The Spurs and Rockets Struggle to keep Pace in Division
Written by Bamababe2k9, Monday November 30 2009
The Houston Rockets are the most unluckiest team in the league. How can a team with so much promise have this much trouble? This is a team on the raise but can't get above the fray because of injuries.
First, it was their center Yao Ming getting hurt in playoff game against the eventual world champion L.A. Lakers, before that, they lost their best player Tracey McGrady. McGrady is a great player, but doesn't seem to get as much recognition as he deserves because he STAYS injured.
But I give McGrady credit for being mentally tough because rumor has it that he was upset at the Rocket management for not letting him come back sooner. McGrady had major surgery in February to repair a microfracture, but a decision has not been made about his return.
McGrady was suppose to undergo an MRI on his surgically repaired left knee late last week which he has reportedly said is “irrelevant,” but that the Rockets wanted to review the MRI before any decision on his return was made.
“It’s not going to tell them whether I can play or not,” McGrady said. True, but I'm sure the Rockets are not willing to take a risk on their star player not able to make it back EVER. McGrady's decision on whether he should play soon or not shouldn't be left up to him.
And even if he does come back before Christmas or at the beginning of the New Year, McGrady has said himself in interviews that he'll have to get back into rhythm with his teammates which may take a few games.
Even when he does come back, they still have the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs ahead of them.
The Spurs, like the Rockets have struggled this season at times despite only behind a few games behind the Mavericks themselves.
San Antonio has won five straight to stay in second place behind the Mavs. Tim Ducan has led the team in scoring in six of their last eight games. Mostly against the deadbeats of the league. The true test for the the Spurs is coming up as they play Boston and the Denver Nuggets who are next on their schedule.
The question for the Spurs is; has their window of opportunity closed or is closing for them to play or win an NBA Championship. The Spurs no longer have to just worry about just facing the Lakers any more, they now have to worry about the Mavs, the Nuggets, New Orleans, Portland and of course the Rockets. Not to mention the resurgence of the Suns.
Tim Ducan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili have been the nucleus of this team for years, but if they plan to keep the ball rolling so to speak and they better not let these other teams get too far ahead of them or they will be an also ran in the Western Division. Although the New Orleans Hornets clearly have made strides over the years with Chris Paul, they are about to become an also ran in the West if they don't get it together soon.
Age is starting to take its toll on this team despite them managing to hang around the division and quite frankly, it's only a matter of team before the Spurs have to start thinking about either replacing their star players or adding new faces to this aging team.
Well find out this week how far the Spurs have fallen if any against the Celtics and Nuggets and if they are where most experts think they are, then they need to start making adjustments before they become the forgotten team in the Western Division.
Tags:
Recent Rockets Articles
- Former NBA All Star Steve Francis Arrested for Public Drunkenness
- Yao May Call it a Day Soon
- It’s Official; Yao is Back
- Rockets, Scola ready to roll in the next NBA season
- Rockets Ready to be Contenders
- T-Mac is Back
- The Spurs and Rockets Struggle to keep Pace in Division
- New Look Rockets
- Super Scola
- Trades can help every team.
Leave a comment
Not So Fast! To publish your comment, you have to login
Not Registered? Register now as it only take 20 seconds!
Click here to browse
0 comments