I like reading your posts because you're always optimistic about T-Mac. That said, I have to express my doubts about your thinking that he'll be a 20-5-5 player into his 30s. If he improves his shooting and it allows him to be effective without taking too much contact, then it's plausible. How he is now, however, with that line-drive J and that horrid 3 point shot (where did it go?), he'll need his athleticism to be a superstar. I just hope he gets a shot where he uses his legs more and shoots the ball with more arc, cause that'll improve his consistency a lot. With regards to this year, I am pretty sure (hopeful) that he'll lose the extra weight before the season starts. I'm not blaming him for the weight gain, he must have had difficulty just walking on that knee for the first few months post-surgery. Now that it's getting back into shape, he'll be able to work it out. Let's just get this ****e started.
That's actually great to hear with Les saying that he'll make a serious push for Artest pending a good season from him. I'd say we've got a 2 year window and if it doesn't get accomplished, then at the end of McGrady's contract you've gotta let him walk or resign him for reduced money. McGrady's years here have been nice to re-energize the team and put us back on the map, but we don't even have a first round triumph to show for it, let alone a title. At the end of his contract, we'll have given McGrady 6 years to have delivered a title (and hopefully a first round victory). It's all worth it if he delivers one title for his 6-year, max money contract. Yet, if at the end of that contract, we don't have a title or at least the signs of advancing in the playoffs, I say cut ties all together. I'm tired of the health issues with McGrady and I'm tired of first round exits. Frankly, I wish we'd done our hw on McGrady before we signed him, but that being said he's still a hell of a player. I think it's worrisome enough that enough that Yao plays nearly 12 out of 12 months every season and has been injury prone because of it. We don't need to resign a brittle T-Mac in addition to worrying about Yao in the future. Who would we sign in place? I don't really know. A lot depends on Artest and seeing if he can be a long-term piece, mental issues notwithstanding. A lot also depends on health. Signing Artest will virtually mean nothing if we can't maintain our health again this year. Sigh, health health health. I really hope we can stay healthy. I know that's on the minds of 99% of the people here, but I really hope we can. This team could be something else if so.
You know what I agree with you there is no excuse why we shouldnt get out of the first round if eveyone is healthy.
I heard some Mayans talking the other day about how they set their calendar by Les' annual october prognostications.
man, if the rockets don't advance this year, I would be highly upset....Every year after we lose, I say..."Wait till next year"...
No team will pay an old Mcgrady 20 million or more after this contract is over to he a missing piece. When you spend that kind of money, you are buying an all star and not a missing piece. i never knew missing pieces are that expensive
