YESSS first CHRON post http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/4310040.html Nov. 4, 2006, 12:22AM McGrady's shooting of growing concern Star's struggles from last season have carried over By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle "It's tough," Tracy McGrady said. "I got a tough job." Few would feel pity. But the Rockets might need him to work it out and quickly after a flop of a season opener and with the Dallas Mavericks at Toyota Center tonight for the home opener. It seems clear the Rockets cannot be their best if McGrady is not. McGrady is no longer shackled by last season's back pains, but his preseason and season opener did not recapture his former offensive prowess. He slumped last season to the fewest points per game since he left Toronto after the 1999-2000 season, making 40.6 percent of his shots, the worst shooting of his nine-year career. He made just eight of 24 shots in the season opener while seeming caught somewhere between his options to attack the lane, shoot from the perimeter and set up teammates. "Having to score and having to get guys involved is what my job is," McGrady said. "I've been doing it for years, so I know how to balance it out. More so this year, I try to come into games and try to get my guys off right away and also mix my shots in there, attack, try to go to the free-throw line, so when the second half comes, if need be, I have to in some ways take over the game and make tough shots, I'm sort of feeling confident and into a rhythm. In the Utah game, I never really got into a rhythm on offense." McGrady was not at his two-time scoring champion standards through the preseason, either. He averaged 14.5 points on 40.8 percent shooting and made just 55.8 percent of his free throws. He said then that he was working on his offensive game, rather than pursuing the best shots he could get. But after a season in which McGrady's injuries had him avoiding contact, and the Rockets' lack of perimeter shooting allowed teams to clog the lanes in front of him, there is no question which choice the Rockets want him to make. "The more he attacks the basket, the better he is, the better we are," coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "If he can get to the line 13 times in a game (as he did against the Jazz), that's tremendous." It is also, McGrady said, the plan. But he said he has not made that adjustment. "It depends on how the game is flowing and how the defense is playing me, and also on how I'm feeling," McGrady said. "This year, I'm more going to be in attack mode and try to get to the free-throw line a lot more. I want to be one of those guys that shoots 10, 11 free throws a game." A career 75.6 percent shooter from the line, he made eight of 13 on Wednesday. "I felt like I was shooting like Shaq (O'Neal) and Ben Wallace," McGrady said. Van Gundy said the solution is simple, and not different from the corrections he wanted with McGrady's 3-pointer. "Basically, with him ... no matter what shot he shoots, the more arc, the more balance, the better the results," Van Gundy said. jonathan.feigen@chron.com
Did someone else take 24 shots, or did I miss something here? Anyway, it's good to see that they're not just brushing this off like it's nothing. Tracy and JVG both know there is an adjustment to be made, and I'm glad to hear that the game plan is to attack the rim first and foremost. Of course, I'll be even happier when I actually see it happening.
24 or 12, most of the team stunk it up, including tmac They shouldnt brush his shooting off and the others either. As far as the gameplan, if the coach wouldnt leave him at the top of the key where the defense can home in on him, it would be easier. With the same screen and roll crap, they double him and collapse on him every time.
As JVG pointed out, when he attacks the rim, we are a better team. i hope tracy gets that tattoed in his brain. attack at every oportunity.
Man, screw brokeback FatMac! He lost the game for us in Utah with his stupid bricks. He's not going to be able to attack the rim. He should just dish the ball and be a Magic Johnson type of player. Magic wasn't athletic at all, but he played smart. FatMac needs to study video clips of Magic Johnson. Feed the ball to Yao, he's our best player. Oh and get rid of JVG, he's BORING and he sucks!
The rest of the starters (even including Rafer's 5-13) shot 57% on 37 shots. The entire team (besides McGrady) shot 48%, and if you don't include Dikembe whose "shot" doesn't even exist to a point that we'd be concerned about it, they shot 51%. The vast majority of concern should lie with Tracy.
easy man what about watching it from another angle we gotta rest him more so he can get going in the fourth he'll be more productive btw sit alston more and let v-span play around 15 minutes damn it
This is so true because T-MAC takes too much shots. If his FG% is low, it will requir other players having really high FG%, which is hard. The solution is simple, T-MAC should try to get FT if he could not finish the shot. If he has a low FT%, then give the ball to others.
So go watch some other team. I don't disagree that the Mac now looks very much different from the Orlando Tmac or even the '04-'05 Tmac, but hey, it's just 1 game and preseason. Dude hasn't played top-level competitive ball in a month, give him some time. Anyway, I'm still in the midst of sorting out how his game has changed over the years...Might do an extensive topic on it if and when I can finally post topics. But let me say this, Tmac is not a physical player, and I sincerely believe that he's well past his optimum playing weight, no matter if it's muscle mass, or body fats. He was at his best in '02-'03, when he was around 210lbs. He's 223 now, and the way he's playing, it leads me to believe that bigger is not better for his case.
His shot is still very flat which means if hits the rim it will likely bounce out where as if it had arc it might have gone in.... this is probably a result of him learning to play with a bad back...he needs to unlearn those habits....will probably take a while.
I have a gut feeling that TMac will never be the old TMac again. He might recover a little bit. I also read that TMac is not happy that Yao is the first option on the team. In addition, what personal problem will TMac have this year? He is simply too soft, peroid. Look at Kobe who played extradinarily during his sex trial. What a contrast.
Magic wasn't athletic? He was a 6'9" point guard, ran one of the best fast break teams of all time, could sub as a center when needed, and was a very creative drive and dish guy. You must only have post-1990 Magic in your mind. Regardless, McGrady has always mentioned Magic as the player he emulated growing up so I am guessing he has watched him play.
I guess if you get paid for $ 20M per year, the expectation of you will be different from these guys who make just minimum salary in the league.
I'd like to see what kind of shape you are in if think Tmac is fat? And did you come up with with that clever moniker all by yourself? He went to the free throw line 13 times, so he was attacking the rim. And if he could just be a "Magic Johnson" type player at will then I am all for it.
i won't worry about his shooting. it'll come back to him. in the meantime, i do wish he attacks the basket more, don't just settle for a j.
Can you give a link to where you heard about Tmac not happy with Yao as the first option on the team. I have not read such thing before.
