Sports Medicine Master System-Chapter 148 - 101: You Don’t Want to Ruin Him, Do You?
"Aren’t you going to invite me in?" Chen Yu said with a smile.
Tracy McGrady snapped back to reality and quickly stepped aside, inviting Chen Yu inside.
Bag on his back, Chen Yu entered and glanced around the spacious but messy living room.
Chen Yu also noticed the PS2 in front of the TV was covered in dust. ’This guy must be so busy with training he doesn’t even have time for video games.’
Facing Chen Yu, Tracy McGrady seemed a bit reserved.
He wasn’t very talkative, but he wasn’t dumb. On the contrary, he was quite smart and had clearly guessed why Chen Yu had shown up at his door.
"How’s Grant doing?" Tracy McGrady asked, bringing over some juice and sitting down.
"He’s doing great."
Chen Yu stroked the leather sofa. ’Not bad. I wonder where he bought it. Lexi’s been complaining that the color of the sofa in our house is too old-fashioned and wants to replace it.’
When Chen Yu didn’t ask, Tracy McGrady grew even more anxious and tentatively asked, "Did Penny tell you? I’m actually fine, really."
"Fine?"
Chen Yu stood up and motioned for Tracy McGrady to lie down.
A moderate latissimus dorsi strain with partial muscle fiber tearing. ’The injury probably wasn’t this bad at first. It likely started as a mild strain, but he forced himself to play through it, turning it into a moderate one.’
"You’re pretty ruthless with yourself," Chen Yu commented dryly.
With a strain of this severity, not to mention the sharp, stabbing pain in his back, even raising his arms would be restricted. Yet this guy was still averaging 40 minutes and over 30 points a game. He was nothing short of a beast.
Tracy McGrady gave a dry laugh. The moment Chen Yu’s hand landed on his back, he let out a sharp, low gasp.
’So now you feel the pain?’
Chen Yu shook his head slightly and began the massage using a Silver Level therapeutic effect.
’Later, I’ll add a Bronze Level medicinal effect.’
’In comparison, it’s easiest to grind for medical experience. It’s a slow and steady stream, but it always yields a healing effect.’
’I purposely saved one, otherwise I would have used it on Ronaldo and Redondo.’
’Those two both have patellar tendinitis and require constant medicinal treatment.’
’But a massage alone isn’t enough. I still need to apply a therapeutic effect.’
’Coming to Orlando makes grinding for experience a hassle. I can’t just run back and forth; it’s over a thousand kilometers.’
’Making Tracy McGrady go to Phoenix is even more unrealistic.’
"By the way, how many games do you have left, and how many wins do you need for the playoffs?" Chen Yu asked.
’If the schedule isn’t too packed, it’d be best for him to sit out a game and rest for a few days.’
Lying on the sofa, Tracy McGrady was so comfortable he almost cried out. "Six games left. We’re at 36 wins right now."
He began to explain their current standing in the rankings.
"Our main competitors are the Pacer and the Celtics. The coaches think we need at least 40 wins to have a shot at the playoffs. The problem is, out of the next six games, besides the Wizards and the Knight, the rest are all against the top three teams in the East."
"One game against the Digital People, one against the Bucks, and two against the Heat."
The Magic’s final stretch in April could only be described as a hellish schedule.
Chen Yu understood. "So, in other words, if you win both games against the Knight and the Wizards, you still need to win at least two more."
If Hill were playing, they’d still have a chance against the Heat and the Bucks.
Now, all they had was Tracy McGrady—an injured Tracy McGrady. The odds of winning were really not high.
The Nicks were chasing them so fiercely; there was no way other teams would go easy on them.
"The away game against the Knight the day after tomorrow—don’t go to Cleveland. Just stay in Orlando. That way, you’ll have three full days of rest before the game against the Digital People on the 12th," Chen Yu analyzed.
"Alternatively, you could also sit out the game against the Digital People. Then don’t play the back-to-back away game against the Wizards either. Rest all the way until the game against Miami on the 15th. That would give you exactly one week, and your back injury should have time to heal."
