Even though the Houston Rockets brought in Ron Artest this year, the question for the team remains the same thing that it's been every year: Can T-Mac and Yao stay healthy for the season? Unfortunately, just like every year, the answer is no.
T-Mac was forced out of last night's game against the Thunder after his left knee simply "gave out." And those were his own words. Yikes.
"My knee gave out on me," McGrady said. "They told me if I was to go back in, and they saw me limping they were going to take me back out. I was like, "Well, that’s what you’re pretty much going to see.’ My knee isn't feeling right. I hate to do this, but I’m going to get an MRI tomorrow and until, further notice, I’m going to have to shut it down."
This is the same knee that bothered T-Mac much of last year and eventually required surgery in May. And while you hate to hear a player say that he has to "shut it down", T-Mac makes it pretty clear why that needs to be the case.
"Tonight, I went back to square one, like before even surgery. I’ve always been feeling it, but tonight, before that particular play, I came up and it just gave out on me. I’ve been trying to work my way into playing shape and strengthen my leg. I’ve never been 100 percent. I’ve just been hoping playing on it would put me over the edge and I won’t have any more pain, but it hasn’t worked."
One of the problems is that while NBA players are without question some of the greatest athletes out there, the pounding that an 82+ game season can take on your body is brutal. T-Mac's always been fragile, and he's not getting any younger either. At 29 years old, his best days are probably behind him, and his injuries are likely to only get worse from here.
If Yao and Artest - who both coincidentally tweaked their ankles last night as well - can stay healthy, then this team can stay alive in the Western Conference playoff race. But if T-Mac can't get himself healthy, then this won't be going anywhere further than the first round of the playoffs.
Which is, not surprisingly, the same thing that happens to them every year.
A win with twists and turns [Houston Chronicle]
more
