Houston Rockets News: Injuries as of December 11, 2008

The Houston Rockets injury woes continue, but that won’t stop the Houston Rockets from racking up the Ws.

Houston Rockets: Injury Report
Heading into the Houston Rockets’ 2008-09 NBA season, fans with Houston Rockets tickets and sports critics alike knew that health would be the No. 1 concern for the Houston Rockets. In the past year alone, the Houston Rockets have struggled to keep their key players healthy and on the hardwood. In the past few seasons, Tracy McGrady has suffered pain in his back, shoulder, knee, and goodness knows what else. Ron Artest – the physical warrior that he is – is currently nursing a sprained ankle. Brent Barry and Joey Dorsey are among the Houston Rockets’ injured corps.

Much to the delight of fans with Houston Rockets tickets, defensive wiz Shane Battier continues his return to form after missing the first 15 games of the season. From here on out, fans with Houston Rockets tickets will hold their collective breaths anytime a Houston Rockets player hits the floor, tweaks an ankle, or takes a hard foul. If the Houston Rockets roster can get healthy, the Houston Rockets will be one of the favorites to win the West and repeat Houston Rockets history by winning an NBA Championship.

Houston Rockets: Tracy McGrady
After missing three-straight games in late November with nagging soreness in his knee, Tracy McGrady announced on December 3, 2008, that he would need approximately three weeks to rehab his left knee. Tracy McGrady underwent arthroscopic surgery back in May, and it seems that the 6-foot-8 superstar guard returned a bit early. Fans with Houston Rockets tickets will have to wait a few weeks before the Big Three (Yao Ming, Ron Artest, and Tracy McGrady) can start firing at full force but know that McGrady will need to let his injured knee fully heal before he can be 100-percent effective for his team.

Houston Rockets: Ron Artest
On November 17, 2008, during a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Ron Artest sprained his right ankle in the final minute of play after driving to the rack and diving into a sea of camera men on the baseline. Ever since, fans with Houston Rockets tickets have heard news that Ron Artest will be in and out of the lineup throughout the Houston Rockets December schedule of games. Although the Houston Rockets will sorely miss Ron Artest’s defensive tenacity and ability to score, the team would much rather see Ron Artest sit out and avoid aggravating his ankle. Ron Artest is listed as day-to-day.

Houston Rockets: Shane Battier
The team, coaches, and fans with Houston Rockets tickets are especially glad to see Shane Battier out of that infamous Rockets red blazer and back in a Houston Rockets uniform. In late November against the Indiana Pacers, Shane Battier returned to the Houston Rockets line up for the first time since off-season ankle surgery. Fans with Houston Rockets tickets will not see the defensive juggernaut playing extended minutes. Since his return, the Houston Rockets have enjoyed Shane Battier’s outside shooting and blue-collar defense that he is best known for.

Houston Rockets: Brent Barry
Shooting guard Brent Barry has missed a string of games due to various injuries, including a sprained thumb followed by a muscle tear in his right leg. With the sprained thumb obviously bothering him, Brent Barry was in a bit of a funk shootingwise. To kick off the Houston Rockets’ December schedule, it was announced that Brent Barry would miss two more weeks before he could hit the practice courts in order to recover from the small muscle tear.

Houston Rockets: Steve Francis
Much to the delight of fans with Houston Rockets tickets, guard Steve Francis is at least on the active list and not in street clothes for the first time since his season-ending surgery in February 2008. With the injuries to both Tracy McGrady and Brent Barry, Coach Rick Adelman may just call on Steve Francis in an emergency situation. However, with guards like Luther Head and Von Wafer ahead of The Franchise and playing well to boot, Steve Francis will first have to play his way back into shape before he can help the team.

Houston Rockets: Joey Dorsey
Fans with Houston Rockets tickets have seen the Houston Rockets go through a carousel of line ups due to injuries. Fortunately, the Houston Rockets are a deep bunch even with key injuries. However, the seldom-used Joey Dorsey is out with a severe case of plantar fasciitis. Although the rookie center Joey Dorsey has only seen action in a couple of contests this season, he is just the latest Houston Rocket to get bitten by the injury bug.