Obviously all that situation with T-Mac and Artest made me think a little bit. I had a nice conversation with DD yesterday. After thinking about it for a long time, I am sure now this is the best decision the coach and the team could ever make. Earlier, I was complaining about Adelman not being a tough coach. And sure, McGrady and Artest were allowed to choose the games they could play in. As Rick said, something needed to be done and the decision about sitting McGrady for at least 2 weeks is just GREAT. Not only for the team, but also for him as a player. It was frustrating to watch McGrady playing the way he has played this season (so far). He isn't where he would like to be, the knee is not allowing him to be 'himself'. The medical stuff said he can play through the pain (I don't belive them AT ALL), but really, he hasn't been improving AT ALL, which means it needed to be changed. This team can win without McGrady, we can get it done, we can reach the playoffs. As we have seen past few games, we are even playing harded without him, because guys know they have to step up. Those 'in and out' situations were really killing our chemistry, I am sure. You just don't know what to do. Do I have to step up tonight, or McGrady is gonna play? It is difficult. And even when T-Mac was playing, I don't think he was helping the team with his play. It is pretty tough to play through the pain, when you don't have fun on the court.... We still can get it done, but right now the thing is to have McGrady and Ron healthly in March, April. Because without them in the playoffs we are losing 0-4 to every team in the NBA, West. This is time when they have to take care, when they really need to stop thinking about teh team <i>"I gotta be out there and help my team"</i>. Right now they should think :<i>"I gotta be healthly, I gotta be myself."</i> T-Mac needs to take off as many weeks as he needs. He has to do his rehab HARD (which I am sure he will do). Don't come back when you feel like you can be effective and help your team, come back when you are 100% physically. And once you come back being able to do things that you used to do, the team will be better, you will have fun and we will be a REAL team with great chemistry (like last year). I worry about it as well. But at the same time, I am sure Rick is a smart coach and he won't let that happen again. I am sure we will see our team at full strength this season. Take care !
Yao only averages about 33 mins a game this year; Battier is about the same. Besides, I think the notion of a player wearing down cause another is out is a little overrated. Unless it is a defensive player who has to play extra, 40 min plus, to cover for someone else, I dont see it as very significant. If we have to worry about Yao wearing down and getting injured for playing 33-35 mins a game and playing extra hard cause TMAC is not here, then we got some serious issues...
I'd say it is 50/50. T-Mac doesn't like to play when he is not 100% and when he is not feeling well. He wasn't able to do his normal exercises during the offseason, because of that surgery. He has to do that now and hopefully he will be doing things he used to do quickly.
exactly... as fran and solomon said, Rick should take a blame for this. this chaos shouldn't have taken a place, but at very least Adelman has finally made a decision...
I don't like paying my bills unless im filthy rich, thus the reason why I still go to work everyday. I don't know his current physical situation, whether its a pain threshold or if its physically hindering him. We DO know he has a history of being a titty baby and he is showing signs of doing the same exact thing he has done with his previous two teams. Regardless, at the end of the day, a star player is paid a stars salary. He is towards the end of his contract and he has not produced consistently with his salary level. Tmac has no reason to get upset the fans are holding him accountable. Tmac, if you want to make the fans happy, then start producing NOW to your caliber, day in and day out for the remainder of your contract. If you can't do that because you're either physically or mentally soft, renegotiate a lower salary. Since neither is going to happen, just accept the fans are tired of you taking up valuable cap space and disrupting continuity on the team. Good bye!
Thanks, it is just how i feel. I don't want to have 80% even 90% of McGrady or Ron on the court. I want to make sure they are 100%. If not, sit them (like the team is doing now).
<br> Elton Brand (and a huge list of others I could list) gets payed almost as much as him and have NEVER produced anything to warrant it. <br> Cut him some slack.. The guy isn't Jesus
we need more smart people like you and not idiots who come here and start calling names. I liked how you were good with your words and not replacing them with p$$sy and other crap.