http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18295231/ OUSTON - Don’t call Tracy McGrady while the Houston Rockets are in the playoffs. Actually, it’s fine to call, but don’t expect an answer. McGrady said as long as the playoff run is on, his cell phone will be off. After failing to advance past the first round in five previous career playoff series, the seven-time All-Star believes this is his time and doesn’t want anything to get in the way. Story continues below ↓ advertisement “This is the chance of a lifetime,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity and I’m just trying to take advantage of it. This is the first time I’ve felt like I had a great supporting cast and I feel we can hopefully advance past the first round.” The Rockets are halfway there after taking a 2-0 lead in the seven-game series with the Utah Jazz. Game 3 is Thursday in Utah. McGrady, who is in his second postseason series with the Rockets, advanced to the playoffs once with the Raptors and three times in Orlando. Not one to shy away from discussing the five winless series, he actually seems to enjoy those conversations, if only to proclaim how he believes it will be different this time. He acknowledged his first time in the playoffs while in Toronto, he was “just happy to get there.” He’s candid about his subsequent failures, especially when discussing his chances with the Magic. “At the time I felt like I didn’t have a chance to advance because I had a very young, inexperienced team — a young coaching staff,” he said. “And I just didn’t think we had the talent to advance, especially playing the teams that we played.” McGrady said playing without Grant Hill in all three series was difficult for him. “Not having Grant Hill, a superstar in your lineup, was tough on my shoulders,” he said. Things are certainly different now as McGrady and Yao Ming are one of the toughest duos in the league. The Rockets also have a strong set of role players that includes Shawn Battier, Rafer Alston and Chuck Hayes. In Monday’s Game 2 win over the Jazz, each of Houston’s starters scored in double figures. “Coming into this season with the additions that we had to our team this year, I felt like if we stayed healthy that we could really do something special,” McGrady said. “I felt like if we were focused throughout the season, and just went out and played...this is where we’re going to be.” McGrady had a slow start to the series after scoring just one point in the first half of Game 1 while dealing with nerves. He shook it off in time to score 16 third quarter points to rally his team to the win. He showed no signs of nervousness Monday when he scored 31 points. The Rockets are confident, but know the dangers of letting up after jumping out to an early lead in the series. Houston was up 2-0 over Dallas in 2005 before the Mavericks won four of the next five games to advance. “Going through that, really, being in this situation now is motivation,” McGrady said. “We’re a lot more focused and we have a much more mature group. I don’t think we’re going to relax. This team is not going to let us relax, because they’re too ... good.” Though McGrady and Yao have both scored 20 or more points in each of the first two games, Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy is a bit concerned about their shooting percentages. McGrady was 9-of-29 on Monday, Yao 9-of-24. “I don’t think there’s any question that he and Yao need to be more effective on offense,” Van Gundy said. “There’s no doubt that we need to shoot better, but part of their shooting problems are tied in to some other guys not making, so the floor’s more crowded for them.” Houston made 34 of 38 free throws to overcome 36-percent shooting in the Game 2 win.
What if his wife needs him? Anyway, it's good to hear that they will do everything to keep from becoming complacent. That series versus Dallas should have left a lasting mark on our boys.
"This is the first time I’ve felt like I had a great supporting cast and I feel we can hopefully advance past the first round.” Kind of disappointing to keep reading this. Was not the White Boy Power Squad a great cast? Along with Mike James? That team should've went places.
Truthfully, Yao wasn't as developed as now and he couldn't stay on the floor an entire game, so he wasn't as dominant as he is now. Shane Battier > David Wesley enough said
i absolutely loved the 05 team with Bob Sura, Mike James, Jon Barry and even David Wesley (his last good year). I like that team even more than this year's even though this one is a little better. Something about that 05 team just had heart and toughness that you can't teach.
Totally agree, on loving that team and about the heart and toughness... plus they had the little 3-finger thing. But seriously, that team could and should have gone to the 2nd round if not for THE... MOST... HORRENDOUS stretch of calls I've ever seen in a game (game 5). I hate to think about what could have been had it not been for the refs in that series and the ones with the infamous bear hug series... makes my blood boil.
I loved the heart and spirit of that 2005 team but I think that without a question this year's team is a much better team in terms of talent and health. In 2005, our starting power forward in the playoffs was freaking Ryan Bowen. Our starting PG had 2 bad knees and a bad back, missed 2 long stretches of the regular season due to injuries, and was holding off major surgery til the offseason and would never play another NBA game after that season. Our starting SG was a slow 35 year old undrafted midget who, despite hobbling around with injuries that would require major surgery in the offseason, was averaging 40 minutes a game playing against guys that were much younger, bigger, and faster. And of course, Yao still haven't figured things out yet in 2005 and was no where near as dominant as he is today.
I wonder if it's just me or some other people think the same. i'm all for being confident and wanting to win bad. But constantly dishing out stuff like 'oh it'll on me', 'once in a life time' and how motivated they are give me a terrible feeling that it might just back fire on them, TMac in particular.
i think it depends on who said it, whether he has the ability to back it up. and tmac does. as long as he has the will. i'm kind of glad he said that. so we know that he's going to push himself more. let's face it, if tmac doesn't play well the rockets can't go anywhere. playing well doesn't necessarily mean scoring 30+ pts every game. he can contrubute in so many other ways, like assists, defends, rebounds...
what bugged me about the quote in this article...weren't we the oldest team in the league last time we made it to the playoffs? perhaps his reference to we is only towards yao and himself, but certainly a lack of maturity seems to be a pretty weak excuse for our last implosion... mujumbo, barry, sura, wesley, howard(ish), rybo, james...I don't think you can make a very strong case for a lack of maturity on that team...
if that team was so great, why can't it take care of business.. 2 games at home with a 2-0 lead and they lost both..
The Pieces fit together much better this year. That year we didn't have Chuck Hayes playing like a madman. Battier's defense, and huslte help this team. Sura might be tougher, but Rafer is better at running the offense that has brought success to the Rockets so far. Head is a better clutch 3pt shooter over the couse of the season than any of those guys from '05. Individually or in different situations those other guys might have an edge, but for this team, and the pieces we have, this team is better.
I think the three-finger thing after three's kind of says it all. We were mature but we got cocky when we got up 2-0. This team will not do that because they know it ain't over yet. This is why we have players on our team that have been winners before. Chuck Hayes, Shane, Luther. They are not going to celebrate like they won the championship after being up 2-0. I don't totally believe it was maturity but that 05 team just didn't have enough gas left or athleticism to get the job done. Like one poster above said, Rybo was our starting PF.
