Haha so you're saying Yao Ming help the Rockets make it to the 2nd round? Sorry but Yao surely wasn't a big factor in the playoff series against the blazers. He was good in the first game and after that, he was shut down until the last game when portland really didnt focus on him as much. But like I said, if the Rockets get knocked out of the first round, people said its Tmac's fault, but if we got out of the first round, props to Yao Ming. Ok, how about this...let me ask you think question. Last season during the 22 game win streak. If Tmac got hurt the same time as yao and miss the remainder of the season and yao was healthy, could he lead the rockets to the 22 winning streak and to the playoffs? My opinion? No yao wouldnt be able to. But like I said, people like you and others just bash on Tmac whenever you have a chance. Even if Tmac is the one that lead us to a win, you give Yao the props and just bash on Tmac about anything.
don't forget a kings game a few years earlier when he tried to use that game to show he's not a ballhog. what did he do? just stand around the 3pt line and refusing to shoot for 3 quarters
Yea but people forget all those things when you win. If you ask I don't think he quick on that Moon dunk I just thing there was nothing he could do.
Tracy McGrady wasn't the sole reason why we won 22 games in a row...no ONE player ever is for a streak like that. He and Yao were a big part of it, and his playmaking and scoring helped us continue to win after Yao was out. Scola, Alston, Landry, and Battier all played exceptionally well during the streak. But it wasn't all because of Tmac...thats just bad bball analysis. This also isn't a Tmac vs. Yao thread either. Neither one of them got much help over the years, ESPECIALLY in the playoffs. Yao wasn't fully developed offensively by 2005, but he still had a very good series vs. Dallas, but he was officiated horribly. In 2007, I cut him some slack because he wasn't a 100%...he looked more like 85-90%. His shooting %'s dropped a lot, and he couldn't match up with Okur on the perimeter, and he got ate up by Boozer. The one thing he could've done better was rebound in Game 7...he only had 6. But like I said, he wasn't a 100%, so I cut Yao some slack there. Tmac wasn't solely responsible for keeping the season afloat and getting us home court advantage, but he was a MAJOR part of it...he really stepped up his game in Yao's absence. Yao, like most men his size, has foot problems...it just happens to guys that big. When he plays, he's the best overall center in the league. But the problem is his health. It just seems that they can't stay healthy at the same time anymore. Its sad, because their injuries became worse after we got a better coach, a better GM, and a much better supporting cast. Had all that happened in 2005, we would've been out of the 1st round, we would've been contenders year in and year out. Also, Yao wasn't the reason we beat the Blazers this year...but he was an important part of it. Ya, I know the stats say he only averaged 17 ppg, but he still drew 2-3 defenders even without the ball, which allowed Scola, Brooks, Artest, and Landry to produce. Yao also got 12-15 fouls combined a game on Pryzbilla, Oden, and Aldridge/ Also, Artest, Scola, Landry, Brooks, Battier, Wafer, Brent Barry, Hayes (defensively) and Lowery were key...a MUCH BETTER supporting cast than in years past. compare that supporting cast to the 2005 playoff team: Ryan Bowen, Bobby Sura, Jon Barry, David Wesley, Weatherspoon, Deke, Mike James, Scott Padgett or the supporting cast of the 2007 playoff team: Juwan Howard, Shane Battier, Rafer Alston, Luther Head, Deke, Hayes (starting), Jon Lucas III, Kirk Snyder. or the 2008 playoff team supporting cast (Yao was out): Scola, Landry (rookie), Bobby Jackson, Luther Head, Aaron Brooks (rookie), Mike Harris, Hayes, Deke (starting), Battier (injured foot), Rafer Alston (missed 2.5 games; won our only 2 games with Rafer). So to be honest, I think the much improved supporting cast was the major reason why we won, plus being more talented and deeper than our opponent for once was a big reason as well, also Yao playing a traditional center in a slowed down tempo was a factor as well...it wasn't just because Tmac wasn't there, lol. But, if we had played the Jazz again, I don't know if we beat them in the 1st round...they are a horrible matchup for Yao. Same goes with Dallas...Dirk and Terry are nightmare matchups for us. But Portland, Denver, New Orleans, and San Antonio were all beatable to me this year, with our team. Luckily we drew the Blazers, an inexperienced team with only 2 real scoring threats (Roy and Aldridge were amazing in the series). Plus, they had no answer for Yao...that 1st game set the tone for the series. That Blazers team reminded me a lot of the 2005 and 2007 team, except much younger and more athletic, but they heavily relied on 2 players to do everything for them, and it just wasn't enough. With Tmac, I think we probably would've swept them. We still had trouble scoring at times, since we couldn't create good shots at some points of the games. Also, if you don't think our supporting cast wasn't an issue, just look at the Rockets record without Tmac in the JVG-Carrol Dawson era vs. the RA-Morey era...the Rockets had no chance without Tmac from 2004 to 2007. If he was out, we bascially had to play a horrble team to win or we needed a miracle...even WITH Yao playing. Tmac was responsible for so much as far as playmaking. I do agree that without Tmac back then, we weren't making the playoffs, and Tmac was the major X-factor until 2007, just based on how poorly our roster was built. By 2008, the Rockets got much better support, and without Tmac, and WITH Yao playing, the Rockets did much better, since we had other options to score with...we were still only around .500 without Tmac that year though. This past season, we bring a legit 3rd option scorer, Scola, Landry, and Brooks all get better, we get rid of the horrible shooting Alston for a more slashing point guard in Lowery, we find Wafer to be productive scorer, and Yao is still Yao, so we do much better without an INJURED TMAC. But just remember how important Tmac was to our team from 2004 to 2007...he did everything for us, a lot like Roy for the Blazers this year. Thats why the Blazers are looking so hard for somebody else to be able to create.
