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TRACY MCGRADY IS OUT FOR THE SEASON
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February 20, 2009
- Tracy McGrady has announced that he will not be returning to the basketball floor this season. The Rockets
guard is planning to undergo knee surgery in hopes of returning healthy next season. On February 18, McGrady
posted a statement on his official website about his surgery and his early exit this season. His statement
reads as follows:
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TRACY MCGRADY IS OUT FOR THE SEASON
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NO VIDEO AVAILABLE
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TRACY MCGRADY
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As some of you may have heard, my season has come to an end. My knee hasn’t been right all year, and we can’t seem to get the pain to
go away. We’ve tried just playing through it, taking back-to-backs off, and extended periods of rest, but none of it has really been
effective in limiting the discomfort and allowing me to just go out there and play. I’ve met with numerous doctors and gotten a number
of opinions, and unfortunately I will be undergoing microfracture surgery on my left knee immediately. Microfracture surgery is a serious
procedure, but I’m confident that I will be able to return next season with the same strength and explosiveness you are all used to seeing
from me.
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TRACY MCGRADY PHOTOS
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ROCKETS VS. NETS
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It has been extremely frustrating dealing with the knee injury this season. It’s been tough on me both physically and mentally and
while we’ve come to this conclusion after much deliberation, we truly feel this is best for both me and the Rockets in the long term. As I’ve
said before and will say again, I have the best fans in the world. Thank you for all your continued support through the good times and the bad.
I will make sure to keep you all posted on what’s happening with me. Peace T-mac.
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TRACY MCGRADY IS SEEING MORE OF THE BENCH THAN THE FLOOR
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February 11, 2009
- The Houston Rockets have gotten used to playing without Tracy McGrady. They just don't know how many more times they'll
have to do it. Yao Ming had 24 points and 18 rebounds, Rafer Alston dished out a season-high 13 assists and the Rockets won
again without McGrady, beating the Sacramento Kings 94-82 on Wednesday night. Luis Scola added 19 points and 11 rebounds and
Ron Artest scored 19 for the Rockets, who improved to 12-6 with McGrady out of the lineup this season. McGrady missed his 17th
game with soreness in his left knee, the aftermath of offseason surgery. He also sat out one game with a sprained ankle. McGrady
said at halftime that he'll meet with doctors over the All-Star break to determine further treatment options. He said his knee
still hasn't healed and is bothering him again after he sat out most of January to rest it. He wouldn't put a timetable on when
he'll return. Despite the Rockets' successful record without him, they say they need a healthy McGrady to make a strong push after
the All-Star break.
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"We sure do need him on the court,'' Alston said. "This team understands we need him on the floor. His health issues are as important
as anything. We don't want an ailing Tracy McGrady on the floor. We want a healthy Tracy McGrady.'' After a sluggish first half, the
Rockets didn't need him at all against woeful Sacramento, who scored only 31 points in the middle two quarters. The Rockets have admitted
they've played lackluster defense lately, and smothering the Kings made them feel only marginally better. "We can't be too excited about
it,'' said Scola. "But we're trying to be a playoff contender, a team that is going to fight with the Lakers, Celtics, Spurs and whoever
is at the top. We want to be that team. We can't be amazed that we beat Sacramento at home.'' Houston plays five straight home games after
the break, a pivotal stretch whether they have McGrady or not. Though the Rockets have no winning streak longer than four games this season,
coach Rick Adelman thinks a late surge is still possible.
