i would definitely do that trade cuz artest is a lock down defender and gives us more of a thugged out element...and bibby is a solid scoring pg
sirbaihu, I'm assuming you actually watched the past 3 seasons (it hasn't quite been 4 seasons yet with T-Mac on this team...we still have 50 games left to play in the regular season). Now, assuming this, you must have seen how he performed against the Mavs in that first round series. We should've won that series, but that's another story. This was not McGrady's fault. He averaged 30.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, and 6.7 apg with a FG% of 45.6%! No fan could've asked for more from one player. This series alone created much anticipation for his second season with us, but of course the second season was filled with disappointment since he only played in 47 games and we didn't even reach the playoffs. Season 3, we're matched up with the Jazz and it goes to 7 games again. T-Mac gets much criticism b/c of his comments that "If we lose, it's on me." We lose. Second time in 3 years that the team we lose to in the first round goes to at least the western conference finals. It sucks even more b/c we were actually favored in this series. I honestly believe that JVG's inability to match up someone better with Boozer than Yao was the main contributing factor to this loss. Boozer just killed us. Deron Williams had his share, but Boozer was the x-factor for sure. It's now his 4th season and this team has changed a lot in terms of personnel, but on the floor, we look much like the same team as last season (especially when you consider that our starting 5 is still the same). Regardless, we do have upgrades such as Scola (who I still think should eventually start), Bonzi (different player from last year), and some other role players. Mike James and Francis have grossly underperformed. In our first 8 games, McGrady averaged 29 ppg with great efficiency. No one was talking about getting rid of T-Mac then (other than wishful thinkers that threw up trade ideas of Kobe for T-Mac). He was have a great season at that point and we were 6-2. Since then, there's been a big drop off in his performance and definitely a less aggressive approach. When you combine this with our very mediocre record, buzz for T-Mac to be traded has grown to the point of the majority of fans wanting him out. Look, he's freakin' 28 years old and it doesn't help that he's been so open in the past about not playing too late into his career and how he feels his body deteriorating. But he's 28! He still has A LOT to offer and he can still be the type of player he was for the first quarter of the games we've played this season. I am not going off of blind optimism here. I've seen what he can do (AND what he cannot do). With all the pros and cons he brings to the table, I would rather have him here and do what he can with the rest of our parts (I'm still hoping for improvement from James and SF3) than ship him out for good role players at best. We need him to be healthy and others to get their games back...NOT A TRADE. So yes, it is too early to jump to conclusions because most people are calling for a trade b/c of recent developments (or a lack thereof). And no, it's not the media either...it's just fans getting impatient with this team (for good reason), but trading him is not the answer. I want to clarify...I am not a TOF. I grew up loving this team and want to see it succeed with or without T-Mac. But under the circumstances, I think a healthy T-Mac does give us the best chance at competing in this league. Don't give me this crap that we've seen him do nothing for 4 seasons. The argument that T-Mac just can't get past the first is weak. There are plenty of players that have fallen short, but you can't fault them alone. It's still a team game (which is why the Spurs and Pistons have so much success), and the Rockets have proven that T-Mac cannot do it alone. It is a collective problem and it won't be solved by trading our best scoring option. The Lakers were smart not to trade Kobe. We should do the same and keep T-Mac.
Thanks for an insightful and well-written post. I feel exactly the same way you do. I was a Rockets fan well before McGrady was in the NBA and will be well after he is gone. He gives us our best chance at winning, and trading him for lesser talent would be foolish.
I'm kinda surprised that this discussion is still going on. IMHO I don't think we could get much if anything good right now. Maybe the bulls could offer up something, but I doubt it. I'm also floored at how many BBS members want him gone. Who knpws how the forun will react when the Rockets start winning again.
Listen to that Bucher interview. It's not just posters on this board who are seriously examining trading T-Mac. My perspective is that any trade is unlikely to happen this year. We're going to be able to see what the Rockets look like with T-Mac for the rest of the season after he gets back, assuming no more injuries. After all those games it should be pretty clear what direction the Rockets need to go in. In the best of all possible worlds T-Mac will stay.
I will never post on the BBS with my iPhone again... That aside, I agree, I don't think Tmac can be a part of a Princeton offense. I think a lot of our point guard issues lay in the fact that Tmac isn't a point guard. I don't know, the question is now, who's better for the team, Tmac or RA? I may regret my words, but as of right now I can't help but agree, we have to let this play out much more.
Just remember this about Les....he traded away some key players from a Championship team to get Clyde Drexler and he traded for Charles Barkely to get through Seattle! He is not shy to deal when necessary. Do not look past the idea of Les improving the team and breaking this 10+ year drought to make it back to the championship contention is on the radar 100% this year. He is growing weary--you can hear it in his voice when he rants to the media. He knows that our draft history has not been the best and the free agent market is tight next year....The idea of a major deal does not phase him one bit. Those who feel a deal is not likely this year or at all, should pay close attention to Les' history. He also chatters to the media more, when he is not happy and is looking around at ways to improve the team...which he has done recently.
I don't think it is all Tmac's fault that he has not won more, but if he was really worthy of being called a super star for his on the court play rather than his popularity, he would have advanced at least once. I mean what other supposed super star has not won a single playoff series in their first 11 seasons? He has been on multiple teams, with multiple roster line ups in both the east and west. A super star does what D-Wade did in the Finals vs Dallas. What Lebron has done with no better supporting cast than Tracy has. Tmac is good, but super stars like Barkley, Malone, Stockton, ect were criticized for not winning rings at this point in their career's, not looking to win their first playoff series. Tmac hasn't been the reason his teams lost every play off series he has been in, but he hasn't been enough to win any of those series either.
