I think we need to realize that the "old" tmac we fantasize from the 2004-2005 season about has not gone anywhere. In fact, in some ways this new tmac is better. His stats have not taken a negligible hit in any category besides his FT's (while that is frustrating, I have confidence that he will hit them when it matters). His FG % has gone down .002 and I would feel alright in blaming that minor blip on his awful start to the season when his back was still giving him some trouble. His three point shooting has in fact gone up since that season, while it is still below his career percent, its not terrible. It's important to realize that so many of the three's he takes come either at the very end of the quarter in a rushed play or while completely contested as opposed to Battier's, Head's, or Alston's. Give Tmac that open of a look and I guarantee his percentage will skyrocket. His rebounds have dropped by about 1, but when you have an animal on your team named chuck hayes, that is bound to happen. Steals, blocks, turnovers, all have not changed significantly. Something that has changed significantly is his court awareness and uncanny ability to thread a needle with his passes. He is averaging a career high in assists and makes the game incredibly easier for everyone around him (something he has been doing for a while, I know). Point being, he has improved in this respect. So what about the intangibles? His clutchness? Ability to drive and not settle for jumpers? Effort? Yes, I've been frustrated recently and I don't feel as confident with him making a shot when time is winding down as Yao. But I realized that this is extremely biased by our last game and he has saved us in literally DOZENS of games this year. I don't feel like doing this now, but I guarantee you could look at many play by plays of close games this year and see him hitting some big shots (yes, and he will miss some to but he is a human being). Tmac has been driving to the basket infinitely more than at the beginning of the year and is slowly settling for less jumpers. I get as frustrated as the next guy watching him clang jumper after jumper off the rim, but the truth is, it is because I expect it to go in every single damn time. We cannot expect this of a basketball player. He will miss, but when he gets hot, he does things NO other player in the league can do, and I am confident that he will step up to the challenge. Also, if you take a look at videos of games from the 2004-2005 season, Tmac was still taking the same jumpers, still missing and making, and also driving to the rack. The point is, if we watch a highlight video of the 2004-2005 team, we will clearly say: "Oh man, I miss that Tmac, the one who hits every single jumper he takes." "Oh, I miss Jon Barry and his awesome three point shooting." "I miss Bob Sura" (scratch the last one). The point is, that team had ups and downs and this one will too, but this team is better and will go farther in my opinion. We all know Tmac is a streaky player and were screaming "TMAC IS BACK" when he posted tons of 30 point games back to back. Now we have forgotten all of that and are relegating him to the worst of the worst. I say, Tmac hasn't gone anywhere, and the Rockets will be just fine. (that was my first new thread and was entirely too long, I guess thats what I get for waiting too long to start my own thread).
I'd agree that since the All-Star Break, this McGrady is as close to the 04-05 TMac as it gets. What I really miss is when i see highlights of his years in Orlando where he played mostly above the rim and no one in the league got up higher than him on two handed dunks. His aggression has been toned down since then, which is a good thing for the most part b/c he doesn't have to be the go to guy on offense with Yao on the court. I'm very curious to see which TMac we will see for the playoffs, will he be nothing but a perimeter player or will we see him throw down Shawn Bradley style.
Good post, azoghbi. I also like his transition to a play maker, which is the best direction for him as his athletic ability is going a little bit down with age. The only thing I hope is, as you mentioned in the thread, that T-Mac attacks the basket more than shooting jumpers. In another hand, JVG should try to reduce T-Mac's time handling the ball, which was taking a lot of energy and offense from him. When a player is tired, he will tend to shoot jumpers because it is easier. I play basketball and got this feeling.
yeah, i'm not trying to make the claim that he is exactly how he was in his orlando days. there is a clear difference there. but, the 2004-2005 tmac is still incredibly good/unstoppable and is PLENTY for us to go deep into the playoffs. also, given all of the stats comparisons i showed, the important thing i missed is that he is doing all of this with 5 minutes less playing time, and we know the he will be playing 40 mins in the playoffs. i say, tmac is gonna bring his A game and is not gonna let this series slip away. lets hope he doesnt simply hang around the perimeter and jack up shots (although they do seem to go in quite often).
