One Of The Strangest Stories In The NBA Season

What is going on with Tracy McGrady in Houston?

Roughly two weeks ago a local television station in Houston reported that McGrady's ailing knee required surgery and he was being shut down for the remainder of the season. Then the Rockets officially denied the reports and said Tracy would continue to heal and would likely play later in the year. Having not played since the first report Tracy McGrady then went on a medical opinion safari, seeking out the second, third, and fourth opinions of as many medical professionals as possible from the sounds of things.

Finally, an ESPN report stated that McGrady told them the consensus opinion was that the knee does require surgery and that his season is officially over...except it isn't. The Rockets were apparently unaware of this diagnosis and are all but refusing to let T-Mac go for the year. Leslie Alexander, the Rockets owner, even released this gem of a quote:

"Daryl (Morey, the Rockets general manager) and I were talking this morning. We both discussed how great Tracy is in the playoffs. There's very few people who have the ability to step up their games in the playoffs and he does. So we're not looking to run away from Tracy."

First of all, how do you not burst into laughter reading this quote? As a Magic fan, I know first hand how 'good' McGrady has been in the playoffs. McGrady has taken a team to the post-season seven times. Of those seven times he has a combined zero wins from all his teams. zero for seven in the playoffs is not exactly raising your game for the playoffs on a consistent basis. Usually you have to get out of the first round at least once for someone to make such glowing remarks about your playoff track record. The closest Tracy has come to getting out of the first round was in 2003 with Orlando when he had a three games to one lead over the heavily favored Pistons (Magic were the eighth seed; Pistons were the first seed). Incidentally, that was the first year that the first round was changed to a best of seven format. So the three games to one lead that would have been a series victory a year before went to a game five, which continued on to a game six, and finally to a deciding game seven...all Orlando Magic losses. Way to raise that game Tracy!

Secondly, if this guy is such a pivotal part of your team as he appears to be for the Rockets why are they so against him getting healthy? If the man needs surgery on his knee get him some freaking surgery. Am I way out on a limb in thinking that if something is wrong and you have the means to fix it you should fix it? Here's some advice for the Rockets: Shut Tracy down, nobody needs him for the playoffs (clearly). You'll be doing him, and probably the team as a whole, a giant favor going forward. Just let this strange story die already.