The remainder of our season is contingent upon the level of Tracy McGrady's play. Obviously, he has the skill set to carry a team, but will he? Now, I'm not a Mac hater who questions his effort after every off-game, but it doesn't seem inconceivable that he could just decide to reel it in and coast into a first-round lost (or, even worse, the lottery). The question of his future in Houston has seemingly been reliant upon advancing past the first round, and, depending on how he perceives and reacts to the loss of Yao, I think it could go either way. He could see this not as an impediment but an opportunity, rally the troops around him with an "it's on me" mentality reminiscent of last year's playoffs, and convince his teammates that this isn't a lost season. Or he could simply give up hope, half-ass the rest of the season, and resign himself to another first-round ejection from the playoffs. This post comes with no expectations; I think it can go either way. I'm leaning toward Tracy being a motivator in the locker room and carrying the team, because I genuinely think he's a good guy who doesn't deserve a lot of the criticism thrown his way... but you never know. Thoughts?
he carried us last season no reason to believe he wont again. He just ran back into form and health. His ready man, he was cruising and waiting for the playoffs. But now he'll explode. The question is whether or not the others will support him well enough for us to win games (ala Dikembe last year)
He will attempt to step-up and if the Rockets fail in the next couple weeks he will go out with an injury, no question
Gonna average 30/7/7 like he did last year when Yao went out and win the MVP trophy once we get in the playoffs.
this is tracys time no question make or break with 20 something games left..he has to have the attitude like nobody can stop him..I feel comfortable knowing he has played well lately but thats not going to cut it he has to play like a superstar and he wasnt even an allstar this year...sooo another chapter in tmacs book hopefully this one has a better ending..
I always believe the freindship between Yao and Tmac is sincere. Tmac might be hurt by this and lose focus in the game. Or, he might be motivated to fight to extend the winning streak to 16 for himself and Yao. At least, 20 years later, he can say that he and Yao together made rockets' history.
I sure hope so. Hopefully, the implication that it is "his" team now will motivate him to make all the haters eat a big mouthful of crow. Obviously, his shot's not going to fall every night, but, with any luck, he won't let that get him down and he'll continue to make himself useful in the offense with his passing skills. The Rox-Cavs boxscore from 2-19 makes me feel a little better about our situation.
Physically he looks better than last season when he did his MVP impression. I don't see any reason why he can't do that again with even better results due to the upgrade in talent over last season.
This is the first question that popped in my mind (the thread title). Will he be down in the dumps, or is he gonna go Mc-Crazy on the opposition?? To me, success this year, is passing the first round. With Yao going down, I think that would make this year a big, big success.
I think last year was different because the Rockets knew Yao would eventually comeback, this year just is not the case. I am not going to blame anything on anybody except the Rockets team doctors if the team does not make the playoffs. The players and coaches have done everything they could do just to get in the possiblility in making the playoffs. They have been playing out of their mind. I don't know it is hard just to talk about something we see every year.
Good point, and that's exactly what I'm worried about--his Yao-less performance last season did come with the expectation of Yao's return.
"Tracy McGrady, out for season with toenail injury" You want to have faith, but seriously...McGrady does not inspire confidence in me like a Kobe or a MJ or hell, even a Ron Artest
