T-Mac knows pressure's on him to boost Rockets

HOUSTON — Tracy McGrady knows he's never had a better chance to win a postseason series.

The seven-time All-Star enters his sixth postseason on Saturday when the Houston Rockets open their series with Utah. The Rockets have the best record (52-30) of any team McGrady has played for in 10 seasons and, for the first time in his career, McGrady's team has the home-court advantage.

"This is my first year in the playoffs that I feel like something good is going to really come out of it," he said. "All the other years, I was just happy to get there. I'm expecting more this year."

Houston watchers are expecting more from McGrady and the team.

"There is more pressure on Tracy McGrady than any other player in the playoffs," said former Rocket and TNT analyst Charles Barkley. "If they (the Rockets) don't get past the first round, there's not going to be a gorilla on his back, there is going to be a whole zoo."

McGrady has missed more than 40 games in the past two years with back spasms. Even though he found a specialist in December who helped him, he's played the last few weeks like his career was about to end.

He averaged 33 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in the five straight victories leading up to Wednesday's season-ending 101-91 loss to Utah, which he sat out.

On Monday, McGrady had 39 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists in Houston's 120-117 win over Phoenix, a game the Rockets needed to clinch home-court advantage against the Jazz. It was the Rockets' 15th win in their last 20 games.

"I know how important it is for a team to be playing extremely well going into the playoffs," McGrady said. "That's why I wanted to take my game to another level, let these guys know that what you've seen for the previous 70-whatever games, it's not going to be like that no more. It's going to be all-out, whatever it takes to win ballgames."

Teammates have noticed a sense of urgency from McGrady off the floor, too.

Point guard Rafer Alston said McGrady delivered an out-of-character pep talk on the bus ride to the airport on April 7, before Houston started a pivotal three-game road trip.

"He said, 'We need to win this road trip,"' Alston said. "He didn't want us to rely on the Jazz losing, that we needed to take care of it. It was a little shocking, but it was like, hey, he really understands what's needed and what we need to do."