No, his career's not over, but his career in Houston pretty much is. All the Rockets need to know is if he can play well enough to have trade value when he comes back from microfracture surgery. All they need is for him to be able to resemble the old Tracy McGrady is six minute bursts, just long enough to trick some less-intelligent GM into giving up two good players, a draft pick, and an expiring contract. The Rockets have discovered the kind of team they want and it's the team that dismantled LeBron Jesus and the Disciples on Thursday.
This Rockets team has a record of 12-6 whenever McGrady's out, which is better than the 20-15 record they have when he plays. That's strike one. They've been decent, but struggling to find an identity. They don't know whether they want to be a finesse team or a rough-and-rugged team. Lucky for Houston that Tracy McGrady's knee decided it needed to be cut open, because his fragile leg made all of the tough decisions for them.
It's really all for the best, because when has anyone ever known McGrady to want to play defense? McGrady's done well just to stand in front of his man, because if he could, he'd go sit on the bench until his team started heading back the other way. Meanwhile, the team around him is pretty much built for playing defense. Shane Battier, Luis Scola, and now, Ron Artest have made their careers playing defense. Suddenly, the Rockets' best player has become the odd man out.
Really, the worst thing that can happen for McGrady is that the Rockets get out of the first round of the playoffs without him. He's been trying to get out of the first round since he got in the NBA. Toronto did it right after he left for Orlando. And depending who they're matched up with this season, I expect Houston to do it, too. If McGrady's thinking about his future, he better be hoping that Ron Artest completely loses it before the playoffs start. I'm talking a complete meltdown; biting people, full nudity, maybe even some fire. If McGrady wants to retain a shred of respect in this league, he better be on his good knee right now. Praying.
As of today, Houston is fourth in the west and if the playoffs started now, they'd get Portland. Portland's a young, talented, and balanced team that Artest alone can scare into losing in five or six games. If this scenario plays out, consider it strike two.
Really, when was the last time a guy came to a team and completely supplanted the previous star in one season? It's like when Hulk Hogan went to WCW and made Ric Flair and Sting his sidekicks. And it's not even like Artest did it on purpose, but right now, he's playing like the guy that Houston always wanted McGrady to be: To do whatever it took to win. And McGrady just never was. Now here's Artest, fitting in with this Rockets team better than McGrady is. Maybe he should have played more defense.
McGrady has always been a flashy player, the kind of guy who sells jerseys, shoes, and posters. There isn't a single thing he can't do with that ball and once upon a time, only Kobe Bryant was a more dynamic scorer than he was. Artest scares me when he handles the ball, because you might see him try to throw no-look, behind the back passes and fail. Just on a whim. You really have no idea what he might do with the ball. Fortunately for him (and unfortunately for McGrady), this Rockets team doesn't need more scoring; they need someone to lead the defense. They also need someone that stays healthy. McGrady hasn't played a full season since he's been in Houston.
But I could have jumped the gun on this. McGrady might come back from this and the Rockets might make it all work. But then again, LeBron James might sign with them, too. Or Spider-Man. I mean, anything's possible, right?
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