"HERE COMES MCGRADY...OH HE JUST SUCKED THE GRAVITY RIGHT OUT OF THE BUILDING!!! WHAT A PLAY BY T-MAC!" I'm sure ya'll remember that. Also, remember that T-Mac was THE best player in the playoffs for that first round. I don't remember what anyone else did now, but it wasn't even arguable. Tracy McGrady rises to the occasion. I'd say he has coasted somewhat at times during this season, and he's still one of the greatest players in the league. When the playoffs start, I am 1000% confident that T-Mac will take it to a whole new level. A level only a rare few in the league can get to. He did everything the Rockets needed him to do in the series against the Mavs. That team lost because of one of the worst series of calls I've ever seen (game 5) and old age. Look for Tracy to be one of the very best players when the playoffs start. He doesn't have his back to worry about anymore, really. He will be very aggressive and go to the hole in the postseason, I have no doubt.
i keep thinking the 04-05 team had the heart to go all the way, that year we had actually beaten all of the top teams in big games. we shut down seattle in seattle, we shut down phoenix in phoenix, and by all means should have won that dallas series. i can't see this team going anywhere past the second round, not because they can't, but because the jazz aren't that great.
this "heart" that we always talk about is such a subjective issue. do we really believe that none of these guys really want a championship and will do whatever it takes to get that? i think the more pertinent question is whether or not rafer has the skill/consistency that we need to succeed. i'm not ready to say we can't win a championship with rafer, but its going to be very difficult if he doesn't go on a prolonged shooting streak (and we all know the chances of that happening). that being said, we need everyone else around him to step up BIG.
Then I just want his body and shooting back. Seriously, did you notice that he's slower and less explosive when he drives to the rim?
He didn't look slow and less explosive on that drive and dunk through 3 people where they called a foul right before he took off for the slam (vs the Jazz)! This "he is not as explosive and not the same" is a bunch of crap. The guy posted 15+ 30 point games in the 32 games Yao was out, dropped 15-17 points in one quarter, many time the critical 3rd qtr to blow teams out of the water. Give the guy a break, just b/c his shooting has slipped alittle and we lost to the Jazz doesn't mean he is old and slow!
Stats speak no vloumn i suppouse. 3pt percentage is about the same but why jack them up at the end of the game when it matters? why not attack the rim and draw fouls? He has the ability to do so but why doesn't he? He's a great playmaker and that's about it at this point.
I think he is really toning it down during the season, and he is gonna explode in the playoffs. For those wanting the old tmac back, just look at the 32 games without Yao when he was putting up 35 every night, dropping 44 on the Jazzholes. It is a confidence issue with tmac, he needs to quit pressing and go out there smooth and confident like earlier in the season. if that means making him the #1 option, fine. this isn't doing jack unless tmac plays great. Yao can score all he wants but look at the records with each out, tmac is the key to this team.
Remember the game in San Antonio we won, where he put 37 on Bruce Bowen and every time the Spurs got close he was hit a nail in the coffin clutch jumper. He was confident then, and now with Yao back, he doesn't look like a confident scorer.
Oh, you mean a firey PG that plays defense, is vocal, and can attack the basket? Ah, that "player" is playing in Minnesota. And to boot, he is 3 inches taller than Armstrong.
Unfortunately, I only saw the 1st quarter Sunday. From my standpoint, that game counts almost as a playoff game and I expected the "playoff" McGrady to show up. What I saw was a guy who was guarded by DEREK FISHER for most of the time. Instead of getting offended and scoring 5 straight possessions, he took a bunch of jumpers and ended up with about 3-4 points after playing the entire 12 minutes. I hope that isn't this year's "playoff" McGrady. Like a lot of people here, what happens against Utah in the 1st round will permanently shape my opinion of JVG, Tracy and Yao. It isn't the quite the same (for obvious reasons), but I'm starting to feel the same way about Tracy as I did with SF his last season here. Instead of him being an obvious cornerstone of our team, I'm going to be open to the idea of moving him based on how he performs.
Anyone else have a feeling that when Tmac drives now, he slows down to scan for open players? Especially around the high pick and roll. What I wish he could do better is split the double team at the 3pt line. I agree that at times Tmac looks tentative in taking over, especially when its obvious Yao's out of breath. Alot of ball handling and that pressure might be some of the cause. Other than that, he looks alot better than last year, and he hasn't tweaked anything during a game in the last 2 months (knock on wood).
I was about to point that out. I'm not exactly sure why everyone believes that T-mac can suddenly notch up to that 5-6th gear when we get to the playoffs. If anything, last nights game was the time for him to do that, but he failed to do so. There really isn't anything consistent about this team except for Shane or Chuck. Yao is the next in line in terms of consistency, yet even he has faltered at times. I just don't have the same confidence in the team as I did back in the 2004-2005 season. We may be more talented, but I don't think we are necessarily a better "team."
did anyone expect tmac to turn it up when yao went down? did anyone expect that after two VERY horrible games v. pacers and nets? obviously no. in the playoffs, there is NO do-overs. u lose and u are in a hole. a loss yesterday is a loss. if u saw the game, tmac WANTED to turn it up w/ that vicious dunk on AK47. but b/c yao was hot, and his shot wasn't on, he felt inclined to defer to yao. i dont expect that in the playoffs
