Chron: T-Mac amazed by James' transition to stardom

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3100334

James wows peers
T-Mac amazed at Cav's transition to NBA stardom
By MEGAN MANFULL
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Tracy McGrady looks at LeBron James and cannot grasp how the 20-year-old has made such a seamless transition from teenager to superstar. McGrady doesn't even pretend to relate, despite also jumping from high school to the NBA eight years ago.

McGrady wasn't a No. 1 draft pick in 1997. He was selected ninth. He played only sparingly during his rookie season in Toronto, and his first NBA coach, Darrell Walker, told him he wouldn't last three years in the league.

There were no comparisons to Michael Jordan. No $90 million deals with Nike before McGrady's high school graduation. No large media gatherings in every city he visited.

"He has done better than I would have coming out of high school with all the hype and all the attention toward him," McGrady said of James. "He's done a phenomenal job, just because he's so humble. It's like he's been here before. I still don't think he's 20 years old."

James will make his lone Toyota Center appearance of the season tonight, bringing with him a Cavaliers team just one game behind the Washington Wizards for fourth place in the Eastern Conference standings. James, who is averaging 26.3 points, seven rebounds and 7.3 assists per game, has emerged as one of the best players in the league and is already leaving his mark on history.

On Jan. 18, James became the youngest player to record a triple double, and three days later he did it again. In February, he became the second-youngest player to start in the All-Star Game. And Sunday, James became the youngest player to score more than 50 points in a game by tallying 56 against Toronto.

Those numbers will be in the back of McGrady's mind tonight. He said James — along with Kobe Bryant and Paul Pierce — is one of the hardest players in the NBA to defend.

"He's a difficult guy to guard because you can't underestimate his shooting ability," McGrady said. "He's strong. He can go either way, lefthanded or righthanded. He's just a great talent. When you go against guys like that, you just hope that they don't have one of those hot nights when they feel like the basket is just so big that they can make shots from all over the place."

More star power

James arrives in Houston just two days after Shaquille O'Neal and the Miami Heat made their one appearance of the season. The Rockets said their game plan will change little, though. With All-Star Zydrunas Ilgauskas at center for Cleveland, Houston cannot afford to completely shift its focus from the inside to the outside.

The Cavs and Rockets are coming off big victories Tuesday. The Cavaliers played inspired defense to dominate Detroit in Brendan Malone's first game as Cleveland's head coach. The Rockets snapped the Heat's 12-game winning streak.

"If we're fortunate enough to be in the playoffs, (tonight) will be very similar to what a playoff series will be like," Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy said. "Play against a very good team, deal with the results, day off, light practice. Whoever can re-energize, refocus, improve the most in the next 48 hours will have the best chance to win."

James, who is trying to help the Cavaliers reach the playoffs for the first time since 1998, has led Cleveland in scoring the past 10 games, averaging 31.8 points during that span.

He also is on the verge of putting himself in elite company. Only Oscar Robertson, John Havlicek, Larry Bird and Michael Jordan have previously averaged 25 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a season.

Special vision

"He is obviously one of the best already at a young, young age," Van Gundy said of James. "He's got special athleticism. But I think the thing that sets him apart is he's got a special vision. All the truly great ones can really pass. And he can really, really pass.

"There is no one aspect you can try to take away that he can't counter because of his passing and vision. You send a second guy at him, and he's a great passer. So he's just one of those special guys. You just have to try to play as hard as you can and know that they are going to make some."

People around the league are almost as impressed with James' ability to deal with the hype and expectations that have surrounded him since high school as they are with his skills. That's why McGrady doesn't argue with anyone who says James is the NBA's future.

"He's a rare talent," McGrady said. "I don't think there will be another guy like him in the next 10 or 15 years. When guys such as myself are gone, he'll still be around playing and carrying the torch and doing a great job."

megan.manfull@chron.com

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Rockets Summary

Dawson gets extension

Rockets general manager Carroll Dawson received a two-year contract extension with the Rockets on Wednesday. Talks with owner Leslie Alexander had been ongoing, but Dawson had asked to put off the details until after the trade deadline.

Dawson was also told that when he decides to retire, Alexander wants him to remain as a consultant.

"It was very flattering," said Dawson, who is in his 25th season with the Rockets and his ninth as the GM. "It was nice. I don't really enjoy things about me. But that was nice he wants me with the franchise for a long time. I love this franchise. I've been with it half my adult life."

Dawson's contract was set to expire in October. Terms of the extension were not released.

Coaching link

It was just a year ago that Brendan Malone was at Toyota Center helping Rockets coach Jeff Van Gundy by observing games and practices. At the time, Malone was between jobs after being fired as part of the Knicks' coaching change from Don Chaney to Lenny Wilkens.

It didn't take long for Malone to get another opportunity, though. The first coach of the Toronto Raptors became a head coach again Monday when he replaced Paul Silas in Cleveland. He was an assistant to Silas before taking over the head job.

Van Gundy worked with Silas and Malone during his days in New York and said he didn't expect the Cavaliers' game plan to change too much despite Malone's taking over.

"Their personalities are very different, but their belief in basketball, like most coaches — there's not much variety in coaches," Van Gundy said.

"Everybody wants to win, everybody knows the importance of defense, rebounding, handling the ball, playing smart. So Brendan is an outstanding coach, as was Paul. I feel bad for Paul, and at the same time, Brendan will also do a great job."


Sura adjusting
Bob Sura said he is still trying to find his rhythm on offense after missing seven games with a back injury. Sura has cut back his field-goal attempts considerably, and his scoring average has also dropped slightly.

In the six games before Sura's injury, he averaged 12.8 field-goal attempts a game. In the six games since he was activated, he is averaging only 6.3.

MEGAN MANFULL