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TRACY MCGRADY PHOTOS
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ROCKETS VS. KINGS
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"I don't see why not,'' he said. "We have enough quality wins that we've shown how we can play. It's a matter now that
we're going to have to do it.'' Houston led by only four at the break, then put this one away by outscoring Sacramento
35-21 in the third quarter. The Kings went only 6-for-13 from the field in the quarter, got outrebounded 10-4 and gave
away eight turnovers. "That third quarter was a big blow for us,'' Coach Kenny Natt said. "Our guys were not passing the
ball and playing together as a team. We tend to take too many isolation shots and when they are not falling, we get into
trouble.'' Kevin Martin scored 18 points and rookie Jason Thompson added 14 in the game for the Kings, who've lost five in
a row and 13 of 14. The Kings hit 11 of their first 18 shots to build an early lead. The 6-foot-11 Thompson scored 10 points
on 5-for-6 shooting in the first 9 minutes, but then went to the bench with two fouls. Alston had six assists in the first
quarter, but the Rockets went scoreless for a 3-minute stretch and trailed 25-22. - NBA.com
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TRACY MCGRADY HAS A TERRIBLE NIGHT FROM THE FIELD
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February 9, 2009
- Yao Ming finished with seven points on 2-of-8 shooting and Tracy McGrady had three points on 1-of-9 shooting.
Yao also had 10 rebounds, but was plagued by early foul trouble and only played 19 minutes with the game out of reach.
"We made them uncomfortable,'' Villanueva said. "Get them out of the game, get them in foul trouble, put them on drag
screens, make them defend and it worked to perfection. We kept them out of the game.'' Said McGrady: "Right now, we're
just a team that doesn't know how to play defense.'' The Bucks exposed it, too, shooting 52 percent from the field even
without top scoring threats Michael Redd (knee), Andrew Bogut (back) and Luke Ridnour (thumb). Richard Jefferson added
25 points, reserve Charlie Bell had 21 and Keith Bogans 13 as Milwaukee (25-29) moved within one win of its season total
last year.
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"It really shows the tremendous improvement this team has made last year to this year, almost having the same amount of wins at the
All-Star break as we had last year. Mike missed pretty much half the games, Andrew has missed a lot, now we've lost Luke,'' said Bell,
who hit his first seven shots. "It just really shows the will and the heart of this team with all the injuries we've had, guys are still
going out there playing hard and we're not giving up on this season.'' Houston had won three of the previous four, but gave up at least
104 points in its fifth straight road game. Aaron Brooks scored a career-high 23 points, Luis Scola and Ron Artest had 20 points apiece
and Carl Landry added 16 for the Rockets. "I wish it were under different circumstances,'' said Brooks, who wasn't aware of his new mark
until after the game. Rockets coach Rick Adelman declined to talk about Yao and McGrady's efforts, saying the whole team was disappointing.
"We go home and play with more energy, with more resolve and more of an urgency and then we come out here knowing that teams are going to
play better at home and we don't come out with the effort,'' Adelman said. "They shot it very well. They passed the ball well. They had 31
assists. They did everything they wanted to do.''
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TRACY MCGRADY PHOTOS
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ROCKETS VS. BUCKS
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Midway through the third quarter, Villanueva sparked a 14-0 run by contributing 10 points and the Bucks showed first-year coach
Scott Skiles their improving effort on defense this year. Sessions, who has taken over at point guard for Ridnour, stripped Rafer
Alston and converted a layup. Villanueva hit back-to-back 3-pointers off assists from Jefferson to make it 87-65. Milwaukee was
never threatened from that point. The valuable minutes both Sessions and Villanueva are playing could pay off even if the Bucks
fall short of the postseason. Both are restricted free agents at the end of the year and Milwaukee's financial situation is shaky
because the team doesn't want to pay a luxury tax. "The opportunity is there. There's a chance to play a lot of big minutes, just
taking advantage of the opportunity and being consistent, too,'' Villanueva said. "It goes for all the guys.'' - NBA.com
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TRACY MCGRADY OVERCOMES WOLVES WITH SCRAPPY DEFENSE
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February 7, 2009
- Tracy McGrady added 15 points and Ron Artest 14 for the Rockets, who also overcame Al Jefferson's 36 points to beat Minnesota
for the sixth straight time. Jefferson matched a career high with 22 rebounds, but couldn't keep the Timberwolves from losing for
the fifth time in six games. The Rockets took control late in the third quarter as the Timberwolves went cold from the field.
Minnesota led 69-66 before Alston sank two 3-pointers in the last 90 seconds of the third quarter to launch a 17-2 Houston run.
