More from RealGM
More Magic NewsMagic LinksBesides the usual bumps, bruises and weary legs associated with the recently completed seven-game, 11-day roadtrip, the Orlando Magic are becoming increasingly concerned with Tracy McGrady's nagging foot injury. McGrady originally strained his mid-foot on Feb. 23 when he landed on Dikembe Mutombo's foot on a drive to the basket. McGrady missed the Magic's next game, but was able to return for the next six games. But McGrady was accidentally kicked in the side of his right foot during Wednesday's loss in Boston. He limped through the second half before finally heading to the bench for good. He admitted before Friday's home game against the Washington Wizards that the lingering injury really is bothering him. "It's really swollen and sore," McGrady said. "I'm having trouble pushing off, landing and making cuts. When I come down, it puts a lot of pressure on the foot. The other night I got kicked in Boston and I took my shoe off at halftime and it was swollen up real big." The injury has been evident in McGrady's play of late. Settling for more jump shots, McGrady made just 47 of 124 tries in the final six games of the roadtrip. He showed no ill effects of the injury Friday, putting up 28 points in the first half. "It's the side of his foot. It does scare you when it's the side of the foot because that's where that stress fracture stuff comes into play," Magic coach Doc Rivers said. "But right now, he says he's fine and that's what we have to live with." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Magic forward Mike Miller severely sprained his left ankle midway through the first quarter of Friday's game and did not return. Miller's left foot landed on the foot of Richard Hamilton, rolling over grotesquely. Miller had to be helped off the floor by two teammates. X-rays taken in the locker room were negative. Miller, the NBA's reigning Rookie of the Year, missed the first five games of the season with a chip fracture in his right foot. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Brevard County's new United States Basketball League team, the Brevard Blue Ducks, will have a distinctive Magic feel to it. Harvey Grant, the twin brother of Magic power forward Horace Grant, will be the Blue Ducks' head coach. Harvey Grant, born nine minutes after Horace in 1965, was acquired by Orlando in a 1999 trade, but never played for the Magic. Donald Royal, who played in 288 games with the Magic during a six-year stretch, will be an assistant coach for the Blue Dogs. Royal averaged 7.8 points a game from 1992 to 1998. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Back at home after 11 days on the road, Magic players approached Thursday's off day in different ways. McGrady, affectionately known to his teammates as "The Big Sleep," said he slept most of the day. The same went for Grant, who still was feeling the effects of the long trip. "It was the toughest roadtrip of my career," admitted Grant, a 16-year veteran. "I've never gone on an 11-day, seven-game trip on the East Coast. The longest I've ever played before is five games on the West Coast with the Bulls. "It was hard getting up this morning. Yeah, we're a little tired. But we can't afford to be too tired right now because we've got to make this push at home." Magic point guard Darrell Armstrong said he was refreshed by returning home. "I feel rested," Armstrong said. "I ran on the treadmill (Thursday) night about 12:30. I kept watching the Charlotte-Seattle game and got some motivation to run on the treadmill. I just felt like I needed to get a little workout in." -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday's game officially was listed as a sellout -- Orlando's fifth of the season -- but because Michael Jordan did not play there were plenty of empty seats inside the TD Waterhouse Centre. Jordan had knee surgery two weeks ago and is expected to miss another two weeks. . . . The 130 points Orlando yielded in Wednesday's loss in Boston were the most given up by Orlando since Charlotte scored 130 in 1992. . . . When Courtney Alexander scored a season-best 36 points in Washington's defeat of the Magic last Sunday, Rivers said it was due in part to his team not showing Alexander the proper respect. "It would be nice if we respected him," Rivers said. "I thought we looked at Courtney Alexander and acted like he was Cory Alexander, who was on our team last year. Now, we know he can absolutely score." |
