Just want to get some thoughts...How does Orlando T-Mac stack up to today's Lebron, Wade and prime Kobe... Man, I remember this guy was a beast in Orlando...Too bad he turned into a joke since, though he was still pretty good early with the Rockets.. "If" T-Mac had heart and fire and no injuries = Top 5 player of all time..?
He was great. People forget that it was a legit debate as to whom was the best sg in the NBA between Kobe and TMac
tmac was a top 5 player until 05-06 season when injuries derailed him. it was unfortunate. barring injuries, his career would have been very bright.
In a playoff series against the Bucks, Tmac made plays where I literally was either gaping at the TV or saying "holy ****". Unfortunately, injuries and a lack of an Alpha dog mentality have cost him greatness. He always did just enough and then coasted. Played his butt off for the better part of a quarter, then slacked off to allow the other team to come back, with his teammates taking his lead. Got 30 points and figured, hey, I did MY part. But he had stunning talent, he was something else in his prime.
He was a top fantasy basketball player, I'll give him that. Of all time what? He's not even close to the best player Orlando ever had <object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9_zXjuebDXo&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9_zXjuebDXo&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>
Haha..yeah, I remember this when he was in Orlando...Message boards were loaded with Kobe vs T-mac threads..I always argued for T-mac back then...
I was just saying "if" the guy any heart, fire and work ethic and was never injured he could have cracked the top 5 of all time in my opinion..Obviously, he never had any of that, too bad!
Clyde Drexler told me that you don't judge a player by a few good years, you judge him by his body of work. http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=160568
Talent-wise, McGrady was one of the top 5 players in NBA history. Problem was, his heart didn't measure up to that talent. Even in Orlando, he took too many jumpshots and bailed out defenders unnecessarily. When injuries became an issue, his lack of heart became obvious to everyone. He also wasn't a leader in any way, shape or form other than being the best player on his team. His moodiness and his lack of intensity on defense negatively affected teammates. If McGrady have played with a tough-nosed PG who would have kicked him in the rump and kept him in line, the sky would have been the limit. But as it was, he couldn't tolerate constructive criticism and was enabled by every coach he played for. Good career, lots of money and pizazz and zero success in the playoffs.