McGrady Clarifies Return Date Remarks

Posted by Stephen Rhodes under NBA Injuries, NBA Rumors

There’s nothing more annoying than the inordinate amount of “he said, he said” that is going around the NBA. While rumors are at times informative and more often than not water cooler conversation, they are what they are.

The latest one has involved Houston Rockets swingman Tracy McGrady and his “alleged” return date; there was November 18 as a possible date for McGrady’s return to action that allegedly came from McGrady himself. Then there are the statements coming from Rockets management which beg to differ on T-Mac’s return. Perhaps some clarity (and hopefully closure) has taken place as according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle, McGrady said that he was misunderstood and is hoping to play on November 18. According to McGrady on Tuesday:

“It’s a target date. I didn’t say I was coming back; I said it was a target date, just like we have a date to have the MRI on the 23rd. Everybody is blowing it out of proportion like I’m guaranteed to come back. I want to play, so that’s what we’re targeting.”

McGrady also added that he would not rush his return to the hardwood and indicated that he isn’t expecting to play again until the week of his next MRI, scheduled for November 23. In addition, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey has insisted that “no timetable has been set for his return.” He further added that McGrady’s return date will be based on how he does in a full practice before he can be activated; the next team practice is scheduled for November 23.

No matter when his eventual return date is, it goes without saying that Houston needs him back in the worst way. As scoring options, they have Aaron Brooks, Trevor Ariza and maybe Carl Landry; this is not an indictment of the aforementioned three, but the team cannot expect to visit the playoffs with just this trio. 104 PPG in this day and age just will not cut the mustard – unless you have shut-down defense, which the Rockets does not have. November 18 and/or 23 are important dates for the team; the sooner T-Mac returns, the better off they will be.

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