pops makes them deeper at the PF position, so we shall see

[lil_penny]

I wouldn't underestimate the rockets... they are a team full of guys who give their all everynight ariza and battier are prime examples.. with yao out and mcgrady comming back(hopefully to healthy form) they will still be a tough team, even without yao imo.

[The Franchise]

:lol

Gotta love Rocket fan. Even in death, you'll find a positive.

Explain to me how we are dead with a healthy McGrady and a deeper, faster, and younger team than we finished the year with? That team would be a lot better than the one that took the eventual champs to seven games.

[Muser]

You actually think Mac is going to grow a pair this late in the game? No Yao, no Artest, no playoffs.

:tu

[Culburn369]

+ I thought you guys were better WITHOUT McGrady?

[The Franchise]

You actually think Mac is going to grow a pair this late in the game? No Yao, no Artest, no playoffs.

It won't be about growing balls for McGrady, this just happens to be a contract year. It's no coincidence that he decided (the lazy bitch) for the first time ever to hire Tim Grover. He will turn back the clock and perform like Mcgrady of old if for no other reason than to get paid. He is 30 so this will be his final opportunity to make some real money in this league, and I guarantee he understands that.

As far as Artest being gone, well if I say anything negative you will only think it's sour grapes so I'll just say thank you for Ariza. I think he will be a better fit for this team (plus he sends Battier to the bench which is where he always belonged). I would be foolish to say Anderson can replace Yao, but offensively he has a very high skill level, and three point shooting range. he is also a legit seven footer which always helps. Everyone has been saying we are dead in the water, but I think, if you look at the facts, the demise of the Rockets has been greatly exaggerated.

[DPG21920]

They were only 4 games out of the 8th seed last year. Losing Yao and your best bench scorer in Wafer and having a question mark in T-Mac, combined with a bunch of unknowns in Taylor, Budinger and journeyman Pops leaves a lot to be desired.

I think they will be a gritty team, but you cannot expect to be touted.

[djohn2oo8]

I wouldn't underestimate the rockets... they are a team full of guys who give their all everynight ariza and battier are prime examples.. with yao out and mcgrady comming back(hopefully to healthy form) they will still be a tough team, even without yao imo.

+ 1 McGrady has to prove that he can still play in this league, and in doing so, he wants that last big contract, he can't afford not to return to the vintage McGrady, or else he will end up like Iverson, 5 million dollar deal or less......And memo to Laker fans: 60 million dollar bust named Andrew Bynum

[Culburn369]

So now that McGrady is coming back you're better? Christ, all I ever heard when he was out was that you're we're better without him.

Either you were lieing then, or, you're lieing now.

[OceaNus]

+ 1 McGrady has to prove that he can still play in this league, and in doing so, he wants that last big contract, he can't afford not to return to the vintage McGrady, or else he will end up like Iverson, 5 million dollar deal or less......And memo to Laker fans: 60 million dollar bust named Andrew Bynum

memo to houston

http://lakers.topbuzz.com/gallery/d/270499-2/Andrew+Bynum+holds+the+Larry+O_Brien+trophy.jpg

[The Franchise]

They were only 4 games out of the 8th seed last year. Losing Yao and your best bench scorer in Wafer and having a question mark in T-Mac, combined with a bunch of unknowns in Taylor, Budinger and journeyman Pops leaves a lot to be desired.

I think they will be a gritty team, but you cannot expect to be touted.

We were also only 2 games out of second. As far as McGrady, they wouldn't clear him to practice with the team if he wasn't healthy enough to do so. I really don't think he is much of a question mark in a contract year. I already addressed lossing Yao in my last post, and I agree he will be missed, but I think Anderson will be a nice supplement to the team until Yao returns. As far as losing Wafer, he is not much of a lose, and I would be very surprised if our rookies couldn't replace his production. As far as Pops I must admit I don't have much to go on there. I know it seems like blind confidence, but I have done my homework on the players we've acquired, and they are being grossly underestimated.

[The Franchise]

So now that McGrady is coming back you're better? Christ, all I ever heard when he was out was that you're we're better without him.

Either you were lieing then, or, you're lieing now.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I never said that dumb shit. I did say you will wish you had Ariza back by January though.

[Culburn369]

I can't speak for anyone else, but I never said that dumb shit.

Sure.

I'll play Hell finding one mf'er who said it.

[Lars]

Rockets were better without McGrady...a hobled one anyway.

[polysylab1k]

The Rockets swindled the injury exception if Yao comes back this season for some reason.

[angrydude]

Mcgrady only plays well when Yao is out and the whole thing is about HIM. I've seen this time and time again.

If Mcgrady comes back by the first month of the season the rockets will be right there in the middle of the pack. They'll get bounced in the first round, but they'll be there.

[polysylab1k]

Mcgrady only plays well when Yao is out and the whole thing is about HIM. I've seen this time and time again.