’They should give up on the Digital People game since they probably can’t win it anyway. Better to get more rest and go all-out in the last three games.’
’As for the Knight and Wizards games, it all depends on how his teammates perform. If they can win both, then they’ll only need to fight for two wins in the last three games, and their playoff chances would be much higher.’
Tracy McGrady quickly rolled over. "No way, I can’t rest for that long."
That would be equivalent to giving up on three games. What if the team lost them all? Then the Magic could completely forget about the playoffs.
"Whether it’s ’a way’ or not isn’t up to you," Chen Yu snorted.
’Given his condition, he should be glad I’m not declaring him out for the season.’
Tracy McGrady was about to argue, but Chen Yu cut him off. "When I was on my way here, Anfernee specifically asked me to tell you that winning is a team effort, not just your responsibility. You have to trust your teammates."
Hardaway hadn’t said that to him directly, but Chen Yu was sure he’d said it.
"Trust my teammates?" Tracy McGrady stared blankly at Chen Yu, then lowered his head and fell silent.
After finishing the massage and Acupuncture, and telling Tracy McGrady to lie down and rest, Chen Yu borrowed a car from him and drove toward the city center.
He had brought the plaster for promoting blood circulation and removing stasis, but he couldn’t bring the medicinal liquor on the plane. He’d have to buy it in Orlando.
For this kind of muscle strain, a fire treatment using alcohol is a very effective method.
Moreover, Chen Yu needed to talk to Weisbrod and Pleasance. If Tracy McGrady kept playing like this, his career could be ruined.
As he neared the Waterhouse Center, a thought struck Chen Yu. ’Wait, I think I still have a clinic in Orlando.’
’I paid half a year’s rent back then, so there’s still a month left before it expires.’
When he left Orlando, Chen Yu had intended to deal with the clinic, but he got too busy and forgot about it. It hadn’t cost much anyway, so he just let it be.
After a moment of thought, Chen Yu turned the car and headed toward the clinic.
’If I’m going to have Tracy McGrady rest for a few days, the treatment effects have to keep up.’
’Since I can’t go back to Phoenix to grind, I might as well grind here in Orlando.’
’I can just hold another free clinic. Besides, having Hardaway work the front desk to grind for experience in Orlando worked out pretty well before.’
Before long, Chen Yu arrived at the clinic.
He pulled the car over and was surprised to see a bench placed right outside his clinic’s front door, where two old men were chatting.
One of them was none other than Quinn, leaning on his cane.
Chen Yu had a very strong impression of this old man.
He opened the door and got out. Before he could even turn around, he heard Quinn’s shout from behind him. "Kid! It’s you! Fack, you’re actually back!"
He pointed his cane at Chen Yu, a look of shock on his face.
Chen Yu walked over, greeted Quinn, and then asked him what he was doing here, sitting outside his clinic.
"Waiting for you," Quinn huffed, a hint of resentment in his voice. "After you did Sidney’s surgery, I thought you’d come back to Orlando. I didn’t expect you to just leave and go to Phoenix."
With his aching legs and back, he couldn’t do without Chen Yu. Knowing Chen Yu didn’t come to the clinic often, he had even moved a bench over, preparing to sit and wait.
Who knew that his wait would last for what felt like an eternity.
"Sorry, I found a new job in Phoenix." Chen Yu’s gaze fell on the clinic door.
Amazingly, after several months away, the lock on the door was still intact.
Normally, it would have been smashed long ago.
But on second thought, it made sense. Quinn was a big shot in the Old Mo community. With him personally watching the door for Chen Yu, what troublemaker would dare to cause problems?
Not having the key, Chen Yu simply went up and kicked the dilapidated door open.
Quinn said something to his old buddy beside him and followed Chen Yu into the clinic.
Dust was everywhere.
"What, couldn’t make it in Phoenix? Ready to come back to Orlando and reopen for business?" Quinn asked, looking at Chen Yu with anticipation.
Chen Yu shook his head. ’I’m just using it for a few days.’
His gaze shifted to Quinn. There were many from the Old Mo community in Orlando, and Quinn clearly had a high reputation among them. If he wanted to find a large number of patients to grind for therapeutic effects, he could definitely ask for his help.
