**Official McGrady/Pistons 2010 Regular Season Thread**

Yeah it took him half a season to get into shape...you want to use microfracture knee surgery as an excuse then that's cool, it's understandable...what about his past seasons with Houston where he came to training camp out of shape? In fact, how many offseasons past his Toronto days did he use the offseason to improve or add to his game? My point is he doesn't have the drive to use the offseason to make himself better. If anyone is expecting him to use the offseason to come back in GREAT SHAPE your head is up in the clouds. I guess I should expect that when I come into this thread...

 

every season after toronto when healthy tracy was all nba 7 times, must've spent alot of time on the couch eating bon bons, or was it a hyperbolic chamber?

 

Like DragonBall Z?

 

He was a better basketball player after leaving Toronto. Significantly better... He must have worked hard to make himself that good and maintain that level for the next eight years. He was also driven to come back from this recent knee surgery. Does he have Michael Jordan level motivation? No and few people do, but let's not act like McGrady was born with specific elite basketball talents and has just coasted by for the last decade without putting in any real effort.

 

T-mac's game since all-star break..

23
Tracy McGrady , DET

games [min] [pts] [efc] [reb][ast][stl] [blk] [efcp48]
[5] [29.2] [12.0][17.2][6.8][6.6] [1.0][0.6] [28.34]

ranked 23rd in the East in player efficiency per game and 20th in per 48 minutes. retrieved from NBA.com

http://www.nba.com/statistics/playe...&yearsExp=-1&sortOrder=7&splitDD=Last 5 Games

not that bad for a washed up out of practice fatty.

 

Philip (River Vale, N.J.): Why hasn’t Tracy McGrady been averaging more than 8.5 points per game? What’s holding him up? Is it his legs? Where do you think he’ll sign this summer?

Langlois: He’s logged most of his minutes over the season at point guard and most of the time he’s been more focused on running the offense than looking for opportunities for him to score. I’m a little surprised that McGrady’s level of play hasn’t been more widely acknowledged across the league. He’s been a lot better than most projected him to be. Maybe it’s because he wasn’t really ready to play when the season started, so people assumed he was what he was and couldn’t get any better than that. Maybe it’s because the Pistons overall have had a disappointing season and McGrady has been off the radar. I like the Pistons’ chances of retaining him, but it’s unclear what level of interest there will be in him. I think if a team in position to contend can convince McGrady it has an attractive role for him, he would listen. But his first priority will be to go where he feels comfortable and trusts management. He’s expressed some frustration with results, but McGrady has consistently mentioned his appreciation for Joe Dumars and the opportunity he gave him. The Pistons will be in the thick of it for him.

 

Anyone who expects an elite athlete to rebound from major knee surgery in just a few months after a chance to get into shape doesn't know much about injuries nor sports.

 

A few months to 'get back into shape'? That's bad comedy NewYorker.

He had knee surgery in Feb of 2009...on a small non-weight bearing portion of the knee...probably the easiest type of MFS to recover from. The doctors gave Mcgrady up to 1 year to recover. We all know what he looked like when he came back. Hell, it's been 2 years and he still isn't consistent. Tmac has a history of not rehabing well in the offseason. Remember the season we got Artest? He looked like crap even though he had all offseason to take care of his knee(had his knee/shoulder scoped in may 08) and his conditioning...roughly 5 months. In fact his offseasons have been horrible lately. Why do you think no one wants to give him a contract even if they see he can be somewhat productive? Because they know he half asses his training and will be a rollercoaster of performance throughout the year. I'm sure the fact that he has crapped on the management of nearly all his past teams isn't all that inviting either.

I know there is a lot of Mcgrady fan club in this thread, but there is no way I can admire someone that has the genes of a basketball god and the mental fortitude of a droopy eyed armless kid.

