It's sad a guy can have the nerve to come out and say he did'nt want to play hard. This guy is a fraud. You don't say this on national television. It was better he kept it to himself, nobody in business who worked for a company says "oh, i was giving a half a$$ effort". The guy would'nt be on my company. BUT, this is the NBA...lucky him if he lost his desire to compete once its gonna happen again----if the NETS keep losing ...without any big men they are'nt going anywhere... now knowing his nature i would'nt doubt that he tipped off the Raptors last minute play against the Sonics.......i guess he did'nt like the wheather in Canada nice article here with players bashing him. http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ap-raptors-carter&prov=ap&type=lgns Raptors criticize Carter after he acknowledges he didn't give it his all January 7, 2005 TORONTO (AP) -- Vince Carter's former teammates were dismayed Friday after hearing him admit he didn't always try his hardest when he played for the Toronto Raptors. In an interview broadcast Thursday on TNT, network analyst John Thompson asked Carter if he pushed himself as hard as he should have in Toronto. ``In years past, no,'' said Carter, acquired by the New Jersey Nets on Dec 17. ``I was fortunate to have the talent ... you get spoiled when you're able to do a lot of things. You see that you don't have to work at it. ADVERTISEMENT ``Now, with the all the injuries, I have to work harder. I'm a little hungrier. Getting a fresh start has made me want to attack the basket.'' Many have questioned Carter's dedication, his commitment to offseason conditioning and his desire to improve, but some where were surprised to hear Carter acknowledge it. ``It's a reflection on him and his character,'' Raptors guard Rafer Alston said. ``Is he a guy that you can go to war with night in and night out? That's what a lot of people are going to be questioning.'' Alston also suggested that Carter cost the Raptors games with his lack of effort. ``It hurts,'' Alston said. ``I don't know if a player who is considered an All-Star and has so many fan votes going into All-Star week wants to have that on his rap sheet.'' Carter has played well since being traded for Alonzo Mourning, Aaron Williams, Eric Williams and two first-round draft picks. He is averaging 22.5 points in 40.3 minutes with New Jersey, compared to 15.9 points in 30.4 minutes with the Raptors. Toronto guard Morris Peterson was shocked when he watched the interview on television. ``It caught me off guard, being a professional player that's something I always pride myself on,'' Peterson said. ``I can sleep better at night knowing I give it everything I can.'' ``You could tell he wasn't playing his best,'' Peterson said. Toronto coach Sam Mitchell didn't want to talk about Carter. ``That's between Vince and his conscience,'' Mitchell said.
good article...vince carter sucks and shouldn't be an all-star. i honestly don't know where all the votes come from (most in canada hate him, at least here on the west coast).
In this case, the question is framed in such a way that Carter would look bad. I don't like it. He's talking about a fresh start. He's not really reflecting on what he's already done or his work habits. He's trying to tell people in NJ he's going to work harder. and who doesn't ever say that. You have to. Your new employer wants to hear it. and as a person, you should work harder every year as you grow up. Now if he had said he dogged the 4th quarter that would be different. But he's not saying that. He's simply looking to the future.
Vince is fool. its a risk for NJ since history tends to repeat itself. and the guy is eventually gonna give up. just wait till another injury crops up. then he'll be back to vince carter of old. he talks a lot and never seems to back it up. PhiSlammaJamma. all his old teamates have bashed the guy.its not for no reason.there has to be some truth to it all if nearlly every player that leaves T.O ends up bashing Vince.examples CURRY & DAVIS .both respected NBA personalities. and why would seattle players make false stories of Vince giving a last minute play away. the guy has probably wanted to be traded for some time and has been dogging it for a while. ``You could tell he wasn't playing his best,'' Peterson said. that statement says it all.
In Toronto this year, Vince avegared 15.9 pts in 30 minutes. In New Jersey, he is averaging 22.5 points in 40 minutes. 15.9 x 1.3333 = 21.2 So for all the extra effort he is supposedly putting in, it has resulted in a whopping 1.3 point increase in offensive production. Rebounds and assists follow the same pattern. Besides, most players of any significance have a honeymoon period where they seem to be more productive. I would wait until atleast the end of the season before passing any judgements on his increased effort or productivity- not to mention health.
TMac drives in no matter what. Vince stops going in once they rough him up a bit. Vince Carter is trash. He tried to be Jordan when he should have tried to be Wilkins. Dunking was what made him exciting. Shooting was what made him a good player. Now he's doing neither as well as he should. What a waste of talent.
Anyone who pretty much singlehandedly overcomes a double digit deficit in the final minute against one of the best teams of the last 5 years can not be defined as a quitter.
From his interview it sounded like he was saying his game just came naturally to him in earlier years. He didnt have to try hard because it just happened. Though he has to try harder now that his natural abilities have diminished somewhat from injuries. It not that big of a deal.
Ummm....one game a player does not make. I'm not saying T-Mac has to beat a team in that fashion every game, but I would like to see him play with more effort consistently. Imho, I thought he quit on the Magic last year and quite a few people thought so too. He's gonna have to work really hard to shake off that stigma.
TMac may have to be answering the same questions as his cousin: http://www.floridatoday.com/!NEWSROOM/sportstoryS0108MAGICNOTES.htm Jan 7, 10:54 PM Former Magic star admits he 'slacked off' BY JOHN DENTON FLORIDA TODAY ORLANDO -- This might not come as a newsflash to Magic fans who endured last year's dreadful 21-61 season, but former Orlando guard Tracy McGrady is admitting now that he didn't always play hard. In a feature story in this week's Sports Illustrated, McGrady admitted that he was so defeated mentally by the losing that "some nights I did slack off" and also "I'm not going to sit here and say I played my hardest every night." McGrady said he did not trust his teammates on last season's team and that part of his motivation in leading the NBA in scoring was to protect his image as one of the league's elite players. "Some nights I did slack off -- and I knew that was a terrible thing to do -- and I still was slacking off," McGrady told SI. "That feels so bad. And I'm the leader, these guys are following my lead, so the whole team suffers even worse. That was wrong. Now, I would do it differently. I learned. I have to bust my butt no matter what. Last year was the worst experience of my life. And I learned. And believe me, I'm grateful for this opportunity here." By here, McGrady is referring to Houston, where he was traded to the Rockets along with Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines on June 29. The Magic acquired Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato in the deal. The Magic started last season 1-19 and never recovered. McGrady still managed to lead the NBA in scoring a second consecutive season, averaging 28 points a game with a 62-point effort against Washington. He demanded a trade in the offseason, and was ultimately shipped to Houston. "It's all about how you handle the situation," McGrady said. "Last year I lead the league in scoring. If I had been on a bad team and had a bad year statistically, then you would have seen my image collapse. I had to lead the league (in scoring)."
