I don't understand why it has to go anywhere. If there's a problem, they can talk it out, even argue about it. But in the locker room, and hopefully as a team. But if they start bringing it out to the media, it will become high school drama and a potential distraction.
Here's why I'm so tweaked by Grady's recent actions: It *seems* as though he's waiting -- waiting to be 100% healthy again, so he can strap the team on his back and carry them the way he's carried them in the past. Sure, this is my interpretation, but it's based on history. The problem is that this current roster is probably the best Rox team since the Dream/Glyde/Barkley team. We've got Yao, Artest, and some damned good role players. We don't NEED T-Mac to carry us anymore; we just need him to the main cog in a deep, talented team. But [opinion alert!] Tracy doesn't work like that -- he needs to be the big dog, the obvious #1 guy. Regardless of how talented he is as a passer and how great his court vision and BB IQ are, he simply can't function on a team that doesn't need him to be T-MAC. In the last few weeks, I've heard that: A) he's upset with Adelman's system B) his knee is still bothering him way too much C) he's possibly got issues in his personal life D) whatever I personally think that he's lost his role on this team. He's determined to be the only T-Mac he knows how to be, and day-in and day-out, that's not what THIS version of the Rockets needs. So he remains in a funk.
If they really are telling Tracy to play hard and he refuses what then? Bench him, trade him, up the stakes by going public? If there's no resolution in sight then none of the choices are going to be all that great. Maybe there's a chance that by calling the guy out in public it motivates him to actually change. Or it forces management and coaching to step in and bench or trade him. There's only one real resolution to this kind of problem--T-Mac has to step up and play hard within the system. If he refuses to do that then it's not reasonable or fair to expect the other Rockets to have to suck it up when they have to play with the guy. They can legitimately demand that he change his ways or pay the penalty.
Has Tracy ever played well for a significant stretch of games where he wasn't the clear-cut number one guy on the team? His first season, he was clearly the top dog. After that, his play has been sporadic, and mostly has peaked in Yao's absence.
I disagree. Most players can handle whatever Feigen, Blinebury or Barkeley might dish out, or reports on whatever they overhead in the locker room. Hopefully, the players understand that in the end, it's just a media game. But things are on a much different level if you think your teammates are doing the talking. In direct quotes.
I was thinking about this and i think its wrong to look at it that way (about it just being his personality). Personally, i don't show much emotion, but i do that EVERYWHERE, with EVERYONE. At school? not much emotion. At home? Not much emotion. Tmac? At "work" Not much emotion. At home? That's the big question, i just don't see Tmac sitting at home with his familiy and frowning and sulking. I imagine he's smiling and joking. I know family and work are very different and obviously hed be more happy at home, but the only reason why his demeanor would be an exact opposite at work, even on good days like today, it's because he doesn't enjoy the job. He doesn't want to play ball anymore. He wants to quit. He's not happy playing, which is why he only gets motivated when he's called out and then he zones out again later.
And for what it's worth, I did see McGrady clapping every now and then. I'm as tired of his attitude as the next person, but that's the facts.
I don't want any player to be making decisions about who's playing well and who's not, or trying to force the management's hand. But I don't think that's what's happening right now. If there is truly a legitimate problem with McGrady, it's up to Adelman and Morey to decide what to do and how to handle it. I agree with you there. But then, you'd expect that from every player for every game.
We bash T-Mac so much because we think Rocks NEED him. We want him to entertain us with his talent and to bring wins to the Rox. For whatever reasons, he is just now himself right now. Since currently Wafer plays better than TMac, shutting down TMAC is a good idea. Let him heal both physically and mentally until his is REALLY ready.
1st and foremost ......T-MAC sucks...he should retire now instead of facing the embarassment of a team offering him the Mid-level exception in 2010.... 2ndly, why even waste time playing the softie if he only wants to play every 3 games....we should grant his wish and put him on IR to heal his shattered ego not his phantom injuries......dude wears a Medieval looking sleeve to loosen what????? ..... 3rdly, he chose to play against the Sixers instead of the Celtics......enough said.....he has no balls whatsoever...i think he left them on Shawn Bradley's head 3 years ago.....we should trade him for Gerald Wallace and cut out losses.................I SAID THAT!!!!!!!!
I guess I'm just saying that he may not be as disgruntled as he looks. Just because he's not high-fiving everyone like Mutombo doesn't mean that he's necessarily sulking or doesn't care. Yes, I wish he would do that, even if it's just to show support for his teammates, but that doesn't seem to come naturally to him.
.... you have to be kidding me! Tracy McGrady is not a cheerleader. Others cheer HIM. I have all kinds of problems with Tracy, but seeming uninvolved when he should be kicking arses, is not a problem. Tracy did not foul out, he could have played, but he would have sucked. The guy is dejected because he has been one of the most feared players in the league and now he gets stumped by single coverage. I bet he can't wait to be cheered again. Wait, and you will see him kick arse again. Be hasty, trade him and watch our star shine for another team while we kick it with the goats we traded for. To this junk thread, I say: BOOOOOOOOO!
Forgot to add "from the sideline or bench". Comparing Spanoulis apologist-ing to McGrady apologists Well, some people though Spanoulis didnt smile cuz thats just his way. But then in Greek papers we found out there was actually real reasons behind his bored, dejected and homesick look out of not getting playing time and disagreements with the coach. McGrady has never been one for enthusiastic looking body language, but lets not similarly say "its just his way" either.
"Shouldering the blame from everywhere and still do a good job?" Is it this year's T-Mac? Far from the fact.
McGrady is just under a microscope right now. Every detail of his expression is being analyzed. Before you know it there's gonna be a thread titled "Tmac smiles, doesn't take team seriously".... oh wait, I think we've had those before.
I am sure Tmac prays and wants team get blown out when he doesnt play, because that would show how important he is. That's just how immature he is.
Wow. Absolutely amazing. People now hate McGrady so much that they are flat out LYING about things he does? Watch the highlights of the Wafer shot on the ClutchFans homepage. Mac is off the bench congratulating Wafer with everyone else. He high fives him, he smiles, he looks pretty pleased to me. He's not going Deke-crazy, but he's always been a pretty mellow guy. Please don't sacrifice your dignity because of your uncontrollable hatred. So you can read minds? I bet you get tons of ass.
I just watched it. I don't see what you see. There was no shot of Tmac until Wafer sits down on the bench. You don't see Tmac high-fiving anyone. If you see it, please print screen and upload it.
