...to get out from under one or both contracts; I am speaking of Yao's and McGrady's. These two guys have been the most injury-prone superstars in the league the last few years. Now, I understand that Yao is as untouchable as a player can get; he's Le$' cash-cow, so there is no point of discussing trading him. I am afraid he will never again have a full, healthy season that will allow him to anchor the Rockets through the playoffs; a big man his size only becomes more injury prone with time. So if you're banking your championship hopes on Yao, I am hoping you won't hedge your bets on the Rockets any time in the foreseeable future. As for McGrady, we need to try and unload him regardless of his health/performance just for the sake of getting rid of his contract for cap space. Should we keep Yao (which we will), a more sound strategy would be to try and go all-out for a Lebron or a Wade a couple of seasons from now than keeping T-Mac around so management can put butts in the seats. I think having Yao alone around will continue to help stoke enough interest in the Rockets to keep the franchise relevant. I expressed my fears roughly this time last season about McGrady/Yao never being healthy for a full-season run at the championship (we will ignore the fact -- for now -- that they've both repeatedly failed to do anything when healthy in the playoffs). I am afraid McGrady's injury woes earlier in this NBA season and now Yao's repeated battles -- and almost all too predictable -- with foot- / leg-related injuries only serve to make it that much more urgent for the front office to address the 'fragility' of our franchise. That being said, I hope I will be proven wrong over the years, but I am afraid this will be our fate. I am even more afraid that the longer we wait the worse the situation will get; time isn't on our side. Just food for thought, tell me why I am wrong...
You need to learn to give them a FULL SEASON together even if that has not yet to be accomplished. The key is, if you were in Tmac's shoes do you feel you were really given a real chance?
I have been thinking the same thing. You got one guy who gets injured by finishing a dunk, and another basically by running around too much. For the past 3 years, this has been repeating, probably more than 5 times alreay the two combined. I dont know if there is another team with two superstars so injury-prone. That Olando team with Hill was a pain, but at least the rest of the team was healthy. a couple of weeks, when Tim Legler said that Hoston would drop because our past injury history, when we were red hot, I wanted to punch that sucker in his face. But the joke is on us. This summer there has to be a decision. This is not working out.
When will that full season come? It may not. We got to unload McGrady just because it's hard to find a big man.
give them another chance,maybe next season... Excuse me. My English is not good, can somebody be able to sent below message for Yao.Tks a lot. Good Luck rockets Good Luck Yao! 我是一名医生，不知道怎么能把这个信息迅速传到姚明那里。只好把希望寄托于搜狐网站。请转告姚明，应力性骨损伤的实质，是一种与 运动不当（包括疲劳）有关的非感染性的骨膜炎症。它不是西医的强项，手术刀不是解决这种损伤的好办法。相反，中医骨科活血化淤， 强肾养骨的中药外敷结合内服的办法，不仅可以短时间内（一个月左右）康复，重要的是，借此机会从中医所谓的“本”上强骨，获得避 免再类似损伤（包括肌腱、筋膜和肌肉等）。国内不乏这一领域里出色的医生和妙方。请建议姚明，不要急于接受手术。建议国家蓝协， 是否携1～2名出色的中医赶赴休成，或接姚回国疗伤。
And how long do we have to wait until that happens? It hasn't happened and will never happen; these two guys are getting more injury-prone, not less. That's the whole point, but somehow you missed it... awww...that's sweet! Who cares about McGrady's feelings? We're talking about the overall 'health' of the franchise moving forward, the best strategy to keep this team relevant for years to come. I am thinking about trying to win championships, not just keeping a couple of marketable guys around to sell jerseys.
Players like Tmac don't grow on trees. Its higly doubtful we will ever have a wing player as talented as he is. So what if he misses a couple games a season, as long as we have him healthy for the playoffs then its all good as far as I'm concerned. If we end up trading tmac, we will get less talent back guarenteed.
I don't frequent this forum very much, so I don't see all the redundant threads to which you're probably alluding. Honestly, I'd like to see a front page poll on this. What freaking good is it to have a world-class center and a world-class wing when you can book it that one or both will miss at least 30 games each season? I'd seriously like to see how many people would want one or both traded for lottery picks and/or young talent. I'm not knowledgeable enough to have an opinion of my own--I don't know how hard it is to get good talent via draft/trade. But, I'm damn tired of this crap every year. Great guys, but too fragile. I really liked my old Ford, but when it kept breaking down every other month I finally cut my losses and moved on.
Short term, yes. Long term hopefully we can land one of the many talented young players in the league, or just opt out for a more 'balanced' roster (alas Pistons/Spurs; i.e. abandoning the two-superstar model). The other option (the more likely one, I am guessing) is just waiting McGrady's contract out and seeing what the two guys can do for us in the next two years.
McGrady has to be dealt. Yao is still young enough to be an effective player while we rebuild around him.
I think going for LeBron in a couple years is likely. LeBron has publicly stated he wants to be the first billionaire athlete, and therefore we know his mind is not just about winning championships. I think having Yao has his sidekick would probably bring him just a few more fans over seas and some pocket change. I don't think any other team in the league has a chance to get LeBron with the exception of the Nets. Wade is awesome. Love his game and his aggressiveness, but I'm afraid he's gonna be injury prone just like McGrady, if not worse. I love McGrady. He's been my favorite player for years now. Still is, but I gotta say he just doesn't have the drive and focus to constantly take over games. I can only imagine how frustrated McGrady is. I'm sure he wants to take it to the hole and serve up a facial every time, but he just can't do it all the time anymore. He's just not in excellent physical condition. He doesn't take care of his body like Kobe, and that's just the way he is... you can't make him change. And personally I say instead of waiting for him to change and become the dominant player we all want and know he can be, ship him out. He doesn't have the dedication. I personally don't think he gives a damn about being the best of the best. He's just freakishly talented.
How can you give someone a chance if he can't keep his body healthy? It doesn't matter how good your trainers are. The key is the individual. Let me give you a real life example. My co-worker is slightly overweight and has been for the past 3 years. She talks about how much better she would look if she could lose the weight, and she's always on a diet. She would cut down on her meals and yet eat 3 burritos for lunch sometimes. It's just all talk. Everyone can talk. It's been a few years now, I think McGrady's actions have said enough about himself. Both Yao and McGrady are great people, and they are both passive aggressive imo. Neither is a true leader with the will/competitiveness to dominate and be the best of the best.
Give me a break... Didn't the Blazers win 13 in a roll? Neither of them take over at crucial times like the greats of MJ, Kobe, etc... No doubt they are great players and I'm a big fan of both, but when you look at clutch moments where have they been? I would put both McGrady and Yao in the most talented-active-players pool, and after all these years what have we done? Oh yeah... first round exits. Looking at the big picture, winning streaks mean nothing. Patriots? losers.
Good points but I will give them one more season. I just can't give up this season either, I hope Morey can pick up a decent Center to help out Deke, now that he is the only true Center on the team.
