Patience

Count this as one of those posts to be cautiously optimistic so be warned. This relates to the McGrady MRI article.

I thought I remembered reading that T-Mac actually has a better history of health than the likes of Kobe over the past few seasons in which he played in more games than Bryant who is so beloved on this site. Admittedly I'd take a Kobe for T-Mac trade in a heartbeat, but as much as he groans about his health, he's played through injuries before, and made sacrifices to keep this team in contention especially when Yao was out for awhile last season. I think people here are getting tired of the same shtick he's had for the past few seasons, but really most of it is just a complacency to go with the fact that he is putting his body out there even when he's not close to 100%. His tone in interviews is negative, and it probably has that effect on the locker room, but he does show up to games more than we give him credit for. Now whether he gives his all every game is a different story.

I've been disappointed with the Adelman hiring, and the Battier for Gay trade a couple of seasons ago which I consider great blunders for the immediate and longterm success of this team, but I think any hasty deals made this season involving McGrady would be the wrong moves to make. The truth is superstars on their respected franchises have a lot of pull in management, even from the likes of supposed classy individuals like Garnett whose owner said he demanded specific players to his liking start over the coach's decision. Trenton Hassell as a starter simply due to Garnett's insistence is one of those occasions. Bryant demanding to be traded, then refuting he doesn't to any more, and having 100% control of who gets dealt and where he wants to go, in comparison makes McGrady's complacency look like a small blip on the radar.

Give patience to the team which is even something I struggle to type is what is needed. Even if the team doesn't advance to the playoffs this season, or hobbles barely in and sees another 1st round exit, management still shouldn't make any major moves involving both Yao and McGrady in the off season in my opinion.

Continually drafting smart young talent to build around this tandem is the way to go instead of trading and signing over the hill players who show flashes of brilliance every few games but for the most part perform poorly out there on the court. It's no coincidence that Brooks and Head are energetic out there and have been performing so well as of late. They're young, smart, and fresher out there over the likes of James, and Francis whose game has deteriorated more than most of us could have imagined. Fortunately acquiring those two players didn't involve trading away more youth like the Battier for Gay trade, but still both players while I think are playing selfless basketball on the court, are a detriment to growth of this team short term and long term as well. Let the young players play that fit into Adelman's system over old has beens, and keep the tandem together without further shake ups.

We really could be a lot worse off, and I think even our success the past few seasons is being taken for granted despite the 1st round exits. I surely don't miss the Francis/Mobley ISO era where we didn't even sniff the playoffs until JVG (or was it Rudy's last season? Either way it was even uglier basketball than under JVG) was hired. And even then it seemed like every win was a struggle. At least last year's team was consistent and had one of the best point differential win margins of all NBA teams. There's absolutely no reason they can't do that again once adjusted, and the roster is filled out appropriately. Patience even well into the next off season seems bleak, but there's still room for optimism.

This tandem still has at least two more years before it should be shaken up, and thats mainly due to the fact that McGrady's contract should be close to expiring by then (is that correct?), and Yao should begin to hit his prime ala Hakeem in his 30s I hope. Keep building around this team with youth, and they'll turn it around. Again maintain cautious optimism and give Adelman at least one year leeway, because he sure as hell didn't assemble this mess, and he's having to deal with the cards he's dealt.