[Controversial] I feel McGrady should be our 3rd Option

I actually don't care who is 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Offense go through Yao sometimes at low post. But it has been proven that we can't just dump to Yao all the time. So I bet we will a variety of offenses set, Yao at low post, Yao at high post, Tmac iso, Ron Artest at low post. We are a flexible team from the day we acquired Artest.

 

I voted McGrady, Yao, and Artest. I think Yao will and should score more and take more shots than Tracy, but I just felt the offense is more fluid and less predictable when we let T-Mac be the focal point.

In another words, T-Mac will be the point forward. He'll start the offense and Yao will finish it.

 

I agree with what you said, but I still thinkg tmac should be the second option behind yao,

 

Just because McGrady was 3rd option on offense does not mean he would not be the dominate offensiv force of the team.

Magic Johnson was the dominate offensive force for the Lakers for years (several years) before he became the number one scoring option.

TMac IMO has some of the same skills that Magic had and could have the same type of influence on the team that Magic had with out being the number one option on a night in and night out basis. And TMac could still take over when ever the need is there but would be better served running the offense and let other players look for their shot first?


I don't know if it TMac is up to that much responsibility but it certainly would be worth discussing

 

Your thread/poll is misleading to me. Your thread title just says "option", while your poll says "scoring option".

If we're just talking about option, T-Mac is BY FAR the #1 option on the team. He can score, and he can pass just as well if not better. Ideally, he gets a touch in our offense at least 35% of the time.

If we're talking about scoring option, it depends on the team we're playing and their defensive strategy. If they decide to double Yao, then T-Mac and Artest will get more scoring opportunities. If they decide they don't want T-Mac to beat them, then Yao/Artest will get more points (that plays into our hands because of T-Mac's passing abilities). Same goes if a team decides to double Artest, which I just can't see happening ever. He's going to have a field day on some teams that can't match up with him.

Now if the team we're playing decides not to double anyone, then Yao should be the #1 scoring option, since he gets easiest shots and should have the highest FG% on the team.

 

To me, it depends what quarters we're talking.
My take:

1st quarter - Yao should be all 3 options : punish the other teams frontcourt and soften them up. Get them in foul trouble. Yao's stamina is a non-factor.
2nd quarter - McGrady & Artest for the first 7-8 minutes. Give Yao a considerable break until the last 4-5 minutes and punish them again until half.
3rd quarter - Yao for the first 4-5 minutes and punish them again and have Artest finish them off with McGrady cruising along.
4th quarter - Let McGrady close the game out with Yao doing his thing at the last 2 minutes with Artest locking everyone down.

Yao is CLEARLY this team's best and effective player but we need to use him in spurts to maximize his contributions. Try and play him no more than 30 minutes. I'm in management so I don't let the "fluff" get in my way when I evaulate things. It's all about the numbers, and the numbers don't lie, Yao is the most effective player on this team.

 

Are you talking about T being the number one option? When Yao has the higher percentage of shots made, more points and more minutes per game? Just wanted to make sure...

 

I didn't vote. I don't think it makes sense to label options 1, 2 and 3.

If they are running any semblance of Adelman's intended offense, the first option should be the open man.

React to the defense, make cuts, find the open man. He is your first option.

If you're talking about a spread the floor, one-on-one type play, those should be rare and whoever has the hot hand that night should get the ball, whether it's McGrady or Artest.

 

You all should stop comparing YnT but instead utilize them together.

Saying a SG is better then C because he is more athletic or dribbles better is ridiculous.
Saying a C is better because he gets more rebounds or has a higher PPG and percentage on top of the that is also ridiculous.

They are both top notch player and its when they are together when true harm is brought.

You want truth? Who ever has the hot hand should be the number one option. I seen plenty of days when Yao or T has a bad day but I have seen days when Rafer was killing threes. Who ever is on fire equals #1 option.

 

Wow i agree with you. joser. first for everything.

