Talk is cheap, I believe he mentioned he'd have the last laugh after that Dallas series as well. Time isn't over yet though, and it's all mental with T-Mac, hopefully he can regain that form and come back strong, not even to the level of previous seasons, but a more consistent 18/5/5.
in the end, tmac is a rocket and has given us some good times. i am fan because i WANT to be a fan. so i will stand by tmac and believe he says what he means but like durvasa said, its nothing until he shows this on the court and for EVERY game.
He admitted he wasn't playing as hard as he should have. But then, this is how he says it: “Without a doubt,” McGrady said. “It’s a matter of trying to come out and trying to compete physically. I look back at some of the tapes of some of my games, and in those games, I feel like I’m trying to go hard, but I look, and I’m not. I don’t have it. In my mind, I think I’m going hard. But physically, I don’t have it." Not much of a self-critique. He's still, essentially, pinning it on his "injury".
he took injections 2x in that series alone so he didn't feel any pain/soreness so he could play. i'm sure if he did that every week, he'd play fine. he had one before the phoenix game earlier this year and he played terrific. but too much of those injections are not good for your system.
I somewhat agree. It does seem like he's being offended by the criticism but perhaps that's his way of using it to motivate himself. If this is indeed completely injury and health related then I can understand him feeling a little on guard about the criticism since his play is out of his control right now, but i'm a bit concerned over what else could be going on. He is picking on himself a little as well so it shows he is aware of his poor play. He was fantastic last season, and he's right in that 29 isn't an old man. I still think he can be a great player but hopefully he's going to show that here and soon.
if he did, he would listen to butch carter and retire after 3 years in the L when your own damn coach says you can't last in this L.
Is this true? If so, that's a rather telling sign that this is injury related and not quitting related.
he admitted he didn't try as hard when he watched the tapes. he "thought" he did during the game, but going back to watch the tapes, he didn't. and he said it's due to his physical problems, but nevertheless, he said he should have tried harder.
Yeah thats true, the team says they don't want to give him more than four o those injections a year, but they really help him to feel no pain, and then u see how T-Mac would be playing if he wasn't hurt
yes. in game 6 last yr v. utah, the women reporter on ESPN (and the chron) said that tracy took one before the series started and def. one before game 5 b/c the swelling after game 4 was ridiculous. he then went on to pour it on in games 5 and 6. he took it twice this year already (don't know when the first one is but the 2nd one was v. phoenix and he had his best shooting game). the doctors said he can only have 4 a season and he already had 2 before the first month was over. so realistically, it's injury-related. sure tracy could work harder on his rehab but itis what it is. once he gets it right, he'll be fine. but this is the NBA. he gets paid the big bucks. so criticism is fair game.
We'll see. He'll have to prove it. But I will say this about his chances. Just as he has proven to be moody to say the least, lowering his level of play to his emotional state at times, he has also proven to be able to elevate his play when he's motivated enough to do it. I would call this moment enough motivation, but we'll see if it translates or if it's just another sign that his deteriorating athleticism is going to be a crutch that keeps his mental poise down for the rest of his career.
Guys like McGrady have a huge ego.He was definitely an elite talent despite not getting out of the 1st round(although never a champion) but now he is denial about how far he has dropped. That's what there is a sense of defiance that I'm T-Mac,I'm gonna be back to what I was.He has shown some self criticism but he not mentally ready to play by his own admission and I feel that he does not want to fight it through. He should sit out until he is ready to work and play hard consistently.
it's funny how I say I will never believe what this mofo says again, and yet I read this and totally believe it, and not only that, but I start envisioning how amazing it would be if he indeed comes back great as ever.. this is taking a toll on my health
In my eyes...talk is cheap. He has been giving false promises for many seasons now and the bottom line is he has not delivered on anything he says. I don't care if says another word to the media or blames himself for anything. come out play hard and we could care less. Play like you have been and I don't care if your name is Michael Jordan we have a right to be bashing him.
he will never come back as great as ever; i'm sure he does know his athleticism and quickness aren't they once were. but he can easily be a 20-22ppg, 5rpg, 6apg type of player again and how many types of those players can you count on one hand? i mean, when he came back from the rest, he put up 21, 7, 7 for a 6 game stretch before this terrible stretch. he still has it. he just has to get his body and mind straight about his knee/physical problems. this has happened EVERY year.
****.....that thing is ****ing dangerous...four times a year is already pretty messed up... injection is usually reserved for last-resort in a must-win game (in soccer like championship game) before operations. It's not reserved for regular season games....not that i heard of....
dude is really fragile, it will def be interesting to see how he responds to this heat tomorrow night
