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Kings notes: McGrady and Christie battle - as friends
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Doug Christie hadn't done enough to warrant a repossession of the shoes, with Tracy McGrady scoring 25 points during the Kings' 102-96 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
But no matter. The game shoes came Christie's way anyhow, a gift among old friends to Christie's 3-year-old son, Douglas Jr.
"I love (McGrady) to death," Christie said. "He's nice enough to do that for my son."
The former Toronto Raptors teammates went at it Tuesday night, trading blows throughout the Kings' sixth straight victory but never more so than during a key stretch midway through the third quarter.
Christie barreled by McGrady for a layup, reclaiming the lead the Kings had just lost for the first time with five minutes left. McGrady came back with a three-pointer moments later, Christie answering again with a three to pull the Kings within 71-69.
McGrady had a game-high four turnovers (as did Yao Ming), and Christie had 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting and no turnovers.
"When I first saw him on tape, I told (then-Toronto executive) Isiah (Thomas), 'If you don't get that kid, there's something wrong with you," said Christie, who played with McGrady from 1997 to 2000. "I know how good T-Mac is. And (when I guard him), I'm not thinking I'm going to be able to stop him."
A little bit country - The after being so much better than the before, Kings center Greg Ostertag capped his night by singing near his locker.
The song had a line about a "redneck," and the world's tallest country artist (7-foot-2, in case anyone forgot) was happily humming following the Kings' victory.
Prior to the game, when the man who has averaged 20.9 minutes per game during his nine-year NBA career was playing at 7.6 per clip, his cry was different.
"I'm just sitting back waiting for my time," Ostertag said during pre-game. "They just can't find time to get me on the court. It's frustrating sitting back because I'm itching to get in."
His chance came Tuesday, playing a season-high 14 minutes and showing the as-advertised version for the first time this season. Ostertag finished with five points, hitting two layups and going 1 of 2 from the free-throw line. He also had two rebounds and one block, and was effective in disrupting Yao Ming and anyone else who ventured into the paint.
"What a fun game," Ostertag said afterward. "I'm starting to get back in shape, get in a groove a little bit. Things are starting to come back. Selfishly, I want to be on the court all the time."
The healing hand has made matters even better. Ostertag, who missed a month after fracturing his hand in early October, said it's a non-issue.
Yao still tripped out - It was like a fortnight's worth of nonstop rock concerts, and Yao was the solo act who never left the stage.
Everyone but Yao had a virtual vacation when the Kings and Rockets met for preseason games in Shanghai and Beijing in mid-October. Players from both teams headed for the Great Wall, tested the local cuisine and soaked up the culture.
But Yao, whose presence stirred nothing short of mania among his countrymen, said he has just recently caught his breath.
"I'm still a little bit tired," Yao said. "When I went over there, every second of every day was used. I had (planned) to go to some restaurants, to do some (personal) stuff, and I had to cancel it all. In Shangai, I was much more tired than in Beijing, because the Kings were the home team, and they did a lot of appearances."
The Rockets would get their share later.
As if the China tour wasn't enough, Houston has had fewer days off than any team in the league, having already played 13 games. Yao, who started slow in averaging 9.6 points in his first three games this season, turned in a game-high 29 Tuesday. "We've had a very tough start, four games in five (days to start the season)," Yao said. "We haven't been so bad, but we haven't been great. We need to be great, not good."
Kings notes: McGrady and Christie battle - as friends
By Sam Amick -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Wednesday, November 24, 2004
Doug Christie hadn't done enough to warrant a repossession of the shoes, with Tracy McGrady scoring 25 points during the Kings' 102-96 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
But no matter. The game shoes came Christie's way anyhow, a gift among old friends to Christie's 3-year-old son, Douglas Jr.
"I love (McGrady) to death," Christie said. "He's nice enough to do that for my son."
The former Toronto Raptors teammates went at it Tuesday night, trading blows throughout the Kings' sixth straight victory but never more so than during a key stretch midway through the third quarter.
Christie barreled by McGrady for a layup, reclaiming the lead the Kings had just lost for the first time with five minutes left. McGrady came back with a three-pointer moments later, Christie answering again with a three to pull the Kings within 71-69.
McGrady had a game-high four turnovers (as did Yao Ming), and Christie had 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting and no turnovers.
"When I first saw him on tape, I told (then-Toronto executive) Isiah (Thomas), 'If you don't get that kid, there's something wrong with you," said Christie, who played with McGrady from 1997 to 2000. "I know how good T-Mac is. And (when I guard him), I'm not thinking I'm going to be able to stop him."
A little bit country - The after being so much better than the before, Kings center Greg Ostertag capped his night by singing near his locker.
The song had a line about a "redneck," and the world's tallest country artist (7-foot-2, in case anyone forgot) was happily humming following the Kings' victory.
Prior to the game, when the man who has averaged 20.9 minutes per game during his nine-year NBA career was playing at 7.6 per clip, his cry was different.
"I'm just sitting back waiting for my time," Ostertag said during pre-game. "They just can't find time to get me on the court. It's frustrating sitting back because I'm itching to get in."
His chance came Tuesday, playing a season-high 14 minutes and showing the as-advertised version for the first time this season. Ostertag finished with five points, hitting two layups and going 1 of 2 from the free-throw line. He also had two rebounds and one block, and was effective in disrupting Yao Ming and anyone else who ventured into the paint.
"What a fun game," Ostertag said afterward. "I'm starting to get back in shape, get in a groove a little bit. Things are starting to come back. Selfishly, I want to be on the court all the time."
The healing hand has made matters even better. Ostertag, who missed a month after fracturing his hand in early October, said it's a non-issue.
Yao still tripped out - It was like a fortnight's worth of nonstop rock concerts, and Yao was the solo act who never left the stage.
Everyone but Yao had a virtual vacation when the Kings and Rockets met for preseason games in Shanghai and Beijing in mid-October. Players from both teams headed for the Great Wall, tested the local cuisine and soaked up the culture.
But Yao, whose presence stirred nothing short of mania among his countrymen, said he has just recently caught his breath.
"I'm still a little bit tired," Yao said. "When I went over there, every second of every day was used. I had (planned) to go to some restaurants, to do some (personal) stuff, and I had to cancel it all. In Shangai, I was much more tired than in Beijing, because the Kings were the home team, and they did a lot of appearances."
The Rockets would get their share later.
As if the China tour wasn't enough, Houston has had fewer days off than any team in the league, having already played 13 games. Yao, who started slow in averaging 9.6 points in his first three games this season, turned in a game-high 29 Tuesday. "We've had a very tough start, four games in five (days to start the season)," Yao said. "We haven't been so bad, but we haven't been great. We need to be great, not good."
