What an awesome player the guy is. If he had Grant Hill, Orl would probably have a better record than NJ, and T-Mac would be one of the MVP front-runners. Tonight against the Rockets, he's displayed a killer instinct when he singlehandedly shut the door on the Rockets down the stretch. Without a doubt, he's a top 3 player in my book with the likes of Kobe and Shaq.
T-Mac is the MVP this year in my opinion. I mean, what cant he do? He IS the orlando magic. The only person he might not be better than is shaq, and thats only because shaq is six inches taller.
I'm putting in a vote for Paul Pierce. The Celtics had a bigger turnaround than the Magic this season and they've quite simply been a better team all season long. Sure, he has Antoine, but I don't think the Celts have as good of an all-around supporting cast as the Magic do. I put Pierce's name right next to McGrady's and Bryant's.
The Celtics are built exactly like the Magic - around swingmen - except that they have their two superstars healthy. Pierce is a great player and probably the best true SG in the league - but I don't think he's quite there with the SG/SFs of Kobe and TMac. When he improves his defense a bit, though, he'll be there, no doubt.
Antoine is over rated there is no reason on earth for him to shoot at such a dismal % from the PF Boston needs serious help rebounding the ball.... where is he?? I think Boston has had success this year, in spite of Walker, not b/c of him
I really don't know what people are talking about, when they say Pierce needs to improve his defense. He's a GREAT defender. He pressures the ball very well and challenges shots almost every time. Hell, he's a couple inches shorter than McGrady and he still manages to get more blocks. I don't think anybody gave MJ more fits this season on the defensive or offensive end than Pierce did. Maybe he's not quite as good of a defender as Bryant or McGrady, but he's defintely a tough defender. Besides that, I think Pierce is a more versatile offensive player. He can fill it up from the 3-point line better than either of those players.
If the game is on the line, I'd rather have Kobe or T-Mac with the ball than Pierce, who is pretty clutch in his own right. Pierce is a very good player, in the Ray Allen mold, but T-Mac and Kobe are on another level. FWIW, I'd take Pierce over Carter in a heartbeat.
If TMac wouldn't coast during games, I wouldn't even put Kobe on the same level as TMac. Think about it, anytime TMac struggles a bit, he just goes into the post and starts dominating. Regardless of position, he has to be a Top 5 low post player, and has to be one of the best, if not the best, post up G in NBA history (sorry, MJ, but TMac has a full arsenal of low post moves, not just a fall-away J). And of course, once he gets his rhythm in the post, he starts hitting Js and driving. I've watched this routine several times, everyone knows what he's going to do, and yet no one can really stop him. He boards, defends, blocks shots, creates for others, anything he wants at anytime. Just awesome!
