but you have to understand where they are coming from (though calling him a wuss is out of line). but i understand fans' frustration. we brought tmac here to lead us deep in the playoffs and contend for a championship (and win a championship). we haven't been close (partly due to the horrible supporting cast and our inability to score under JVG). but he has a team this year. yao is better than ever (he wasn't ready last year). we have finishers inside in landry/scola/bonzi. we have decent shooters (we don't rely on the 3 as much anymore so that's good). and it's more of a balanced offense. tmac is not asked to do much in the first 3 quarters unless he has to. his job right now is to facilitate the team in the first 3 quarters and take over if necessary. he's been clutch for us in the 4th this year. hopefully he'll get healthier and remains the go-to guy we all want. when tmac leads this team deep in the playoffs, HOPEFULLY, he'll earn some respect.
First of all, I'm sure this board has been through this a million times, and yes, that loss was pathetic, but there is little you can do when you're Tracy and Yao and the rest of your team almost literally completely fails to show up at ALL for that game. Second of all, if he's not allowed to lose by 40, then can he lose by 31? ... Because that's what Kobe did in game seven against the Suns two years ago... And he had a pitiful second half showing that game, too. And finally, yes, that comment is pretty cocky, but it's definitely not "comical". When McGrady gets into that mindset, he can go off on anyone. I have seen him play aggressive as hell against the toughest defenses... such as Bowen on the Spurs or Prince on the Pistons, and I'm not just talking about the 13 in 35. You're looking too deeply into the literal meaning of the phrase, and you're also assuming that he means that he can impose his will on any game any time. Obviously even he doesn't believe that, and that's not what he said.
Part of the reason, well, the reason, I made this thread, was to actually see if this person is a Clutchfan member. J/K, but really, that would be kinda funny. Btw, I am probably Tmac's biggest fan, but I'm also his biggest critic. I definitely share some of the criticism some of you have against Tmac. Yes, he has a big mouth, sleepy-doed eyes that is often mistaken for a lack of will or passion, or whatever. He does chuck up shots .....but last time I checked, Kobe does MJ-like turnaround jumpers over two defenders on the baseline more than anyone (and granted, he's one of the few, and probably the only that can do it consistently). I just don't get why Yao gets a free pass everytime. Don't get me wrong, I am also a Yao luvver, and a strong believer that it should be Yao's team; but how come people never say anything about him, even in a constructive criticism? Why shouldn't Yao be criticized for his lack of aggressiveness, or his 3+ turnovers every game? I just feel that Tmac has become a scapegoat for everything wrong with the Rockets so many times. I realize that he has a huge expectation riding on his shoulders, but one man can only do so much (even Charles Barkley said that)
Oh and btw, for those of you don't think Tmac can ever close out games, he led the league two seasons in a row at points in the fourth quarter during his Orlando days. How quickly people seem to forget that Tmac was a monster back in the days. They also forget that Tmac had Andrew Deqlarq (I know, sp) as the starting center and Pat Garrity as the backup. Yet, he was still up 3-1 on the Pistons, and was torching it up.......before that infamous declaration. But those days are over now, but he has an extremely high basketball IQ (might not show it when he chucks up shots). He really is one of the few who has immense talent for scoring but yet can distribute (and likes) the ball as good as some starting point guards. Heck, he is the only one who truly knows how to make a post-entry pass. So, I say, lets wait for something special to happen, and have FAITH
Okay, you caught me, I'm a closet Rafer Hater I'm actually part of a massive underground coupe against Rafer Wanna join?
The hate will stop when people stop seeing the games thru their hater glasses. Be they T-Mac hater, Yao hater, Rafer hater, Chuck hater, Adelman hater, Bonzi hater, master hater, whatever. Its taken 11 games back from injury for some of the T-Mac hate to subside, and only a smidge. You are starting to see some folks realize that T-Mac isnt as bad as they made him out to be from memory during his absence. The Yao hate started subsiding when T-Mac was out and Yao started dunking on guys.
Let me get this straight. When we dont go deep into the playoffs, its the supporting casts' fault. But if we do, tmac is the one who leads us and tmac is the one who should earn respect. Is that about right?
no when we lose in a game 7 because we are playing 2 on 5 its the supporting casts fault when we win we'll talk about who leads us when we actually win saavy?
based on the original statement, tmac is the constant. if the supporting cast & yao are the variables, and they're the reason we lose, then they must also be the reason we win. saavy?
i said our role players was "partly" at fault. tmac is at fault too so that's why i don't blame fans for criticizing him. but he has a team this year. so tmac AND yao should be criticized tremendously if we don't go deep this year.
I would personally say that Yao and T-mac are the constant and both of them are just as at fault in that game 7 for what happened. But the supporting cast needs to take extra blame for not doing their job and shooting horribly. If we get past the 1st round and past any other round the reason why we win is the Yao and T-mac. It will always start and end with them. Sure T-mac said its on him. But he did play a brilliant game in that game 7. But its on him to finish the game, just as its on Yao to get that last rebound. I'm all for blaming both of them together. People just like blaming them seperately.
