Utah Jazz: Houston wants out of 0-2 hole
McGrady, after all, has led teams to 2-0 advantages twice in the past three years and lost both times, including last year against the Utah Jazz. Back in 2005, McGrady's Rockets upset the higher-seeded Dallas Mavericks on the road in the first two games only to become just the third team in NBA history to return home with a 2-0 lead and then go on to lose the series.
Tonight McGrady's Rockets will try to climb back into the series with a victory over the Jazz at EnergySolutions Arena. He knows it won't be easy, however.
"It's a must-win," said McGrady of Game 3 during his post-game press conference on Monday night. "It's even tougher because they are such a great home team. It's so tough to win up there in Salt Lake City. It's going to show what type of team we are."
McGrady, now in his seventh playoffs with his third different team, is constantly reminded by fans and the media that he has never advanced to the second round of the postseason. He said after Monday's game that he doesn't care about the criticism he receives for his teams' playoff failures.
"It's my fault," McGrady told the Chronicle. "It's my fault we missed free throws. It's my fault we lost both games. Blame me. It's my fault we fouled to tie the game up. That's my fault. It's my fault they get easy layups. It's my fault we're not executing well on the offensive end. It's my fault a couple people in the stands ordered Heinekens and they got Budweiser. It's my fault. I'm sorry."
While there was obviously some sarcasm in McGrady's words, the Chronicle reported that he said it with a straight face.
"I am serious," McGrady continued. "It's my fault. Everything is my fault. It's my fault. It's T-Mac's fault. Everybody's blaming me. The Suns. I mean, everybody. That's what it seems like. It's my fault. I'm out there by myself."
McGrady even went on to say that the injuries to starting point guard Rafer Alston and All-Star center Yao Ming were somehow his fault.
Meanwhile, first-year Rockets coach Rick Adelman has been through enough playoff battles with Portland and Sacramento to know that the Rockets are in a difficult situation right now. Teams that lose the first two games are just 13-191 in best-of-7 series (6.4 percent) in league history.
Still, Adelman is looking at the bright side.
"There is no reason we can't win (in Utah)," Adelman told the Chronicle. "I think it's important our guys realize that. If you go in with a little doubt in your mind or you're thinking, 'Geez, we put ourselves in a hole here,' then you're in trouble."
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