Just because we win one game against the Celtics without T-Mac does not mean we don't need him anymore. Again, this is another knee jerk reaction thread. To go deep in the playoffs, we need T-Mac to play like vintage T-Mac. We didn't win this game because T-Mac didn't play. Brooks finally shot the ball well, Yao had a big game and Ron had a nice game. Not to mention the bench was very productive unlike against the Sixers. I'm all for sitting Mac until he gets fully healthy but to just get rid of him for nothing completely absurd.
I like your plan... as long as grady is willing to come off the bench for a little while after his rehab / rest.
This bugs me, why do you think the team needs a vintage Tmac to get deep in the playoffs...we have 11 years of data that suggests the opposite is true. What we need is an ALL NEW TMAC, one who plays within the system and trusts his teamates to make plays FOR him instead of always trying to make all the plays himself. Agree, they should not get rid of him for nothing...he is an asset, he should be treated as such. DD
Difficult to comprehend but if you mean that the Rockets should rest Tracy till he is fully recovered than I agree with you. Let's do it!!
When has T-Mac EVER tried to make all the plays himself since he's been here in Houston? Even the other night when he clearly couldn't move, he had 9 freaking assists. The guy has morphed into an all-around player right before our eyes. In Orlando, he was a one-dimensional scorer, but ever since his time in Houston (especially the last 2 years), the guy is a triple-double threat every night he plays healthy. I really think you're pushing this "Trade T-Mac" thing too far now, DD. Rest him up, get him ready for the playoff push, and watch how much better the Rockets look with him in the lineup at 100%.
New or Vintage, we need T-Mac at 100%. Not the T-Mac that is playing now. Any T-Mac can help us more than that. How can you say he doesn't trust his teammates? T-Mac has been very unselfish and will make the right pass if somebody is open. If T-Mac plays well like in last year's playoff, I think it would help us greatly. Remember, T-Mac is a great team player also. As for the offense, last night's game wasn't much different than when T-Mac played. Especially near the end where it was mainly throw the ball to Yao and run it through him. I think we need to run a hybrid type offense similar to what we did last year. When Yao is in the game, we have to run it through him. Find ways to get him the ball. Don't let him set too many picks. When the bench is in, we can do the Rick A offense. Now we got guys that can attack the rim and create (brooks/wafer/Artest). Last couple years, the only players that could create their own shot and for others was T-Mac or Yao. We have more guys to put pressure on the defense. We never all these options since we started building this team around the two. The Rockets can literally throw a lineup in there and have all 5 positions as a threat to score the ball. Previous years, one of our main weaknesses was the lack of offensive power. Great D, but had trouble scoring (The only 4 guys in Utah game). This time, I don't see things like that happening. Our defense will come back. The Rockets past history has shown they've stepped it up come the 2nd half.
QUESTION: If McGrady goes into operation shutdown for the season . . .and we get out of the 1st round . . . .would it be considered McGrady getting out of the 1st round? Rocket River
You may need to go back and watch those games if you think those were his best playoffs ever. The guy barely shot 40% from the field in the second half of the season. No way is that good enough.
Yes, as long as he is the member of the team, but this team needs go further, and needs TMac to play better, I really do not understand what he is thinking right now. To be a winner, he has to win with this team, rather than asks for a trade. Is this right?
This is just krazy dude, if you were not satisfied with how TMAC played the 2nd half last year, then you're just hard to please.
Very true, he shot horrible last season. But it wasn't all about scoring. T-Mac impacted the games even though he wasn't shooting great. He was basically running the offense as Skip would bring it up as pass it off to him. Mac was doing everything out there. Scoring, dishing, selling pop corn and even his Defense wasn't bad. Hayes probably had most his points off passes from Tracy. More importantly, he was actually playing with a purpose. Not that half assed stuff we saw this year.
I have seen the guy play much better. He was getting crucified on this board last year during the playoffs for the love of God. I will say though that his game 6 was about the best game I ever saw the guy play. He was terrific.
This is by far the best idea. Better than trading him THIS season and better than him being in and out of the lineup. But, me and plenty of other people have been saying this for a while.
I think the difference here is that Will is ok with trading TMac. He is not ok with most of the half-baked BS trades we see for people like Marbury or Arenas that wouldn't make this team better it would just give us someone else to b**** about. This is an acceptable alternative to trading him for nothing. If somebody offers the Rockets youthful talent for TMac he is gone, until then... rest him and see if he can get healthy and maybe help us later in the season.
Props for the intent of the OP. It'd be great if things turned out that way, but the Rocket's future is certainly uncertain. Why do we have to wait until the playoffs to have another impact player on this roster considering we are already paying one a substantial amount on money? If he is physically and structurally sound he needs to play and show some effort in the process. If he is mentally falling apart he needs to go before he brings everyone else around him down with him.
Ok again, so everyone can understand, the ONLY reasons you would consider trading him for Marbury are: 1. He has burned his bridges too far with the team. 2. The team decides to get his contract off the books one year earlier That is pretty much it......you don't trade him for Marbury because you think he is going to help in any way...you do it, if you believe it will help the organization overall. DD
