COAST TO COAST

The question in Houston is whether Tracy McGrady’s injuries bother him more than they bother teammates, who bristle at his effort level.

Coach Rick Adelman pulled him aside, explaining to the media, “I told him today, ‘There’s going to be times you’re going to succeed and times you’re going to fail, but that shouldn’t have an effect on how hard you play.’ ”

McGrady vowed to bounce back (“Kick me when I’m down, because I swear to you, I’ll be back up”).

His fire now fully fueled

McGrady says friends keep him up on the criticism leveled at him.

“They know how I eat that up,” he said. “They know how I take that all in and use it as motivation.”

Why is fan voting so good again?

Some low points from the All-Star balloting:

East guards: Allen Iverson is No. 2, ahead of Devin Harris (5).

Also, Gilbert Arenas (6) and Luke Ridnour (7) are ahead of Derrick Rose (8) and Joe Johnson (10).

West centers: Shaquille O’Neal (2) and Greg Oden (5) are ahead of Andris Biedrins (6), Al Jefferson (8) and Marcus Camby (10).

West guards: McGrady (2) leads Chris Paul (3), Tony Parker (5), Steve Nash (7) and Brandon Roy (11).

Time flies, thankfully

For anyone who thinks the Lakers have problems, let’s check in with Smush Parker, their starting point guard as recently as the spring of 2007.

Now with the Rio Grande Valley in the Development League, Parker was asked by HoopsTV about his newest tattoos, a naked woman on the inside of each forearm.

“I just love women,” he said. “It’s self explanatory.”

Who’s that next to David Stern?

Commemorating last week’s 30th anniversary of the United States’ recognition of China, two international statesmen rang the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger . . . and NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Kissinger’s dramatic secret visit in 1971 led to the normalization of relations with what was then called Red China.

Stern brought the Chinese . . . basketball on TV.

Impressed nonetheless, ESPN’s Jeremy Schaap wrote that Stern should be named to fill New York’s vacant Senate seat, saying front-runner Caroline Kennedy “is demonstrably less proven.”

No one can say Stern doesn’t have experience. After running the NBA, the Senate would be a snap.

Trial Blazermania

Locking up both the chutzpah- and pratfall-of-the-year awards, the Portland Trail Blazers threatened to sue any NBA team that signed free agent Darius Miles “for the purpose of adversely impacting” their salary cap.

Having taken Miles’ salary off their cap after he missed two seasons, the Trail Blazers must put it back on if he plays two more games, triggering $18 million in luxury tax.

It would also halve the maximum slot they were saving, eyeing veteran point guards Jason Kidd and Andre Miller.

There was one problem with their high-powered legal strategy: It was patently illegal to interfere with Miles’ ability to make a living.

Yahoo’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the league told its teams that if any of them signed Miles the contract would be approved.

Memphis then signed Miles, who now doesn’t have to sue the Trail Blazers, so this might cost them only $18 million and a point guard, but no punitive damages.

-- Mark Heisler