The Mavs cannot stop Tmac when he drives. When he gets tired he settles for jumpers, which he still makes a decent % on but still gets the Mavs off the hook in terms of pressuring the defense. JVG has got to get Tmac more rest. I think what he should do is rest Yao like midway through the 3rd (have Deke in there) than bring him back with 2-3 minutes left and rest Tmac untill a couple of minutes into the 4th. He has to get more creative with the subs. Rest Tmac when Yao is fresh and run the offense through Yao for a few minutes during that time.
These are McGrady's numbers in the 4th Quarter the last two games. We can talk about role players making shots, and I totally agree with that. But at the same token, as brilliant as McGrady is playing, someway if he wants to take it to the next level he is going to have to PRODUCE in the 4th quarter. Game 3: (4th Quarter 1-5 FG, 5 pts) (Overall 10-23 FG 28 pts) Game 4: (4th Quarter 1-5 FG, 2 pts) (Overall 13-26 FG 36 pts)
Produce MORE? How much do you expect of him? Damn, everyone on this board thinks McGrady is just some super freak that can do anything and everything we ask of him? He handles the ball most of the time he's in the game. He has defenders draped around him all the time with his progress being impeded every time hes dribbling around the perimeter. He has to spend so much effort creating plays for himself and the team the entire game. Oh yea, forgot about the defense. He has to basically spend even more energy running around and keeping up with Dirk and pestering him also. He does this willingly and never complains, but damn even the best athletes would get exhausted if they were asked do all that. Our offense is nothing like it was when we were on those huge win streaks in the 2nd half of the season. The ball moved around so much better and we didn't even rely on Tracy to create so much offense. He used to come off screens and curls without the ball and just shoot over his defender. Our role players arent passing the ball right and they arent making their shots. Theyre trying too much to force the issue by going one on one or dribbling out of control and missing/attempting crazy layups and shots they know they shouldn't be attempting. It's ridiculous how much people on this board expect T-Mac to do. b**** at the role players because they sure as hell aren't getting it done.
I think this is the bigger issue than to say T-mac was tired at the end of game 4. If fatigue was a factor then we should have lost games 1 & 2. In both games (1 & 2) T-mac played 47 min each contest. In games 3 & 4 T-mac played, 42 min (game 3) and 45 min (game 4) Is T-mac doing all that he can? Yes. Is T-mac tired? I'll bet he was just as tired at the end of Game 4 as he was in game 1 or 2. But to me it all comes back to your comment about our role players. They need to step up for us to win. Hopefully they can fill the void they've created and step up so that we can win this series.
Save the best (TMac's energy) for the last TMac needs more earlier rest and less assignment in the defensive end so he can be more explosive and focus in the 4th Q. The way refs are calling the game, the only thing you would hope for is they are trying to create close games, not just to simply eliminate Rockets, and since Rockets are better (Yes, we are because of Yao and TMac), calls went against rockets and the most effective way for the refs to keep the game close is to limit Yao's playing time by giving him quick fouls. With that said, you know neither team will get a more than 15 point lead into the 4th quarter, why not save TMAC and YAO's enery for the last. Refs are not allowing Rockets (and hopefully the Mavs as well) take a huge lead earlier anyway. PS, all these talks about Yao's not being aggressive is just absurd. If 20 points, 5 blocks are not agreesive I don't know what is. In fact, I think Yao played consistently thru this series so far. It's the way refs calling the games is different. You'd ask why Yao was not in foul trouble the 2nd game? Simple, the game was close enough refs didn't need to foul him out.
