Rockets' McGrady feeling heat November 5, 2006 BY JOHN JACKSON Sun-Times Columnist As of now, Tracy McGrady's career is defined by that moment in 2003 when he went to the interview room after the Orlando Magic took a 3-1 lead over the Detroit Pistons in a first-round playoff series and talked about how great it was to be in the second round of the postseason for the first time. Of course, playoff series are best-of-seven affairs, and the Magic still needed one more victory to advance. It never happened -- the Pistons won the next three games -- and McGrady has been haunted by that comment ever since. As he enters his 10th NBA season, McGrady still doesn't know what it feels like to advance to the second round of the playoffs. He's determined to change all of that this season, but he still hasn't learned his lesson about biting off more than he can chew. Instead of focusing on getting the Houston Rockets into a position to advance past the first round, McGrady is talking big -- again. ''This is the first time I just felt like I cannot just make the playoffs, but go deep in the playoffs,'' he said recently. ''All the other years, I felt we could get to the playoffs, but whoever we matched up against was going to be a better team. We were always going to be a lower seed. We didn't have the talent to push through to the second round. This year, I have different feelings about it.'' He even has gone as far as to say he's thinking about winning the championship this season. At best, that's a stretch. The Rockets should be improved with the addition of Shane Battier and will be a tough playoff out if McGrady and center Yao Ming stay healthy -- something that hasn't happened in recent years. But I have the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers rated higher, and those teams should earn the top four seeds in the Western Conference. Simply making the playoffs in the West will be a tough task for the Rockets because the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz also appear to be improved. Those five teams are vying for four spots, so someone will be left without a chair when the music stops at the end of the regular season. McGrady, 27, no doubt feels pressure that he has to succeed now. He's considered one of the best players in the game and certainly is paid like it. He'll earn $16.9 million this season and is under contract for roughly $81 million over the next four years. Charles Barkley and Patrick Ewing have been chided for not winning championships, but at least they led their teams to the Finals. Imagine the flak McGrady will get if he never gets past the first round. http://www.suntimes.com/sports/jackson/123704,CST-SPT-jax05.article
yeah so tough, the rox might as well not play a single game. in fact, let us all give props to chicago... big ben is going to make them into a champion
He was actually making sense up until this part... No mention of adding Kirk Snyder or Bonzi Wells, and then goes on to say that TMac and Yao haven't been healthy "in recent years". Could someone please tell me when one injury plagued season became equivalent to "years" (plural)? Anyway, regardless of how uninformed the writer seems to be, I definitely think he's right about how Tracy's career is defined up until this point. He needs to wake up and smell the coffee before it's too late.
This writer sounds like he hates tmac and rockets...maybe he's jus lookin for something to write. This article has no substance.
This excerpt says it all for me. "something that hasn't happened in recent years". If I recall correctly, last season was the first time in their careers either Yao or Tracy missed any significant time due to injury. "those teams should earn the top four seeds in the Western Conference." No way this combination of teams gets the top four seeds. The Northwest Division winner has to be amongst the top four. So much for credibility.
what have the Denver Nuggets, Los Angeles Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Utah Jazz done to improve their teams that the Rockets have not? how have they improved more than the rockets? the kings didn't sign wells, the rockets did, how have the kings improved more than the rox? what was the point of this article?
Exactly what I was thinking. What a waste of read. My reaction after this article was "um.. what?" Nothing new here mr jackson. Go write about your stupid bulls, you have no business writing about the Rockets. I kinda feel bad for TMac, everyone is taking shots at him because of his slow start. Hurry up and get better, TMac! Don't give these nothing-to-write-about journalists a reason to write about you.
Not a great article, but somehow it opened my eyes (and boy do I need caffeine this morning) by pointing out what I already knew: $81 million over the next four years? T-Mac better shake off these doldrums. Otherwise, Morey/CD will be burning up the phone line. We can't keep a long-term commitment with a 17 million dollar (this year) decoy. Wake up, TMAC!
Yep, the Rockets owe Tmac $81 million over the next 4 years. That's why there's such nervousness on the BBS right now because Tmac has looked just awful after coming off a season lost to injury. It's way too early to say that he's done but at this point in the season, he definitely does not look or play like the Tmac they'll need to go deep into the playoffs. That's the unspoken fear that's nagging at the Rockets and their fans right now. It's also stating the obvious but the article is right about there being 5 teams vying for 4 playoff spots. That's exactly what I see in the West with the Rockets definitely being in the mix.
Open you eyes people, this thing makes a lot of sense. Tmac has been eating his words consistently. JVG said it himself on TV that if TMac won't start driving to the basket, we're not going to get any better.
What TMac lacks is mental toughness and dedication. Come on, TMac. Be tough, and practise hard. And JVG, please bench TMac as much as possible until he learns how to drive and shoot, we might have won 1st and 3rd games with TMac on bench.
Some people have considered Tracy McGrady one of the top 5 players of the game today. Until he take his team past the first round, he will be considered overrated by others. Critics will continuously point out his shortcomings, and rightfully so. Good article.
