http://www.nba.com/rockets/news/McGrady_believes_hersquos_pl-192030-34.html McGrady convinced new version of Rockets is the best team he's been with Damien Pierce Rockets.com Staff Writer HOUSTON -- After wrapping up his first two weeks of the preseason with Houston's retooled roster, Tracy McGrady was asked how his current team compares to his past teams. The Rockets leading scorer didn't think it was a serious question. "Do I really need to answer that?" McGrady asked. He thought the answer was rather obvious. Despite playing most of the preseason without stars Yao Ming and Bonzi Wells, McGrady is convinced that he has never been a member of a better team. McGrady has been impressed with Houston's starting five in the first two preseason games and believes the Rockets will have plenty of depth once the regular season begins. "This is the best team I've been on in my 10 years in the league," McGrady said. "With the athleticism and shooters we have, my creativity on the court and our inside game with Yao (Ming), we have everything. We have a lot of depth and talent." His coach, Jeff Van Gundy, noted that McGrady's statement was saying something since he played with some talented Toronto teams early in his career. "I'm glad he feels that way," Van Gundy said. "I never coached those other teams he was on. I thought when he had Vince Carter, Doug Christie, Dee Brown, Antonio Davis and Charles Oakley, they were pretty good. So that's a major statement for him to say we're better. The good thing is we'll find out." Wells out: Rockets swingman Bonzi Wells won't make his first appearance in a Houston uniform until at least Sunday. Wells, who is nursing a sore groin and dealing with the pain of two root canal procedures, is expected to miss the Rockets' preseason games on Tuesday and Wednesday because he has not practiced. The swingman did not practice Monday. "I would suspect he's not going to," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "He's only been through a few practices." Toe epidemic?: Besides mentioning that his coach stepped on his toe during Monday's practice, Rockets center Yao Ming had one other zinger following Monday's practice. Yao, who missed Houston's first two preseason games with a highly-publicized left toe injury, was asked whether he would prefer the Mavericks to use Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Terry in Tuesday's preseason game instead of playing primarily against Dallas' reserves. The center had no idea the two players hadn't played in the Mavs' first three preseason games. "They haven't played in the first three games?" Yao asked. "Do they have toe problems?" hmmm... i don't know about the strength of those Toronto teams, but i'm going to infer that T-Mac obviously feels that this team is better than the 2004-2005 team. so a record better than 51 wins should be a given as long as the Rockets can stay healthy.
Nice article. McGrady has put a lot of pressure on himself and the team to perform spectacularly this season by praising his teammates and management so much. Hopefully, he will deliver. I would love to my favorite player back on top.
I love Yao's humor. As far as McGrady's comments, he has not been shy about proclaiming how talented this team is. I have to agree with him though, this is by far the best Rockets team we've seen in the last decade when you consider skill and depth. The versatility this roster gives us is really amazing. I don't know maybe I'm giving players like Snyder, Head, Hayes and Novak too much credit, but I don't think there's another team in the league with this many weapons to go along with two superstars. If those four guys can gel with the rest of the rotation and we can stay healthy we're going to do some great things this season.
I'll let you know about the best team ever hyperboly being correct at the end of the season in June <fingers crossed>
Like most posters here, I like this current Rockets team a lot and I'm very optimistic about the coming season. With that said, however, I feel it's sort of a stupid question to ask TMac to compare this current team to past teams that he played on. Being as diplomatic as he is, TMac will never say anything that would suggest his current teammates are worse than those on his past teams.
I don't know about that. Wasn't Tracy pretty vocal during the off-season (before the Bonzi signing) that he wasn't sure if there were enough weapons around him and that management needed to make another move or two? I think that's sort of veiled shot at the makeup of the roster at that time, wouldn't you agree?
It's easy enough to say something politiclaly correct like "Possibly, we'll see" "Season ain't started yet" if he just wants to not offend his teammates. This is McGrady truely sounding excited and I have to agree with him. It's the most talented team that McGrady ever played on, and probably the most talented that Van Gundy has coached (with all due respect to Ewing, Camby, Spree, and Houston).
That's a feel good article. now bring on the season already! And Wells, play a damn game or something!
I think most of the rockets fan, or even most of the NBA fans will feel the same way about the talent on this year's roster. From top to bottom, this is the most talented team in years. Just hoping that talent shows up on the win column.
Yao is a treasure. And TMac is a treasure. 51+ wins? They still need to beat a lot of very good teams in a more and more balanced NBA. I am optimistic, or better stated - hopeful. I am not yet sold on this squad's ultimate greatness.
No pressure....He has to be confident in his game and his teammates. I think he has learned to think carefully b4 he speaks over his career. Therefore, I would place some value in what he says...he must feel really good about his back and Yao's feet and now they have to get the Ws.
Dang, McGrady said we're the best? Man, that's almost as good as topping the ESPN power rankings. Which is just a notch below finding a chicken bone on the sidewalk. Then there's actually winning games.
The title of the thread brings back memories of the Tina Turner song we used when we raised our championship banners