If Mcgrady comes back by the first month of the season the rockets will be right there in the middle of the pack. They'll get bounced in the first round, but they'll be there.
you are a dumb chimpanzee ass.

[Double-Up]

You actually think Mac is going to grow a pair this late in the game? No Yao, no Artest, no playoffs.

I want to say you're full of shit but you're probably right. I'd rather tank the season and get John Wall but I sure as fuck don't wanna be fighting for 8th seed and more mediocrity.

[djohn2oo8]

The Rockets swindled the injury exception if Yao comes back this season for some reason.

Definitely.....It would be nice if Morey screwed over the NBA, by knowing all along that there was a chance Yao would be back

[robbie380]

Thats what I would be doing. Sit Yao out for the entire year... Spurs style, and see if Mac still has something left, but go after that high draft pick.

the rox arent that shitty right now. they will be a 9-10 seed in the west which means not a great draft pick. i am pretty confident this team would make the playoffs in the east.

[Culburn369]

Thats what I would be doing. Sit Yao out for the entire year... Spurs style

Ouch!

[Double-Up]

Thats what I would be doing. Sit Yao out for the entire year... Spurs style, and see if Mac still has something left, but go after that high draft pick.

Nope, I'd give Mac a few months to up his trade value then trade him for real competitors. We'll be sorry if we resign Mac after his current contract is up.

[KSeal]

Ouch!

The truth hurts.

[djohn2oo8]

True, cuz if he plays well, they can get something for him in a trade just in case they cant land a big free agent

[DenDen]

memo to houston

http://lakers.topbuzz.com/gallery/d/270499-2/Andrew+Bynum+holds+the+Larry+O_Brien+trophy.jpg
That dosent means he's good. Shoot mbenga and shasabitch are champions* too.

[djohn2oo8]

Adam Morrison is a champion, that alone is sickening

[Culburn369]

Adam Morrison is a champion, that alone is sickening

Only because he's a Laker. Otherwise, you could give two shits.

[pawe]

No way will Tmac play the whole season. His chronic back problems will make him sit 50% of the games again.

[Kai]

I can't see the Rockets not making the playoffs simply because i don't think there are 8 teams better than us. Most notably the Suns and Hornets

[redzero]

Yao's just going to be injured again.

[VivaPopovich]

McGrady has been cleared for camp. Yao may be ready by the end of the season. Just a little good news for us Rocket fans. :)

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsjustice/archives/2009/08/rockets_could_h.html

Good luck brothers.

Houston deserves some good news for a change.

[TDMVPDPOY]

if both comes back,

what happens to there recent summer signings, where the nba allowed some bs exception for them to sign players offsetting a injured players payroll?

[Culburn369]

if both comes back,

what happens to there recent summer signings, where the nba allowed some bs exception for them to sign players offsetting a injured players payroll?

Sssshush! Unless Media drives that inquiry it's DOA.

[robbie380]

if both comes back,

what happens to there recent summer signings, where the nba allowed some bs exception for them to sign players offsetting a injured players payroll?

the signings are unaffected. there are multiple precedents for teams getting the injury exception and having the player come back that year.

[lotr1trekkie]

Rockets will be better than expected. Mavs will underacheive do to lack of chemistry. Spurs will start slowly and build momentum as the season progresses. The Spurs and the Celtics are the only two teams that can put 3 potential Hall of Famers on the floor at the same time. The Rockets should never bring Yao back in May.

[anonoftheinternets]

man if rockets hoodwink the league, and yao and tmac end up playing well off each other, and everyone focuses and they make a late run, I am gonna be pissed about the injury exception. But yeah, rocket fans deserve better, so best of luck to you.

[SonOfAGun]

T Mac is not the answer. Just admit it.

[The Franchise]

No way will Tmac play the whole season. His chronic back problems will make him sit 50% of the games again.

Actually, he hasn't missed a game because of his back in over 2 1/2 years.

[Indazone]

I don't want to see Yao back at all. I want to see him healed up 100%. Why take a stupid risk only to hear that craaaaaackkkkk!! as another bone breaks.

[robbie380]

I don't want to see Yao back at all. I want to see him healed up 100%. Why take a stupid risk only to hear that craaaaaackkkkk!! as another bone breaks.

I agree but lets not forget big z was back 10 mos after the surgery.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Why is everyone assuming that if/when Yao comes back, he's going to be the same player he was? He's probably going to come back as Zydrunas Ilgauskas whereas he'll stay healthy but he'll be nothing more than a tall guy who can shoot.

[Stand]

Explain to me how we are dead with a healthy McGrady and a deeper, faster, and younger team than we finished the year with? That team would be a lot better than the one that took the eventual champs to seven games.

You have a better chance of seeing the Loch Ness monster than you have of getting a healthy season out of T-Mac.