Y'all may not be familiar with freedarko.com, but it's sort of a hipster-ish hoops blog (and one of the better basketball blogs i've come across). Anyhow, they're coming out with a book, and, as one of their excerpts on the book's website, they posted a chapter on t-mac. http://www.freedarkobook.com/excerpts_mcgrady.html pretty good stuff.
Yeah, it was a nice read. He's a good guy, but as a professional athlete he's so frustrating. Hopefully he can turn around his current funk. We can't go sauntering into the playoffs again with a middle-of-the-pack seeding. This is the year he needs to get a top 3 seed, face a more beatable opponent, and get that damn monkey off his back. I just don't see the proper sense of urgency in him.
That was really cool to read. Thanks for posting. It's astounding to me that he generates some much vitriol on this board. I get frustrated too, but at the end of the day, I feel lucky that he is on our squad.
I found it fascinating that before T-mac had a daughter, he shot ~45% on a regular basis. After his daughter was born, from 2003 to today, one 2 day's rest he shoots above 45%. After a 1 day rest, it falls to 41-42.%. On back to backs, it falls to roughly 40% Something else i've noticed is that he steps up big time on national tv: -His 13 pts in 35 seconds (thanks to whoever made that thread and made me rejoice one of the greatest moments ever) was aired on TNT. -His retirement dunk on Bradley was on TNT, in the playoffs. -He performed better than expected (because of his health) against Dallas last week on NBATV. -Carried the team against the Blazers on TNT. Guess what, we're playing on national TV tonight, but i heard there's a gametime decision to see whether he'll play or not.
I would attribute that to T-Mac deteriorating physical condition, rather than the birth of his daughter. It takes longer for older bodies to recover. T-Mac has the body of a player in his mid-30s
Very interesting and very amusing at the same time. Seems like they spent a good amount of time and effort making the book. I'm gonna consider buying it, if not for me probably for a friend as a gift.
Agreed. That's the problem with coming straight out of high school. I think t-mac should take a page out of Kareem's book and seriously cut back on lifting weights and running (high impact excercises) and replace those with swimming and yoga (lower impact strength training that focus on balance and core strength), and lots and lots and lots of stretching (anyone who has taken a PE class knows--it increases performance, reduces the risk of injury, and reduces wear and tear on muscles.) Kareem played at a high level into his 40s--very abnormal for an NBA player. His training regimen replaced a lot of weight lifting and running with yoga, swimming, martial arts, and stretching--a very abnormal training regimen for an NBA player. I don't think this is a coincidence.
yah that was a great read, i think i may buy the book, i wonder what other things they have to say about other players, thanks bro
I think everyone should take time to read this. Especially the ones that dislike T-Mac for whatever reason. All those close deaths he had to deal with throughout the years. It just shows you that at the end of the day, its just a game and this guy is a normal person like you and me. As fans, I think we tend to forget that by getting caught up in the spectacle of sports.
damn yao aint that bad at the interview.. alot better than your typical jock-talk interviews ("we gotta have heart.. we gotta be hungry.. blah blah"). I liked how yao said "we need to have the defenders shrink in and collapse". very nice..
