`It's on me' Tracy McGrady knows the Rockets revolve around his creativity with the ball, and he welcomes that responsibility By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2007 Houston Chronicle TOOLS Email Get section feed Print Subscribe NOW Comments Recommend RESOURCES James Nielsen: Chronicle SCHEDULE / RESULTS Rockets lead series 2-1 Game 1: Houston 84, Utah 75 Game 2: Houston 98, Utah 90 Game 3: Utah 81, Houston 67 Game 4: @ Utah, Saturday, 9:30 p.m. Game 5: vs. Utah, Monday, 7 p.m. Game 6: @ Utah, May 3* Game 7: vs. Utah, May 5* * = if necessary ROCKETS VIDEO Richard Justice's report from Game 2 A close look at Rockets with John McClain More from John McClain on the Rockets Richard Justice on Game 1 Tributes to Rockets GM Carroll Dawson Justice: Can these Rockets win series? ROCKETS AUDIO Justice & McClain: Rockets find trouble in Utah Lopez: Better effort needed Feigen: Rockets woeful on offense Lopez: Better effort needed McGrady on Rockets' struggles in Game 3 Carlos Boozer on Utah's win in Game 3 Feigen: Series gets first must-win game Feigen: Rockets take Game 1 T-Mac says he's too stubborn to feel pressure Van Gundy on the Game 1 victory Battier on McGrady's inner drive McGrady says he beat a case of nerves McGrady says Jazz made Rockets work hard McGrady on his start vs. Jazz BLOGS & MORE Courtside with Blinebury Feigen on NBA Yao Central with fan blogger Ren Hsieh Speak up in the Rockets forum Complete Rockets coverage SALT LAKE CITY — Tracy McGrady said it again. But this time, he was speaking of specifics, of more than perception or potential. "It's on me." That was how he described the Rockets' chances and potential before the playoffs. "It's on me." Back then, when McGrady made his declaration, it was talk, something between brash and bold, part presumptuous and part realistic acceptance that another first round would be treated as a referendum on his career. Then the Rockets' offense crashed, and its revival seemed to have been returned to where the series began, on McGrady. With the Utah Jazz pressuring the Rockets ragged, much of their hopes to turn around that part of their performance fell to their most irrepressible playmaker, the trigger of their offense when it works. "It's on me to go out and attack the basket more and create better shots for my teammates," McGrady said. Asked how much reviving the Rockets' offense is his responsibility, McGrady said: "It's a lot. It's a lot. It's a lot. "I have to not only create shots for myself, but I try to get Yao (Ming) easy baskets. Shane Battier, I try to find him in the corner or wherever he is on the perimeter. I try to find my shooters out there. When you're running pick-and-roll, it's really not a shot for myself. It's creating shots for other players." Taken out of offense When the Rockets made just 32.8 percent of their shots Thursday, scoring just 67 points, the fewest in franchise postseason history, McGrady started well, making six of seven shots, then missed 13 of his next 15. The Jazz sent help in the lane and low post, and a big man on high screens. But McGrady often removed himself from the offense as much as the Jazz did. "I think I took myself out of it," McGrady said. "Yeah, I wasn't in an attack mode like I normally was. "I have to drive when there are one-on-one coverages." In some ways, the Jazz have dared him to do that, with much less defensive attention than many teams play and a determination to take their chances on McGrady, while keeping defenders in position to contest outside shots around him. "I'd like to go crazy, but you can't give (other) guys layups, easy shots, stuff like that," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "We try to play the percentages in basketball as much as you can." The inference was the odds are McGrady and Yao won't beat Utah if the Jazz can take away the Rockets stars' perimeter help. There is evidence to support that. Yao had produced consistently, making 52.8 percent of his shots in the regular season against the Jazz. But in many ways this season, the Rockets' offense has gone as has McGrady's. In four regular-season games against the Jazz, the Rockets made 41.3 percent of their shots. In the two losses in which he played, McGrady made 17 of 47 (36.2 percent) of his shots. In the victory, he went 14-of-31, scoring a season-high 44 points, then marveled at the Jazz's reluctance to double-team him. McGrady has averaged 26 points in the series, but he is shooting just 37.7 percent. The Rockets are making just 36.1 percent of their shots. In Thursday's 81-67 loss, only four players scored, the fewest in an NBA playoff game. Other than Yao and McGrady, the Rockets are averaging a combined 30 points. But as much as the Rockets' offense often begins with McGrady, there is a sense reviving it must, also. Make the right decision "Mac, I think is the premier scorer/decision-maker along with (Phoenix's Steve) Nash," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "When he's turning the corner and attacking the basket, it gives a chance for those other guys to get involved in the game, too. I don't think it's a secret we don't have a lot of guys off the dribble who are going to be super creative, and Tracy has the unique ability." But McGrady seemed more determined than concerned. "Just go out and play, play hard," he said. "We have to do a better job of playing with greater intensity, better focus, attention to detail and rebound the ball, score the ball." But that might start with the guy with the ball in his hands, or as McGrady put it, "It's on me." LET'S SEE IF HE DRIVES THIS TIME. and like i said, why do we keep running the pick and roll if our role players don't make shots? that's useless isn't it
Believe what you say, TMac. Now, go out and attack the basket like the 2-time scoring champ that you are.