"A free clinic?"
Lying on the bed while Chen Yu worked on his lumbar spine, Quinn looked puzzled upon hearing the proposal. "An elite doctor like you with a handsome income, why would you suddenly be so kind as to hold a free clinic for us? What are you really after?"
There was even a hint of vigilance in his eyes.
Chen Yu looked at him speechlessly. ’What does he mean, "an elite doctor with a handsome income"? I’m broke, okay? I just paid off my student loans, and now I’m saddled with a multi-million US dollar mortgage.’
"It’s just a free clinic. Consider it my way of thanking you for watching the door for me all this time. What, are you afraid I’m going to do something to you all?" Chen Yu retorted.
’Dealing with this group, I’m the one who should be worried they’ll do something to me.’
Quinn snorted. ’Watching the door? Doesn’t that make me a watchdog?’
"Fine, I’ll let them know." Quinn didn’t specify how he’d notify them. He just turned, lay back down, and urged Chen Yu to get on with it.
His back hurt so much he couldn’t even enjoy life anymore.
After treating his spine, Chen Yu offered a kind reminder, "Anthony, women are great, but at your age, you should take it easy. You don’t want to spend the last few years of your life bedridden, unable to move, do you?"
’His back is already in this state, and he’s still thinking about "exercise." Doesn’t he know that kind of activity is hard on the back?’
Quinn moved his body. It was incredible; he felt completely rejuvenated.
"You’re still young, you don’t get it," Quinn grunted. Then he added, "By the way, what’s the weather like in Phoenix? Are there a lot of girls?"
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. ’Don’t tell me this old man is thinking of retiring in Phoenix.’
"Tons. From young to old, as many as you could want." Chen Yu wasn’t lying to Quinn.
Phoenix has clear weather, and summer is full of girls with long legs.
It’s also full of nursing homes, so who knows how many old ladies there are.
"I’m off." Quinn waved a hand and left, leaning on his cane. As he reached the door, he added, "Oh, right. I’ll have someone come over later to help you clean up. This dust is killing me."
Since he said that, Chen Yu didn’t bother staying to clean up either. He went out to Chinatown to buy the items he needed.
After finishing his shopping, he headed back to the Waterhouse Center.
"John, what’s with that look? I get the feeling you’re not very happy to see me," Chen Yu said when he saw Weisbrod.
Weisbrod shook his head, a pained expression on his face. "No, I’ve missed you dearly."
With that, he even stood up and gave Chen Yu a hug before sitting back down and asking the purpose of his visit.
"A strained back muscle?"
After hearing Chen Yu’s reason for being there, Weisbrod silently looked up at the ceiling. He just knew it wouldn’t be good news.
Chen Yu explained the cause and effect, as well as his recommendations, and concluded, "John, if I were you, I’d give up on this season. But I know that’s impossible."
Chen Yu’s words made Weisbrod’s face turn a few shades paler.
This was no joke. If Chen Yu said Tracy McGrady couldn’t play, then he couldn’t play, and the Magic could forget about making the playoffs.
A small-market team like the Magic, willing to spend so much money to sign star players, definitely needed results.
Making the playoffs, even if it was a first-round exit, would bring in a lot more revenue for the team. Small-market teams relied on that income to survive.
This was also the reason for the Magic’s frequent questionable moves.
Chen Yu continued, "But I really do recommend letting Tracy McGrady rest until the 15th. His condition is not optimistic. If we don’t address it now, given his current playing time, it could lead to a major problem."
Forty-plus minutes a game, as the team’s main offensive weapon, and playing through an injury—even a man of iron couldn’t take that.
Weisbrod silently weighed the pros and cons. After a long moment, he said, "Chen, let me discuss this with Paul."
Chen Yu nodded, knowing this was not a small decision.
However, Chen Yu felt that Weisbrod would probably make the right choice.
After all, if they really let Tracy McGrady suffer a major injury, they couldn’t afford that loss. Given his current performance, there was no doubt he would become a top-tier superstar in the future.
