Ok first of all, I don't wanna hear any crap about trading him or anything about Yao. This is a PRAGMATIC look at TMac's situation with his back. I've been very concerned about Tracy's health lately. He looks like he's still having fun out there, but I'm extremely afraid that his back is making it feel like he's going through a meat grinder everytime he tries to jump. During the Jazz game, when he was on a fastbreak and got the ball he went up with a very weak looking (for him) 2 handed put-in that I won't even classify as a dunk. His shot has also looked very flat lately. He's always had more of a line drive shot than a rainbow type, which is why the lack of vert is affecting him so much right now. Question is, what do we do with TMac? These things don't go away, no matter how much u work on it. Grandmama is one guy I can think of whose career was destroyed by back problems. He adjusted his game, and helped the Knicks to many playoffs. I think TMac can do the same, he's talented enough to rework his shot so that it becomes less dependent on his vertical. I hope they start working with him on that during the offseason.
T-mac can still be effective by doing everything else, defense, rebound, steal, pass. He can just be a little more selective with this shots, wait for the shots when he is a little more open.
I hope TMac finds his shot if its being affected by lack of elevation and this will be an ongoing issue. Then im sure Tmac can find other ways to compensate. Like going to the rim and getting himself to the FT line 14 to 15 times a game. J
T-mac will be Clyde to Yao's Hakeem He will simply have to accept his role Play smarter not harder Rocket River
YOF. If TMac becomes Clyde to Yao's Dream, the Rockets's hope for a ring is over. Nothing against Yao, but with the way that the NBA's rules are against dominant post players, Yao will never reach Dream's level of dominance. We need a strong Yao and Tracy to contend. That's plain fact.
Larry Bird is another player, more comparable to McGrady than Larry Johnson, who developed severe back problems late in his career. It happened in his tenth season (88-89) where he only played 6 games. He eventually retired after the 91-92 season, four seasons later. Before the back injuries, Bird was widely regarded as the greatest player on planet. He was just coming off his best scoring season, averaging 29.9 points per game: http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/birdla01.html As you can see, his field goal percentage took a significant dip after that. He adjusted his game, becoming much more of a passer and less of a scorer. Hopefully McGrady's back problem won't turn out as serious as Bird's and he'll become his old self. But if not, he needs to make the right adjustments and start deferring more to Yao and the other players on the team. If some one of Larry Bird's stature can do it, certainly McGrady can as well.
we will have to wait and see how he is next season. he has had these problems almost his whole career. some seasons he is fine, like last year. if we have a repeat performance of this season by tmac then it will be time to start thinking about a trade. i love tmac, but i love the rockets more, and if he is going to miss games and play at 70% all year we are in for a decline. i'd rather move him for a young wing player who can score such as redd, pierce (older but very good), gordon, richardson, jefferson, to name a few. we could get out of jho's contract, and bring in a nice package of one of those guys plus one other young player, maybe a pick.
yea because Larry Johnson's game was more predicated on strength. Larry Birds was more finesse Rocket River