 

Thats great and danddy, but when the games on the line, you allways go to a used and trusted method of pounding it into yao or go to tracy at the high post.

 

That is exactly what we want to move on from. No isolation plays.

I find it odd that people still thinks tmac as the agressive player he used to be.
We have seen during the preseason,
quotes from artest, i can play more defense.
quotes from tmac, we got some guys that can score.
quotes from yao, i just want the team to gel and win.

All 3 of them are not saying they want to score more, 1 wants to play defense, 1 wants to feed the scorers, and the last one is willing to do anything to win.

Somehow, i still think that with tmac's mentality of getting the ball to other scorers, at the end of it all, he will be the 3rd scorer. (look at how he defer the ball to yao.) Yeap offensively, his skills are unparallel in the rox squad. But with his willingness to pass the ball, his scoring will take a dip.

 

how often do you expect to see all three on the floor at the same time?

 

Great post! Couldn't have agreed more.

Also:
1.Tmac runs our offense but that doesn't mean he only shoots the ball to do it. I think most people would much rather him see as the decent passer that he is.

2. Yao does not need Tmac to run the offense. Yao runs his own offense in the post.

3. Artest is an aggressive player that can create his own shot. Hence, why we traded for him.

4. Tmac settles for jumpers which allows for a declining shooting percentage. Tmac is good and we need him but don't picture the same Tmac you saw in Orlando.

 

Scoring option? Yao first, of course.

Then whoever's in good position when they receive the rock should go for it...what does it matter whether T-Mac is 2nd and Artest is 3rd? or T-Mac is 3rd and Artest is 2nd? All that matters is that Yao gets the ball first and all the other pieces have to work around him.

Now, as to who should have the ball in their hands most of the time, it's definitely, far and away, T-Mac. He's the best ball handler we have, and he's a great passer with great vision.

I think if T-Mac wisens his shot selection a bit (and be 'fierce' like he said he will) we can have an efficient yet deadly T-Mac. He can't be the kind of guy taking 20-25 shots with Yao AND Artest on the team...he's not efficient enough for that. He needs to find a way to bring down his shot attempts to about 15 while mixing up attacking the basket, shooting, and passing; ALL while still playing light enough to stay healthy.

The best thing he (and Adelman) could do is let Yao and Artest carry the load for 3 quarters, then start being aggressive to start the 4th. If he gets his rhythm, let him go at it. If he doesn't, he can keep playing the passing/penetrating game.

+work on FTs...

 

not gonna lie, didnt read much of that, too lazy, but i kind of agree, but for somewhat different motives. i think we should use him as a 2nd/3rd option so he doesnt kill himself all season, plus it can be like well try to get other things, but if all else fails, **** just give it to tmac and let him do work. until the playoffs, when of course its tmacs team, the man is a beast in the postseason so hes gotta be the focus, but i say yah for a while use him as a 3rd option so everyone else can feel comfortable in the offense without him, itll make us better if we dont have to RELY on him to do EVERYTHING...i lub u mac

 

Exactly. Being the third "scoring option" does NOT mean that T-mac won't the the player that the ball goes through. It means that he can be the third "scorer" in the offense. Personally, I think he should be the second "scorer", but the primary ball facilitator. Like someone mentioned before, he distributes the ball as well as any forward in the game, and Yao is incredibly efficient when they get it to him down in the paint.

I really think what the OP said was very true, since T-mac not being the primary scorer would help him throughout the season by not putting the entire load on him.

 

McGrady may not be our best scorer, but he is our best offensive player and the best playmaker on the team by far. I don't care if he scores more or less than anyone else, but he needs to be the guy that has the ball in his hands more than anyone on the team. He can make things happen whether it's scoring or passing.

 

Yao is this team's best player. McGrady is this team's best passer. RonRon is this team's best defender.

Scoring, Yao is #1 option, McGrady #2 option, and RonRon #3 option. Enough said.