Again, Chinese media is doing Yao a disservice

by intentionally misinterpreting TMac to bash him. Instead of supporting Yao and his team on a mini winning streak, "reporters" finally find a chance to advocate about "Yao's team". Taking quotes out of context with sensational title is the usual trick of so-called news reports in pretty much everything. I don't know how Rockets fans take regarding Chinese media (already pretty low), Yao Ming fans (not very high either), general Chinese sports fans.

Here is a more complete quote and context regarding that "TMac refused to adjust". Judge for yourself.

Growing confidence
That might seem a bit much to expect, especially with New Orleans and San Antonio among those five opponents coming to Toyota Center. But it is more likely than going 6-2 in their latest stretch without McGrady, given their long struggles when he was hurt before. He is not expected to return until Sunday at the earliest, but more likely not until later next week.

The Rockets have, however, looked anything but short-handed.

"The team has more confidence playing without T-Mac right now," center Yao Ming said. "It doesn't mean we don't need him. When you are missing him, you still have to go play. We struggled before, but I think we found a way to play without him right now. We're just waiting for him to come back. We'll be even better."

The trick, it would seem, will be to introduce McGrady back into the mix. The Rockets insist the changes in their style actually began last month before he was hurt, but they clearly have taken hold since.

McGrady, however, has scoffed at the notion he will have to adjust, saying that the more balanced scoring will make his job easier.

"Why would I adjust? Nothing has really changed," McGrady said. "Those guys are making shots, and there is a lot more ball movement. They got to make up for 23 points. I tell them, don't look for me on the offensive end," McGrady said. "Myself and Yao, we're going to get the ball and make plays and make shots. You guys stay aggressive.

"It is something positive that came out of this. Guys gained confidence. They gained a rhythm. They are playing well. Hopefully, I don't come back and ruin that."

What's not to like?
With that, McGrady chuckled. Adelman had been laughing at questions about reintroducing McGrady to the mix. By now, he has his preferred analysis down pat.

"I'm never worried about getting a guy who scored 25 points a game, was your leading scorer and assist guy back," Adelman said. "If we can have everybody with their confidence at a higher level when he comes back, it has to help the team.

"We've been trying to implement a system all year long with more ball movement. He has seen our guys grow in the last two weeks as a team. I think Tracy is the type of player, when he gets on the floor, he sees that. He's a very unselfish player. He is willing to give the ball up to people. Other people are doing their job; he is more than willing to do that.

"Between him and Yao, when we need a basket, we need to stop the other teams' run, the game is on the line, they're going to have it. During the course of the game, I think he sees that if we can get other guys involved, it helps him in the long run. There are still stretches, he can take the game over. He is just like Kobe (Bryant) or Le- Bron (James). But we need the other people to step up if we're going to have a chance to be any kind of factor at all."

Time for practice
A homestand with ample practice time next week might be the Rockets' chance to become the sort of team that can be a "factor." When they got back from a road-heavy schedule last month, they retooled. This time, they can fine-tune and try to make a move.

"We have some practice days, which is always good," Shane Battier said. "We'll get Tracy back in this homestand. It's big for us. For us to be any good this year and make some noise, we have to win at home. Every playoff team wins at home.

"We feel no lead is insurmountable. Look at the Portland Trail Blazers who started out 5-12, and they're still on a heck of a run. Confidence is an amazing thing in this league. You get a few games under your belt, you never know how many you can run off."

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