 

That's true, my statement about his offseason improvement mentioned Toronto, which I meant to imply the summer after toronto. Obviously the improvement between those Toronto/Orlando days couldn't be denied. It's after that...and especially late Orlando/Houston days. He didn't improve a bit. His shooting wasn't better, he didn't develop any other aspect of his game...but why should he? He would be paid max money for his skills even if they declined a bit. If he wanted to 'win' he would've done something to make himself better during some of those offseasons wouldn't he? He was never going to be MJ(although he had the body to do that), but he could've tried to show something better than he was...hell the JVG statement just recently talked about his lack of motivation. I don't think I'm out of line to criticize the man's motivation and dedication, especially when so many other experts do.

 

If we were thin at the 2/3 I wouldn't mind having him for his current salary. And if he never talked and just went about his business.

 

In his first three seasons in Houston he averaged about 25 points, 6 rebounds, and 6 assists a game. I don't think he could have shown "something better." That could have just been his ceiling at that point. If you think that averaging those numbers in the NBA can be achieved without putting in any work or effort, then you must believe he should have been the greatest player ever. That belief is either disingenuous (necessary to argue McGrady is lazy) or just... kind of nutty. Believing he was born with "the genes of a basketball god" (or that anyone is) is crazy to me, but that's another discussion.

Your point was that McGrady doesn't have the "drive" to improve in the off-season. He has clearly demonstrated at times during his career (even recently) that he does of that drive.

 

T-Mac could start at power forward tonight

 

well they are playing toronto....I feel like they could start stuckey there and still compete.

 

There are no problem on offense but he could get injured on D when some powerful guy will try to destroy him in the post with his own strength

Times when he was able to defend Dirk are over but I hope that Davis won't be aggressive tonight.

Mac should finish this season on a high note and with healthy status in his bag

 

McGrady's confidence level is at an all time low.

Seems like everytime he misses a shot, he shys away from taking more field goals.

 

wow, those 2 dunks were sweet

 

T-Mac looks outstanding again with those assists and his decision making

He found his form

 

Wow, I don't know where to start....

You don't think he could've showed something better in his first 3 seasons as a Rocket? Really? His best season, at 23 years of age, was 02-03, 32pts, 6.5 rbs, 5.5 assists, on 45% fg, and 38%3-pt...incredible don't you think? He shot the ball 24 over times a game that year. From that point on his game deteriotated. At 23 years of age he got progressively worse...considering the human body doesn't begin to show loss of muscle mass until after 30 I find that considerably pathetic. Apparently you and T-mac both think his body works differently than everyone else, eh? I know you(and Tmac) may have a lot of excuses as to why he couldn't find time to become a more efficient midrange player, or develop a post up game or become a more proficient 3pt shooter in a 6 year period with all the physical tools and available offseason time he had. I'm not talking about him scoring 40 pts a game, or something ridiculous like that..I'm talking about him refining his game a touch, so he doesn't look like a glorified chucker. Someone shooting the ball over 24 times a game and scoring 32 pts is good, but at only 45% shooting for someone 6'8" usually going against guys 4-5 inches shorter than him should be a bit higher don't you think? If Tmac shot closer to 50% like the greats it would've made a huge difference in his regular season and playoff success...HUGE DIFFERENCE. I would really like to hear your explaination as to why at 23 years old he couldn't get better...hell, there are a lot of players that come into the league at 21-22 and continue to get better until they are 28-30. But Tmac couldn't/wouldn't try to improve. Why do you think that is? I know it took a lot of hardwork and effort to get to that point at 23, I'm not going to argue that...anyone would be an idiot to think it wouldn't. I'm convinced that he thought he was good enough to warrant a max contract in the NBA and he figured he didn't need to work on his game...he simply wanted to maintain at that point. The fact that he couldn't be more efficient, even though his numbers started to drop like a limp feather from the sky, tells me his work was ethic 'average'(for an NBA player) and his passion for the game wasn't there. Like I said before JVG talked about how Tmac was well below average at working on his game...mainly because of how great he naturely was(basketball god?). I don't know how you could possibly argue Tmac didn't have the genes of a basketball god...6'8", strong, long arms, explosive, and quick reflexes...Tmac had a 1 in a billion body as far as basketball players are concerned...not sure how anyone in their right mind could even begin to argue that...

