RealGM

So, once McGrady is back the question becomes how do the Rockets integrate him back onto the team without upsetting the winning formula that they have found?

Personally, I am hopeful that McGrady will take a page out of Larry Bird's book and willingly come off of the bench while the team is playing well as not to upset the apple cart. Eventually, if he is playing well, he would have to go back into the starting lineup.

Sadly that means that for now Chase Budinger will probably see a decrease in minutes. Also, I see Shane Battier seeing a decrease in minutes as it looks like Ariza may be shifted back over to his natural position at SF to accomodate McGrady on the floor.

So we could be looking at this depth chart to start off:

PG - Brooks / Lowry
SG - Ariza / McGrady
SF - Battier / Budinger
PF - Scola / Landry
C - Hayes / Andersen

and eventually:

PG - Brooks / Lowry
SG - McGrady / Budinger
SF - Ariza / Battier
PF - Scola / Landry
C - Hayes / Andersen


My big fear is that we'll get the old "dribble for 20 seconds and shoot" McGrady back. I'm praying that this is not the case

Thats probably about right. He'll come off the bench for a stint but eventually he'll start with Ariza and probably play some PG to get Bud and Battier significant playing time. Regardless...McGrady shouldn't be playing big minutes like he has. I see him maxing out at 30mins a game b/c we do have depth at the position. No more 38-41 min games.

But we aren't really playing well btw. We are playing average. We win some...we lose the same amount. PHX is playing well. Atlanta is playing well. We are playing OK.

Factoring in schedule-difficulty, you could say we are playing better than OK.

Of course, factoring in roster-newness, lack-of-talent and the rest, we are playing brilliantly and exceeding expectations. Empirically speaking however, I think we're playing better than OK, but perhaps not quite 'very well' just yet.

Anyway.

More or less share E's concerns and hopes re: T-Mac. I mean, at _some_ stage a reasonably intelligent, thoughtful person has to figure out that it isn't all about him, right? Hoping he comes back strong and with his head on straight.

In another t-mac thread someone asked how someone could come back from the MF so soon. I think I read at the time he went for the op that it wasn't a weight-bearing part of the knee. So maybe it's not the typical scenario (less detrimental).

The day Tracy McGrady comes back and plays behind the likes of Trevor Ariza is the day I should probably call it quits.

grond wrote:Factoring in schedule-difficulty, you could say we are playing better than OK.

Of course, factoring in roster-newness, lack-of-talent and the rest, we are playing brilliantly and exceeding expectations. Empirically speaking however, I think we're playing better than OK, but perhaps not quite 'very well' just yet.

Anyway.

More or less share E's concerns and hopes re: T-Mac. I mean, at _some_ stage a reasonably intelligent, thoughtful person has to figure out that it isn't all about him, right? Hoping he comes back strong and with his head on straight.

In another t-mac thread someone asked how someone could come back from the MF so soon. I think I read at the time he went for the op that it wasn't a weight-bearing part of the knee. So maybe it's not the typical scenario (less detrimental).

+1 shared the same sentiment. Especially the bold part.

Edit: hollinger power ranking listed Rockets at 6th spot ahead teams like Mavs, Suns,Magics, Cavs.
http://espn.go.com/nba/hollinger/powerrankings
Hollinger utilize stats to formulate the power ranking. Not perfect but more objective than other opinionated ranking. And yes.. Rockets are doing better than OK