wow the info from leebigez/(tmac's camp?) is interesting: a: tmac does care about his next contract and not thinking about retiring after 2010 b: tmac thinks it's not easy to find a wing player to play with yao and he told this to a lot players (it's not that easy to find his replacement?) c: he likes brooks, he hates alston, he's on the fans' side.
Man, after reading DocRocket's posts and leebigez's posts (thanks to both of you guys--very interesting reading), it's easy to see how years of futility have led to locker room discord. Let's see what happens when TMac gets back...
He is right, it is hard playing with Yao......there are benefits and detractors from playing ball with him....funny you mentioned all those guys..Melo, Johson, Bosh...none of them have ever won anything. Kobe had to make adjustments, but that was when Shaq was the most dominant player in the league....Yao is not even close to that...he is more like a better Rick Smits....or your Brad Daugherty comparison is apt as well. What does that mean? If Tmac is playing for a new contract that is not necessarily a good thing. But to me this reads a lot like a regular Tmac excuse...he blames Yao and fails to look at himself and what he could be doing better....moving off the ball, getting on the wings for the outlet pass, getting early offense buckets. It is always someone else's fault with Tmac and THAT is the problem. DD
TMac praised Alston many times before, maybe he changed his heart recently with the emerging of brooks. I always thought he he would not like to play with a brooks' type pg, because TMac himself also needs the ball. BTW, "Plus Shaq can score different ways", what does this mean? Shaq was a great great low post player, but he just had one or two ways to score points.
DD, Totally agree with everything you say. You seems to be the most knowledgeable and reasonable fan around here. No one ever said Yao is THE GREATEST. He does have his flaws. He's is definately like u said a better version of Rik Smit. Will he end up being better? we don't know yet. However, one thing true about Yao is his work ethic. He was always known for the hardest working in the league. Regardless if he's hurt or not he will try hardest to improve and fit in. Even the coach come out and said he tend to over work even during practice. With that you can not doubt yao's passion for the game. On the other hand, How many freakin time has T-WACK had with his problem on the court? he has been call lazy, giving up on games, giving up on his players. There is a track record people. He gone thru this same crap with 3 or 4 teams. I understand his has GREAT TALENT when he's at it 100% (that's include his heart), but how many more time do we need to give him for us to see this 100% night in, night out on a consistent basis?
Very kind of you to say, but I am just a fan whose opinion is based upon life experiences. The issue is that being older and having different life experiences in team building, chemistry, leadership etc, gives me a different opinion than some others with their own life experiences, and that sometimes causes clashes of opinion. Regarding Tmac, as ever, it is all about him, how he plays this out.... He can choose to be part of the team, and he has one last chance, or he can choose to move on. We are all just flies on the wall at this point. DD
DD, I'm not saying it is. I used to think it was a no brainer that one of those premier guys will want to take mcgrady's place wlong with Yao, now I'm starting to think that maybe the rox need to build a Pistons type squad. That's not such a bad thing either, but it does take a little luster off for that summer.
I guess I'm just tired with all the T-mac hoopla. It's a team game after all. Every piece need to be in place to win. Kobe couldnt win anything after shaq. Not until recently that they started putting Gasol and Bynum around him. I'm all for it if he does come back 100% and play with passion. However, if he come back and lackluster again, there is just NO justification for anyone to speak for him again. I rather see a lesser talented player like Wafer bust his butt than a talented crybaby!
dude.. i agree with your words on t-mac.. he sucks without a doubt.. but wait.. Yao is the hardest working player in the league. ... check Regardless if he's hurt or not he will try hardest to improve and fit in .. check Yao is extremely passionate about the game... check now what has he accomplished because of this ? championships? ok... first round? i am no Yao hater.. I love the guy completely! but.. hey.. sometimes u need to see what has been accomplished by Yao till date.. but i really really hope he proves me wrong by carrying a team and winning the championship before his career is over..
Shaq can only score in 1 way: Deep low post positioning. Note how Amare's numbers have suffered in a big way with Shaq parking himself under the basket. People are forgetting Yao was a pretty dominant player under JVG, when he had space to work with while the rest of the team lined up around the perimeter. That top of the key pick and roll with Yao and TMac was deadly. Basically Tmac doesn't have the mental or physical strength to adjust to playing in Adelman's system. And that makes sense because he has never been a system player, he would rather create with his vision. Yao isn't an ideal fit for Adelman but he's making it work, TMac needs to understand he has to do the same and work hard without the ball in his hands all the time.
playoff success is a team thing. it's not fair to point fingers at a single star player, be it mcgrady, yao, or kg in minny. it's not tennis, guys.
HEY...welcome to my way of thinking...it is what I have been saying all along !!!.... It may not work, but since we have Yao, we need to maximize the team AROUND Yao..... Welcome aboard, I will start shoveling the coal, you want take the wheel of this train? DD
your post makes a lot sense to me. and interesting thoughts from mcgrady - minus the "shaq can score in more than one way".
Remains to be seen.....but it is not apples to apples, it is more about playing as a team....because Detroit did not have a low post guy like Yao either. So it will be different, but similar in team play. DD
Maybe Rip will be our Rip I am really disappointed that all this is happening. I would have guessed that this locker room was one of the most solid in the NBA before the season and to hear that now there is problems just makes me sad.
We're so lucky to have Yao. I really mean that. If they single him (You will be iso'd by us!!) then he murders him. If they double, he kicks it out. That's basketball. A team does what it takes to win as a team. If Yao is hurting them one night, then the others FIND a way to get him up or to work around him. But look, there are only 4-5 players in the league that ANY GM would trade Yao for. He has weaknesses but he's shown he'll do ANYTHING THAT HE CAN to try and fix them. He's STILL learning to be mean when he plays. He's stilla respectful player on a court of thugs. His attitude is what makes him who he is. Now, if he can just catch and shoot and forget passing all the time. Catch and shake or catch and sky hook. The repost is working nicely though... I think we'll get through all of this. When Ron gets back, that'll help! DaDakota - what are ya thinking about the Wafer kid? Wow, huh? Sometimes there rally are diamond finds...