Thanks...I know I have a bad habit of making long posts, but everything had to be said...I was responding to a long post, so I tried to cover everything Blake was talking about.
<br> Dude, I used to be you about a year ago. You make very good points. Some people will always disagree though. It is what it is. I agree with you though
thanks...I hear you though...some people will always continue to blame ONE person for a team sport. I do respect Blake in the fact that he acknowledges that our playoff failures and Orlando's playoff failures were not Tmac's fault. He does know that one player can only do so much. But the only thing I have against his criticism of Tmac is based largely on ONE GAME, that I cannot understand. (especially in a game/season where his knee was hurt badly, and he was playing horribly). If we put our worst day of our life under a microscope to represent our entire life, how would you feel about that...doesn't sound all that fair to me....its not like he committed a serious crime or anything. But then theres others who would blame a hurricane hitting houston on Tmac, or the economy on Tmac, or their personal problems on Tmac, Everything is Tmac's fault to them...honestly, nothing he does can change their minds...quite sad how some ppl are willing to hate a person they've never even met or done anything wrong to anybody. They seem to think that Tmac is supposed to be some superhero who can beat teams 1-on-5, just because the Rockets gave him a max contract.I mean, Jordan, Dream, and Lebron are decent at playing 1-on-5, but even they couldn't win much doing that. Like I said, I don't blame Tracy one bit for making those "its my fault" comments...I mean I think he just got tired of getting all the blame from the fans and the media, even though he was the only one who showed up to play (and Scola). Its just not right...
let's play your game. So Yao led the Rockets to 1 victory against the Blazers. How many games did Tmac lead the Rockets against the Blazers in that series? that number is 0 the number 1 > 0
What difference does it make. Last time i checked McGrady is on the Rockets. The Rockets beat the Blazers. The Rockets made it to the 2nd round. Hmmmmm McGrady is still on the Rockets til this day. Hmmmmm McGrady made it out the 1st round with 0 games played. Hmmmmm I wonder what you have to say next. McGrady knows what it feels like to be in the 2nd round without playing.
i'm just proving how the mcgrady refuse to criticize him and give him any faults. they idolize him and make excuses for everything he does, everything. throwing yao ming under the bus is knee jerk reaction #1 for tmac crazies. number 2 is when they make arguments using these words "IF TMAC". number 3 is when they say he was just as good as Kobe.
This is how a real Rocket would handle this situation. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/iGHBKp8wF3A&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/iGHBKp8wF3A&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
The only thing you have proven is the type of person you are. Here is me ( a Tmac apologist, which I am assuming you meant in the above post )criticizing Tmac. He is injury prone and can't stay on the court. He settles for contested jumpers alot when he should drive to the hole more. He has been unable to put on superhuman performances, ala dream/jordan/lebron, to carry us to success in the playoffs. He has trouble handling the criticism of the media and says stupid things to the media. He was not worth his salary this past season. Amongst other things he is imperfect basketball player and human being. In your mind, you have created this mythological character who posts on this board called a "Tmac Lover". Now this person, in your head, will defend McGrady to the teeth and ignore all his faults, prasing him as something divine. For whatever reason, this drives you absolutely nuts and you insist on leading some witch hunt on whomever doesnt speak ill of Tmac or share your view. Heres the truth though. That character in your mind doesnt exist...he was some bandwagoner who came and went and never even reads any of this stuff. All you are doing with your excessive dribble is annoying actual Rocket fans and riling people up. You offer no inciteful discussion or opinion on any topic. Other than constant Tmac bashing or posting videos of former Rockets players involved during the championship years. Even then, in the case of old players, it is seldom in a praising fashion and more often than not includes some snide reference to how bad it is now with our current players. Even some of moderators have gotten on you about this stuff. Does it stop you? No, it doesnt. You accuse apologists of defending everything he does and yet here you are not offering him ANY credit for anything he has done.
You will only get a few people who supports the Rockets (not McGrady) believing he is at Kobe's level. You get just as much Yao fans throwing McGrady under the bus as McGrady fans. However, the problem is it seems like whoever makes a valued judgement that isn't aimed at criticizing McGrady a lot of people (including you no offense) those people are immediately thrown in the "McGradywagon". The point is, whether there is justification behind the arguement or not. Whoever supports this guy is immediately labelled a non-rocket fan, Hakeem Hater, 2-peat rocket team hater, supporter of drug legisation, rapist and Sonic defense.
