Jason Friedman of Rockets.com sat down with Dikembe Mutombo today. Friedman and Mutombo discussed the “importance of leadership and the current state of the team.”
Here is a snippet from Rockets.com:
JCF: Do you find it kind of interesting that a team would look to you to help bring that spirit back? Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t that often have to come from the guys who are the superstars?
DM: No, no, no. I don’t agree with that. It has to come from someone who has accomplished a lot. And if you look at our team, the guy who has accomplished the most – it’s me. I’ve been in the Finals, I’ve won so many playoff games, I’ve won so many defensive awards – you name it. So I think that’s what places me in this leadership role. Young men can sit down and say, ‘What has Deke ever accomplished in this league for him to have the guts to talk to me like that?’ Well, all they have to do is just look at my resume. And I think that’s why you see guys saying, ‘Deke, we’ve been waiting for you. You’re the only one who can speak.’ So when you hear that from guys in the league, it’s such a sign of respect – that means a lot. They know who you are.
JCF: What about Tracy McGrady? Obviously, he’s going through a difficult stretch right now and I know how frustrated he is. Have you had a chance to really sit down and talk to him yet?
DM: I haven’t had a good chance to talk to him yet. I talked to Artest, trying to get him to find a way to let us know when and how he’s going to be playing with all of this pain he has, because we need him out there.
I haven’t had a chance to talk to Tracy yet because my wife and kids live here, so I’ve been spending more time at home with my kids. But I’m going to get a chance to talk to him and try to find out what is going in. I know it’s very hard for him right now with his injury and surgery. But I’m not rushing to make judgments on anyone. It’s going to take me maybe a week or two to get more familiar with what is happening here. I need to be around these guys some more. But I liked what I saw today at practice. Guys were playing very, very hard.
Friedman’s interview with Mutombo provides good insight into Houston’s psyche. The interview is even more impressive when one considers the amount of time required to transcribe a Q&A session with Mount Mutombo.
Last week, Fran Blinebury of the Houston Chronicle questioned whether Mutombo was capable of leading from the bench.
Mutombo is as classy a person and as fierce a competitor as you’ll ever want to meet. His off-the-court work in the name of charity is selfless and genuine. His on-the-court work is often inspiring. But Mutombo is 42 years old and over the past two seasons has played less than 17 minutes a game. That includes increased playing time over the final 26 games of last season when Yao was out with a broken bone in his foot. To say that what has been lacking is the part-time contribution of a 17-year NBA veteran who pretty much plays at just one end of the court, is simply missing the forest for the trees. It is McGrady and Yao, Yao and McGrady, anyway you want to stack them, around whom this team has been built. In any league, on any planet, they are played and paid to be the team leaders.
Deke can attempt to sugarcoat his return all he’d like, but it’s all about Tracy McGrady’s injury. T-Mac’s injury has frustrated front office officials and teammates alike. The Dream Shake has created a poll asking readers what the Rockets should do with McGrady. I think McGrady’s problems are mental. I don’t pretend to know how McGrady is feeling, but I do know that there is nothing structurally wrong with his knee.
McGrady sought multiple opinions on his knee after being diagnosed with “general soreness” by team doctor Tom Clanton, and each one of the physicians he visited confirmed Clanton’s initial diagnosis. McGrady underwent arthroscopic surgery on May 6th and was given a 6-8 month timetable for recovery. McGrady returned at the 6 month mark. So what’s causing the soreness? From what I’ve read, McGrady knee isn’t as strong as it once was. I’m not an orthopedist, but I’m going to assume that the only way to strengthen one’s knee is to continue one’s rehabilitation. Doctors have assured McGrady that he can’t make the knee worse by playing.
Maybe McGrady has a low pain tolerance. Maybe he’s having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that he can’t jump as high or cut as quick as he used to. Whatever the case, he needs to decide whether he’s going to play through the soreness. His decision to skip games as he sees fit puts his teammates at a physical and mental disadvantage. Blinebury is right. It’s difficult to lead from the bench, but if Mutombo can help put an end to McGrady’s injury situation, he will earn every penny of his $800,000 salary this season.
