PROTECT THE PAINT

The Houston Rockets are playing their hearts out these days, winning games with tough defense and solid fastbreak basketball.

Houston fans should cringe upon reading the following update: Tracy McGrady has announced that he is coming back November 18th.

He then rescinded and called it a target date.

Does Houston need T Mac, or Yao Ming for that matter, moving into the future?

Yao, you should consider retirement. (Credit:picapp.com)

Sure, McGrady has put up big numbers during his career, but has he helped his team go anywhere when it counts?

It is a huge asterisk to his career at this point. Coming in close at second: missing X-Amount-of-games due to Variable-Injury-Y.

Anyone who has ever played team basketball will tell you that nothing disrupts team chemistry like an injury-plagued player. Sure, you know the talent exists, but is he going to be too sore, off his game, rusty perhaps?

McGrady, in a “Forrest Gumpian” sense, is similar to a box of chocolates: You never know what you’re gonna get.

Houston plays noticeably better without Yao slowing them down in transition. Sure he is the biggest giant in the league, but he also has the slowest feet to match that body. At least in Yao’s defense, you know what you are going to get, and the guy would try to play on crutches if he was allowed to.

Trevor Ariza is playing like an All-Star these days, and is thriving in his new starter status. He has doubled his scoring output with the offense now running through him.

Chuck Hayes gives the speedy young rendition of the Rockets everything a team loves and heralds most. Hayes is all defense and hustle possessing a strong will to battle with any big in the league. Hayes is a constant disruption to teams and they must focus on him, or pay the price.

Hayes creates multiple fast break opportunities with his whopping 2.43 steals per game. His solid passing skills allow Aaron Brooks and Trevor Ariz to score easy buckets using their speed on transition in the open court.

When speed cannot match an opposing teams strength, the Rockets have Kyle Lowry and Luis Scola to equalize with tough, gritty muscle.

Carl Landry is playing out of his mind. Maybe getting shot last year woke up his inner beast, as near death experiences tend to do so in most people. Knowledge of seeing solid minutes all year also boosts confidence, and he is making his mark as the Rockets’ best reserve.

It’s unfortunate the Rockets have $39 Million invested in T Mac and Yao this year.

It would be nice if the Rockets trade McGrady’s expiring contract to a team in need of cap space for 2010. With $22 million in trading chips, the Rockets could add depth to their roster with the talent they could net for McGrady.

Furthermore, if Yao can’t play again due to his injuries, the Rockets are currently proving to be in a solid position without him.

I speculate McGrady gets traded to one of several teams who are in the forthcoming LeBron James sweepstakes in 2010.

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