Back in January, when then struggling Houston put together a modest five-game winning streak without top scorer Tracy McGrady, some suggested that the Rockets were better off without the perennial All-Star.
Sound familiar?
Here in Washington, when the Wizards had a similar run of success later that same month, and did so without Gilbert Arenas, there were whispers that the All-Star guard was excess baggage.
A month later, those knee-jerk notions about both gimpy stars seem preposterous. While McGrady has healed and sparked Houston (36-20) to the NBA’s longest winning streak (12 games), Arenas continues to rehab his surgically repaired knee and his struggling team can’t wait for his return, along with that of Caron Butler (hip flexor).
“Gilbert Arenas was our closer. He was our Mariano Rivera. He was K-Rod,” said center Brendan Haywood. “You watch baseball. They pay for closers, don’t they? We need one. We don’t have one.”
Ask Houston how much better it is with its closer. On Friday night, the 6-foot-8 McGrady had 34 points and six assists as the visiting Rockets ended New Orleans’ six-game winning streak, 100-80. On Sunday, McGrady had 24 points and eight assists in a 110-97 win over Chicago.
The Rockets were slow to catch on to first-year coach Rick Adelman’s offense. But in each month of the season, Houston has increased its assist average, going from 20.8 per game in November to 25.2 this month. McGrady has been key, averaging 5.1 apg before injuring his knee and 7.1 apg since re-joining the starting lineup, 12 games ago.
“The way guys were playing while I was out, they were moving the ball,” McGrady told the Houston Chronicle. “When I came back, I didn’t want to take that away. I wanted to add to it.When we’re moving the ball and getting everyone involved, we’re pretty damned good.”
Are you listening, Wizards?
