I watched the scrimmage game posted in another thread. He does not look fat or out of shape, but he's still much bigger than the 04-05 version of him.
I wouldn't say he is much bigger than in 04/05. But yeah, he looks somehow weird. When you compare that video to all those photos he looks different. But for me, he is just where he needs to be. He has lost a lot of weight since last season.
considering training camp is just barely less than a month away, t-mac has time to knock off the rust, and get in better shape. hopefully he can be done rehabing pretty soon
These are the risks I see of McGrady making any kind of comeback: 1. He isn't good enough, even if he maximizes his recovery, to lead us to a championship. In a best case scenario, he would lead us to mediocrity or being slightly above average, in which case, we would likely just end up with a worse draft pick next year, reducing our chances of finding our next franchise player. 2. He'll hinder the implementation of a more Adelman-like, ball-moving, read-and-react type offense. As gifted as McGrady is as an individual player, he is NOT an Adelman type player. Even if he maximizes his recovery, he won't be cutting off the ball the way this type of offense ideally demands and he'll still need the ball in his hands to feel comfortable on the court. No matter how willing he is to change, I think we are going way, way overboard if we expect a fragile body to not only recover from microfracture surgery this quickly but also to change the very nature of his style of play. With Yao out this season, it's the perfect opportunity to develop our younger players in a more up-tempo, movement-based, Adelman offense. Even if we only win 25 games, at least we would be taking steps toward implementing the system for the future while also potentially improving our draft position.
Additionally, I have this eerie sense that even if McGrady fails in his comeback or makes silly comments through the media or pulls some other kind of stunt, his loyal-to-a-fault fans will still believe he can make a comeback in 2010-11 and that we should pay him whatever it takes to keep him around. Beyond the fact that this would be an absurd move, it would just lead to a repeat of the two points I listed above, further delaying our necessary and inevitable rebuilding process. Let the flaming begin.
I think you are taking way to much from mcgrady. He was that guy who ran the floor getting easy bakets, but if you think for once that this rockets team ever ran the offense rick wanted it to be then you are wrong. The rockets are a half court team, nobody on this roster has shown they can run rick adlemans offense the way he wants it too. So your saying our best player is going to mess everything up because he(execpt for everybody else who didnt get the offense) will make us struggle?
Lol.......man not even Kobe could that THIS Rockets team to a title. We are gonna such next season if this is the final roster......and it looks like it is.
I am sure our team will be infinitely better than your spelling and grammar... This team is going to surprise the league. There is a buzz around this team that the guys are confident and ready to play. Remember, this team does its best when the pressure and focus is not on them.
Tmac is our only hope for the Rockets to surprise the league... Unless Scola and Brooks become the next Stockton and Malone or Ariza really does become Tmac or Pippen skill wise. or unless if we trade Tmac for a star player (aint happening)
Or better players in general, his All-Star days are way past him, way past him. And No he's not our only hope. If Scola can keep up with his consistency, then he should be even better because he'll get even more touches.
Way past him? Considering he was playing on a knee that needed microfracture? Honestly, you are trying too hard.
Way past him... If you were a realist you would understand this. T-Mac is no different than Jermaine O'Neal, except Jermaine O'Neal isn't a 2nd round virgin.
He only needs to come back and put up a decent amount of numbers and defense for this team to be functional and drive hi value up before the trade deadline. By then we can either move him or see if he has enough retained ability to resign him for much less. Then with the money we saved if he takes less could make another trade or sign someone else. I think it all boils down to we may need to keep him and Yao but make them sign for significantly less because of injuries and get a third option in here. Limit them both until we have trade partner for one of them after their value goes back up.
