on ESPN... insightful http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090429&sportCat=nba Q: Do the 2008-09 Rockets qualify for the Ewing Theory? A: I wanted to rule "no" because nobody ever said the words, "Uh-oh, T-Mac is gone, the Rockets are screwed now." At the same time, you can't beat the comedy of a T-Mac team finally making it past the first round 12 seasons into his career ... only he's watching from streetclothes on the bench. So let's include him. By the way, do you think the phone call played out like this before Game 3? T-Mac: "Rick, hey, it's Tracy McGrady." Rick Adelman (startled): "Hey, Tracy. How are you? How's rehab?" T-Mac: "Great, great. Look, I was thinking about sitting on our bench for Game 3. I thought it could give us a boost." Now, you're Rick Adelman. What is your proper response? Is it, "Are you [bleeping] kidding me? Seriously? Are you KIDDING ME? Is this a prank? Who is this? This isn't funny!" Is it, "Great idea, nothing will inspire our team like the superstar with the worst career playoff record ever?" Is it, "That sounds great! Ironically, it's the eight-month anniversary to the day when you showed up for training camp overweight and proceeded to murder us for the next five months until we finally decided to trade you, only you one-upped us by opting for microfracture surgery and killing your value. Maybe we could celebrate with cake after the game, win or lose?" What do you say? I don't know. These are the questions I would ask coaches if I covered an NBA team. Which is probably why I'd lose locker-room access after two weeks. Or get beaten up. Or both.
Q: When the Rockets need a basket, why don't they pound the ball down low to Yao Ming, a great free-throw shooter who has a mismatch with whomever might be guarding him, instead of having Yao set picks 27 feet from the basket to set up unspeakably bad jumpers by Ron Artest? A: I ... I don't know. this is more important
I agree. I just thought some would get a kick outa that "phone conversation." The guy makes a great point. Read the comments he has about the rockets, they are extremely valid.
hehe....I always love the phone call bit. I'll go with option 3 for Rick's answer. It's nice to see the national media calling it how it is. Paging the Tmac Love Crew to come in and accuse Bill Simmons of being a conspiracy theorist regarding Knee-Mac's sudden decision for microfracture.
its fairly obvious- its impossible to get it into him at times. While he is 7-6 he is effectively neutralized by a fronting defense, and as the game goes on, the refs allow it to get more and more physical. As a result, when yao does get it in this situation then he either loses it or he tries to put up a bad shot thinking that he will get the call. In response to the physicality, they bring him off PnRs in attempt to free him up, when that doesn't work, ron goes iso and dribbles it out and puts up a bad shot.
Brooks, Wafer and Lowry must penetrate more and draw Yao and Scola's defender and then hit them with a neat pass.
Barely...... We got narrow wins in the first two home games when TMAC was on the bench... When he was not, ....... Phew. Deke is the man.