Anyways, my whole point is that Tmac could've been one of the best, if not the best basketball players ever...I know you don't think so and I think you are absolutely wrong in that respect...he was incredibly talented, but his mind was too weak and his 'will to win' wasn't there. He used his talent to do what he simply 'liked'(not loved) to do and he knew he could make a lot of money doing it. He had a good deal of discipline too...there is no way anyone anyone, regardless of natural talent...could do as well as he did in the NBA with out having a good deal of discipline...he had it, but when the going got tough, Tmac folded and crawled back into a shell, that's why he has never been and never will be considered a winner. Hell, he probably will never be a Hall of famer, even though he had the talent for it.
But I'm sure he doesn't give a crap...he's rich as hell and will be comfortable, and then some, for the rest of his life. But no one will remember him in 10-15 years, except for being that 'good player' that never won jack-****.

 

Didn't see those dunks but 7 points and only 4 asists in 29 minutes is kinda weak. Tracy has to find his scoring touch, that's it. And he has to become more, and more agressive.

 

Don't be afraid to use more paragraphs.

Let's not forget what your original point was and what I was originally responding to...

McGrady's 32 ppg season, which you keep mentioning, was his sixth in the NBA. Clearly he had the drive to use off-seasons to make himself better. But you admit your initial point was wrong, McGrady did work hard to get to that level. Now you want to move on to field goal percentage? No thanks, I'll stick with McGrady's overall game, instead of just one facet.

I've never seen a limp feather confused fall from the sky, so I'm not sure of the exact speed, but I'm going to assume you meant his numbers fell quickly (in some way). What numbers fell like that ? While his field goal percentage fell after the 32 ppg season, it rose his first year in Houston (then fell, then rose). Most of his other numbers (besides blocks, which fell like a moist feather) stayed pretty consistent in his prime. His assists per game even increased. Maintaining that level took hard-work, effort, and yes, drive.


1998 - 7 , 18 mpg
1999 - 9.3 ppg , 22 mpg
2000 - 15.4 ppg, .451 , 6.3 rpg, 3.3 apg
2001 - 26.8 ppg, .457 , 7.5 rpg, 4.6 apg
2002 - 25.6 ppg, .451 , 7.9 rpg, 5.3 apg
2003 -32.1 ppg, .457 , 6.5 rpg, 5.5 apg
2004 - 28.0 ppg, .417 , 6.0 rpg, 5.5 apg
2005 - 25.7 ppg, .431 , 6.2 rpg, 5.7 apg
2006 - 24.4 ppg, .406 , 6.5 rpg, 4.8 apg
2007 - 24.6 ppg, .431 , 5.3 rpg, 6.5 apg
2008 - 21.6 ppg, .419 , 5.1 rpg, 5.9 apg

You're going to keep saying "basketball god" ? lol, okay... Height and long limbs give you a good base to build a basketball player, but they don't make you a "god." (Was Walt Williams a demigod?) They don't even ensure you'll be half-way decent. There is no innate ability to dribble a basketball through a defense or shoot turnaround jumpers. You work at that. You also work on explosiveness and jumping. I remember Charles Barkley talking about jumping over a four foot fence repeatedly to work on his leaping ability*. Drexler talked about how people thought it was just "genetic," but that he actually had to work to be able to dunk the way he could^.

Are the playoffs when the going gets tough? Turtle-Mac's numbers usually rose in the playoffs.

2001 - 33.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 8.3 apg
2002 - 30.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.5 apg
2003 - 31.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 4.7 apg
2005 - 30.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 6.7 apg
2007 - 25.3 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 7.3 apg
2008 - 27.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 6.8 apg

Tracy McGrady's prime started in his fourth season and probably ended in his eleventh (2008). His best season (outlier of his prime in ppg) was his sixth season.


*http://espn.go.com/classic/s/add_barkley_charles.html
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