They beat New Jersey, Utah, Chicago, Denver, LA, and San Antonio in the month of January last season -- all playoff teams. I don't think T-Mac meant to degrade his teammates. He's said that they've been playing great and he's excited about it. You can see it on his face when he was on the bench. He's just speaking as a member of the team. If he used the word "they" instead of "we", I can understand why you may think that's inappropriate. Surely you wouldn't consider it a slam if Adelman or Morey or even Yao pointed out that the schedule has eased up and the best way to judge progress is by playing the better teams (I believe Morey said something to this effect, in fact, on the radio).
Degrade is kind of a strong word but I thought the same thing. When Yao went down on Dec. 23. McGrady played Indiana, New Jersey, Atlanta, Memphis, Utah and Minnesota. I don't think we heard a peep out of him last season about the start of his schedule without Yao. I think this was just an instance of his ego getting in the way by mentioning it now. At the same time, I hope the team is able to dedicate tomorrow's game to him and give him more reason to be excited. Because I don't doubt he's been happy for his teammates.
Are you all r****ded? Winning against a Good team is how you show your progress. Winning against a team like New Orleans is showing that we are a playoff calibre team. Just because he goes, we'll see how we go in New Orleans doesn't mean oh for shizzle you guys need me if you get thrashed. It could mean: 1. We will be tested to see if our current new found improvement stands up to the elite of the Western Conference and if it doesn't what we can improve. 2. Our soft schedule might explain our improved chemistry and that our playing level might not be at playoff calibre yet. Its a standard statement that you say when you play the San Antonio's the Phoneix the Dallas etc........We say it all the time, when we come up against good playoff teams. Just because Mac said it doesn't mean, oh crap his deliberatly playing down his team mates. How about you all stop reading between the lines like little obsessed whiners? How about we get back to supporting our players and cheering them on when we play playoff teams. How about we don't trash one of our best players cause you know that will definetly make his attitude better. How about we stop making every second line he says a propaganda item for him to take a dump on the rockets??