Shane Battier added another 3 and Yao scored inside in the first minute of the fourth to put the Rockets up 83-71. The Wolves missed
10 of 11 shots over the decisive 7 1/2-minute span. It was an encouraging stretch for the Rockets, who've struggled to put teams away
all season, mostly due to stretches of lackluster defense. "If we play with that type of energy, scrambling, helping each other on
defense, covering for one another,'' McGrady said, "that's what we do, that's who we are.''
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Jefferson's hook shot with 7:35 left in the game cut the deficit to 87-75, but Carl Landry dunked and McGrady sank a 3-pointer on
the Rockets' next two possessions. Minnesota shot 39.8 percent from the field (35-of-88) and got outrebounded 51-39. "The defense
still needs improvement, but overall it was good,'' Alston said. "We turned it up. It wasn't a good start in the first quarter, we
were giving them everything, points in the paint, 3-point shots. But as the game progressed, we gradually got better defensively and
we were able to put them away.'' Houston led 8-0 in the opening minutes, but the Timberwolves answered with a 16-0 burst, capped by
a pair of 3-pointers by Randy Foye. The Rockets missed their first 11 shots inside 3-point range. Coach Rick Adelman finally called
timeout and inserted Artest to replace Battier, the starting forward. McGrady immediately hit a jumper from the free-throw line to
end a 5-minute Houston scoring drought.
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TRACY MCGRADY PHOTOS
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ROCKETS VS. TIMBERWOLVES
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But Jefferson scored 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting with eight rebounds in the first quarter, dominating Yao, who started 0-for-4
from the field. Jefferson seemed to have Yao scouted well, drawing him away from the basket, then using his quickness to duck around
him. "I knew I had an advantage with Yao,'' Jefferson said. "I wanted to get him on the move and I was able to hit my jumpers.''
Adelman replaced Yao with shot-blocking specialist Dikembe Mutombo, but Minnesota opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run to lead
34-20. Artest scored, but Foye hit another 3-pointer with 8:45 left in the half to put the Wolves up 37-22, their biggest lead of the
game. "We were moving the ball and attacking them in the first half,'' Jefferson said. "Then, we got away from it.'' Yao returned and
slipped inside for consecutive dunks to get the Rockets back on track. McGrady sank a straight-on 3-pointer with 5:21 left in the half
to cut the deficit to 39-35. - NBA.com
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TRACY MCGRADY LEADS THE ROCKETS WITH 21 POINTS
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February 4, 2009
- Tracy McGrady led the Rockets with 21 points. Rafer Alston added 15 points and six assists. Houston had won its last
14 games in February before Wednesday night. The Rockets last loss in February was Feb. 28, 2007 against Toronto. Memphis'
points-in-the-paint advantage was only one example of spotty defense by the Rockets. Yao noted the Grizzlies taking open
3-point shots, and almost matching the Rockets in second-chance points. Others noted a lack of consistency. "I think there
is something wrong,'' McGrady said. "We do it in spurts. We really need to come back like we did in the fourth quarter with
that energy because we could have laid down.'' Another problem for the Rockets was a less-than-healthy Yao, who left the game
in the third quarter with an upset stomach. He returned midway through the final period, but was struggling because of the
illness. "I just cannot stay out there,'' Yao said, still looking uncomfortable in the locker room. "It slowed down in the
beginning, and I was trying to hang in there. It really hurt me and hurt the team. When I slow down, I can't guard people.''
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O.J. Mayo scored 32 points and the Grizzlies held off the Houston Rockets 104-93 on Wednesday night for their
second straight victory. The Rockets closed to 97-93 with just over 4 minutes remaining, but Mayo scored on a
drive and hit a 3-pointer, and Memphis held on. On Monday night, Mayo scored 33 points in the Grizzlies' 113-97
win at Washington. The Grizzlies are 2-3 under Hollins, who took over after the firing of Marc Iavaroni on Jan.