I'm sorry, but Luis Scola is not going to lead the Rockets on his own to the playoffs. If this was an international tournament, sure. But in the NBA, he could get 20 and 10, I'm not doubting that. But he isn't an unstoppable scorer by any means. He is not meant to be a 1st option in the NBA. Notice, he only goes right...teams will pick up on that, and dare him to go left. He won't get the wide open jumpers that teams fronting Yao give him or Tmac's playmaking gives him. He's a good rebounder and crafty around the basket on put backs. Believe me, I wish he was capable of leading our team, because we may need him to next year, but I just don't see him doing that. As far as Tmac, I don't think he's far past his prime. He was a unique talent, and I doubt he'll ever be 2005 Tmac, but 2007 or 2008, definetily. He was playing in pain last year, and had no lift on his jumper. He couldn't drive right, since he couldn't jump off his left leg. Those issues will be fixed now, and thus allow him to do many things that he used to do. He didn't forget how to shoot, he actually got better at that last year from the 3 point line and free throw line. He didn't forget how to dribble a basketball...with his knee better, he'll be able to stay lower to the ground and give him that 1st quick step again. He didn't forget how to post up and use footwork. He didn't forget how to pass. He didn't forget how to drive in and draw an entire defense to get a teammate a wide open 3 or lay up. He didn't forget how to play defense. He didn't get any shorter and his arms didn't get any shorter, his hands didn't get any smaller. Jermaine O'neal was strictly a post up player, and with knee troubles, you don't have explosion to be able to consistently score in the post...you need to be able to stay low down there and explode strong to finish over a post defender. Notice, when post players get older or when they get knee problems, they tend to shy away from the post. besides, he's had knee troubles since 2003...Tmac has only had this problem for 1 season. The only thing you won't see Tmac do anymore MIGHT be dunking over people, having his elbows above the rim on an alley hoop, speeding down the court on a fast break, or blocking a lot of shots. From what I see in the videos, Tmac will be okay, and whether you like him or not, we need Tmac to lead us in order for us to make the playoffs. Scola and Brooks can combine for 10 points...who else is gonna score more than 15 ppg and who else will create easy shots for us?? You saw how we got blown out by 40 points in Game 5 WITH Artest and 20 in Game 7 WITH Artest. Imagine a team without a guy who can create at all (brooks doesn't know how to pass when he penetrates.) We'll be in the lottery if we don't get Tmac back or an equally talented player.
This is something that needs to be pointed out repeatedly. A lot of members are looking for some kind of savior. There is unfortunately a fair amount of denial on the board. Your point about McGrady needing to be the main scoring option is spot on,however we can't be sure as to when he can come back. Getting back to full fitness will take time as well. The max that Luis can get IMO is around 15 and 9. Landry and Andersen will have to play important roles in the frontcourt,in order to help Scola out.
Ya, that will have to wait and be seen. If he is with the team at all in October, then its a great sign. Even if its one preseason game. Even if he misses the first couple of weeks, we should be able to win atleast half our games in the 1st couple of weeks. Try things out with Ariza, Scola, and Brooks. If Tmac is out for all of November, then we may end up in trouble, unless another team in the west slips. But people assume that just because we won 2 games vs LA without Yao and Tmac that we will be fine...notice how many outside jumpers we had to make. When we didn't hit our jumpers, we got destroyed! You can't win in the NBA without somebody to create offense for others and himself. If you want that, go watch NCAA or high school basketball...in the NBA you need somebody that can create something out of nothing when the clock runs down and to create easy baskets for people who can't score as much on their own. Tmac is the ONLY one on the team that can do that, that will play in 09/10 season. Brooks can't pass, Scola is too predictable on offense (but he gets a lot of hustle points and rebounds), Ariza is unproven, and Lowery is a backup PG. Landry is a hustle player. We dont know how Buddinger and J. Taylor will translate in the NBA. Dorsey and Hayes are offensively challenged. anybody still think those guys can get us 25-30 wins? If Yao was playing, then no doubt I think we could make the playoffs, but if he's not here, Tmac is our next best option. Yao is more efficient while Tmac is more versatile. We've proven we can win without one or the other, but outside of 2 games, we haven't proven that we can win without them both. I think Scola has a chance to be an all star next year (20 and 10), but his points won't be pretty. Teams will figure he'll only go right...hopefully he worked on his left handed shot.
