Tracy McGrady has waved the red flag. He has come to the realization his left-knee pain probably won’t ease this season and that fans won’t get to see the old T-Mac until next season.

But McGrady said he believes if he stays healthy enough to play and help the team in small ways, such as a playmaker and rebounder, then he will get a contact somewhere next season. But as far as the acrobatic artist and dominant go-to guy, forget about it.

“I know I’m not healthy,” McGrady said at FedEx Forum after a four-point outing vs. Memphis Friday. “I’m not healthy to go out there and be as effective as I wanted to be every night. It’s not happening and I have to have patience with it. I’m not going to allow myself to get discouraged and not believe it’s going to get better when I truly believe it is. ”
NY Post


They’re no longer bottom-dwellers. The Bobcats (34-31) are on a six-game winning streak and finally beat the team that has bedeviled them in the East. The Magic had won 10 of 11 against the Bobcats, but Sunday Orlando fell behind by 10 in the fourth quarter and never retook the lead.

The Bobcats won this one for two reasons – Ratliff and Tyson Chandler contained Howard without needing so much help it skewed their defense. And Stephen Jackson (28 points, six rebounds and six assists) carried them with 11 points in the fourth quarter.

Howard finished with 27 points on 12-of-14 shooting. But his teammates shot just 21-of-58 for the game.

The Magic (47-21) has a simple-but-efficient formula: Dump the ball into Howard in the middle, surround him with 3-point shooters, and dare the other team to make hard choices.
Charlotte Observer

It’s been a difficult week, folks! I’ll just put it out there. After revealing what’s been heard for years about Iverson’s drinking and penchant for the casinos, I’ve received the kind of beatdown only Joe Frazier can relate to from the pummeling he suffered against George Foreman decades ago.

I’ve been vilified and excoriated, called a turncoat and a sellout, unworthy of so much as a handshake from several members of Iverson’s former team, the 76ers – the last people in need of more adversaries.

The truth is, I deserve it. Despite the objectivity exercised while disseminating the news, it’s impossible to be completely impartial about someone you’ve known for 14 years and are incredibly fond of despite the innumerable mistakes he’s made.

The thing is, if I’m honest enough to express these feelings about Iverson, to stand up and say none of us who care should sit idly by and act as if the combination of Iverson’s history in the fast lane and his present family issues will be healed by silence, where are his so-called friends, the ones with the all-is-well expressions while knowing there’s mounting evidence to the contrary?
Philadelphia Inquirer