i think it's obvious t-mac has lost a step or two since 05. i dont expect him to be super effective in scoring. we just need others to step up.
say what? he's just settling for jumpers. and they'rep laying him physical. tmac is not known for being a physical player. we'll see how he responds in game 4
I believe in him, but we need a team effort, regardless how much responsibility / credit he wants to take for it all. I realize he needs to feel in charge and responsible to be at his best, but i also know that it is going to take more than a better effort by him and yao... it's going to take the entire rotation stepping up and playing better.
Ha. Funny thing is, we ARE getting the calls when we penetrate. They will get Giricek and Harpring on reaching in 9 times out of 10. Try again.
It's nice he says the right things but talk is cheap. Tracy needs to go out and peform. To go on a 2/15 stretch by continuing to chuck up jumpers was inexcusable. Stop taking the easy way out. Just go out, perform and get the 20 FTs the Jazz will give you. I wish Tracy would flip a switch and stay in attack mode in each and every game when he initiates the play on offense. Some of you will flame me for being hard on Tracy and not blaming Yao and the other players enough. Fine. But I've lost patience with him. So many here said Tracy would attack the basket more when the playoffs start but game 3 he played very soft. I wish his attitude was more of an "I will NOT be denied" like Kobe, Wade or Baron Davis. Tracy, it's time to put up or shut up. I could tell by listening to your remarks after game 2 when you said, "I don't think" the Rockets will let up in game 3. I knew right then there would be a letdown but didn't expect the beatdown that happened.
Rafer don't draw double teams. That's what he means. You cannot get a man open by shooting jumpers all night. He has to attack the basket, force Utah to send another defender, and that will open shots for Battier and Alston. You're reading way too much into it.
i could only hope he stop shooting those let-me-see-if-i-make-it-this-time jumpers and drive to the basket more. he could carry this team on his shoulder and be proud to proclaim this to the whole world, but, he needs to drive to the freaking basket.
T-Mac, my man, please stop talking the talk, back it up with a strong game, let your game shut up the haters.
Agree 100%. Tracy needs to stop politicking and just go out and play. He makes some good statements that are media-worthy material (i.e. the will imposing) but you can't have empty statements. He tried too hard to shoot himself back into the game in the 2nd half. Drive in and get some free throws. That's easy points and stops the clock. You're in Salt Lake and the air is a bit thinner. You gotta help not only yourself but Yao and the others as well. They can't be chasing long rebounds from your misses. Drive in and be a man.
I believe in Tmac and believe that he would respond in Game4. And also the other Rockets men should play better and harder.
Just play like you did against the Suns 2 weeks ago. That game should serve as a prototype for how tracy should play, that game was a f'n clinic for tmac.
Yeah but I thought the role of the point guard was to create shots for others. This does not require you to draw double teams. Our team isn't going to be running effectively if Tmac has to play PG AND be responsible for scoring.