22. The last few games, Memphis seems to have a renewed enthusiasm. "Guys are really starting to get comfortable
in our new offense, and the way that we're running things,'' said Mike Conley, who has taken over the starting job
at point guard. "It shows when guys are making extra passes and getting guys open.'' Rudy Gay had 18 points and
nine rebounds for Memphis, and Hakim Warrick finished with 17 points on 6-of-9 from the floor and had eight rebounds.
Marc Gasol and Conley had 10 points apiece, and Conley also had nine rebounds and seven assists. Gasol recorded five blocks.
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TRACY MCGRADY PHOTOS
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ROCKETS VS. GRIZZLIES
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The Grizzlies hit six of their first seven shots in the second half and, when Mayo and Conley connected on consecutive
3-pointers, Memphis pushed its lead to 15. The Grizzlies didn't let the lead get under double digits in the third, and
carried an 88-74 advantage into the fourth. Houston started making its move with about 8 minutes remaining and trailing
by 15. The Rockets went on a 10-1 run, fueled by a pair of 3-pointers from the top of the key by Shane Battier, and another
long-range basket from Von Wafer. The Rockets eventually got to 97-93 with 4:16 left when Yao scored inside and then added
a pair of free throws. But with Mayo's scoring, the Rockets wouldn't get closer as the Grizzlies shot 53 percent, including
50 percent on 8-of-16 outside the arc. The Rockets shot 40 percent on the night. "I just thought it took us until the fourth
quarter to really start having some energy and defending,'' Rockets coach Rick Adelman said. "We just didn't defend them very
well in the first half, especially at the start of the game.'' - NBA.com
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TRACY MCGRADY SCORES 16 POINTS IN HEAT BATTLE WITH BULLS
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February 3, 2009
- Yao Ming scored 28 points, Luis Scola scored 13 points and matched a career high with 18 rebounds, and the Houston Rockets beat the Chicago Bulls
107-100 on Tuesday night. Aaron Brooks scored 18 and Tracy McGrady added 16 for the Rockets, who've won six straight and 11 of 12 games against the
Bulls. Luol Deng scored a season-high 28 and Ben Gordon scored 20 for Chicago, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. The Rockets led by 13
after three quarters, but started 1-for-5 with two turnovers in the fourth. Andres Nocioni's 3-pointer with 8:13 left finished an 11-3 Bulls' run to
cut Houston's lead to 82-77. Yao dunked, got fouled by Joakim Noah and converted the free throw to end Chicago's spurt. Carl Landry hit a free throw
with 7:23 left and Yao scored again a minute later to restore the Rockets' double-digit lead. Chicago cut the deficit to six in the final minute, but
Brooks drove for a layup with 28 seconds left to seal the win for Houston.
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The Rockets never trailed in a game for the fifth time this season. Yao had
two blocks and a basket in the first two minutes of the game. He also drew two quick fouls on Noah, sending him to the bench for 7-foot Aaron Gray.
The Bulls also missed their first 10 shots before Derrick Rose drove for a layup with 7:32 left in the first quarter. But Yao picked up his second foul with 7:06
left in the quarter and was replaced by the 6-9 Landry. McGrady electrified the crowd with a driving, left-handed dunk, looking spry again after sitting out Saturday's
win over Golden State with a sprained left ankle.
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TRACY MCGRADY PHOTOS
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ROCKETS VS. BULLS
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But the Rockets led only 20-18 after one quarter, despite the Bulls' 24 percent shooting. Chicago stayed close by going 8-for-14
from the free throw line. Yao started the second quarter and the Rockets maintained their narrow lead. Houston built a seven-point
lead, but Yao picked up his third foul with 5:48 left in the half and went to the bench again. The Bulls finished the half with an
11-2 run and trailed only 48-45. With Chicago focusing on Yao, Scola scored seven points early in the third quarter to help stretch
Houston's lead to 65-57. The Bulls hit only two field goals over the last six minutes of the third quarter and trailed 79-66 heading
to the fourth. Rose had 12 points and seven assists in his first game since spraining his left foot in the Bulls' 122-111 win in
Phoenix on Saturday. - NBA.com
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