--G Tracy McGrady has not played any games this season and doesn't know when he will play. Voters, however, have a suggestion. In the first balloting for the NBA All-Star team, McGrady is on pace to start for the Western Conference, despite not playing a game since last February. McGrady was also on pace to start last season, despite struggling through just 35 games, until the last ballot results were released. "I was humbled to know that after what I've been through the last year, I still have that many supporters. The fans out there -- it's just gratifying and humbling to know you have all these great guards in the West, and I haven't played a game. I'm speechless, really. "It was a great feeling. People make it such a big deal. It's not the first time it happened. It happened with me before and it happened with one of my teammates in Orlando, Grant Hill."
--While Allen Iverson works his way back to form, his influence was obvious on Friday. He needs only to look at Rockets G Aaron Brooks and Kyle Lowry, who combined for 30 points and had pointed to inspiration they took from watching Iverson over the years.
"Growing up, watching a guy like that, being from Philly and watching what he did for the city, you idolize him," Lowry said. "I have an appreciation for what he has done for the city. He brought a different liveliness for the city, a different love of basketball to the city, a different passion for the game, a different culture and attitude towards the NBA.
"For a small guy like me and Aaron, you have to say 'thanks.' Smaller guards weren't really high-profile like that. For him to go as the No. 1 pick was pretty impressive. For a guy that is 6-feet, barely, to be the No. 1 pick, and is going to be a Hall of Famer, gives hope to all the smaller guards in the NBA."
--The win was Kyle Lowry's first in his hometown. Brooks also had never won in Philadelphia, but also watched Iverson's success and thought he might make it at the NBA, despite falling short of his listed 6-0, too.
"He was about my height," said Brooks, who is also listed at 6-0 but is several inches shorter. "He showed that little guys can play in this league, again.
"I guess A.I. brought the small guard back."
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We talked to the starters. They have to get off their butts and play. It was so bad in the first quarter. They got to come out and set the tone for us. We were just a different team. In the first half, we were sleep-walking." -- Rick Adelman.
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