This is sort of in responce to the "is tmac done?" poll. Basically - has Tmac peaked? No shame if he has. He's a top 10 player and that's great. But I think that there is a small handful of players that have definitely surpassed him now and that his game has sort of plateued. Will his physical problems will prevent him from raising his game to the next level like Hakeem was able to in his late 20s to early 30s? Does he have the mental fortitude or desire to elevate his game?
time will tell... but i would have to at this point say yes. it makes me sad to watch how great he was in that '05 season.. and to make it worse people from this board have made numerous videos and ive seemed to download them all..
When we got Tmac, I thought that both players (Yao) would be able to improve their individual games. At the time, such a duo was not enough to contend. It was the potential the 2 possessed that was scary. No doubt that Yao has improved his game. With the injuries though, I am beginning to wonder if his ceiling is lower than I thought it was. Tmac already was an undisputed superstar. A few years ago, he was arguably better than the Kobes and Lebrons of the world and I thought that there was still room for improvement. Hakeem was a good example of an undisputed superstar who was able to raise his game to another level - and clearly separate himself from the David Robinsons and Patrick Ewings. I was hoping for Tmac to do the same but at this point, he doesn't really have many more years left to elevate his game before age starts catching up.
I think there's no question he has peaked. If for no other reason, than because he can no longer take it to the hole nonstop. AI has peaked. Vince has peaked. Kidd has peaked. Pretty much everyone who was drafted around then has done so.. not really a question..
Judging by the last 2 season, I'd probably say yes. But i'd like to see him play 1 season with Adelman before I vote yes.
offensively he has peaked (scoring-wise). but he can still score 27-28 ppg more efficiently. but while his scoring has peaked, his playmaking is on the rise. its unfortunate the back has limited what tracy can do.
Statistically this was Tmacs finest season as a Rocket so there is still room for improvement but in comparison to the numbers he put up in 02 then yea I think its safe to say hes peaked. MJ may have been a better player stats wise in his younger days, but as a leader he took the bulls to heights they could never reach when he was a more talented youngster. As a player/leader I believe Tmac will continue to grow and in those terms I dont think hes peaked, but statistically I doubt he will ever reach those highs, then again only a select few have.
has he peaked, hmmm. id have to say yes. If u were to put the current tmac in the exact same situation as he was in when he was back in orlando, i dont think he would have got the same results. Injuries dont help either, physically i think his definitely will not be as atheletic as he used to be, i think his lost a step in quickness/speed also, but i believe he can compensate for those shortcomings with experience, playing with higher bball IQ then before and stepping up as a leader and playmaker to aid the team but still id take the more explosive tmac over playmaker tmac, and find a decent pg to take up most of the playmaking responsibilities. dont get me wrong, tmac can still drop 50 on any given night, it just seems like it used to be much easier for him to do so in the past. but hey, if he can score 30 and get 10 assists that still equates to 50 points. Sure he threw down some nice dunks, but i think u can safely say their not how they used to, sure if he proves me wrong next season and throws down some monsterous jams id love to see it, but i just dont see it happening, either its mental and he doesnt wanna risk further injury, or his actually just lost his athletcism to some extent period. But any way i look at it, i was wanting to see the super athletic , league leading prolific scorer when he was traded to houston
I think his field goal percentage will definitely increase, and his scoring, as well, under Adelman's system.
i think he was more mentally drained in the beginning of the season but as yao went out and he had to step up he really did step up and carry the rockets to a 21-10 record? something similiar to that. i think he can play as well and better if we get a 3rd scorer or at least a PG that can relieve him from being the actual PG on nearly every possession, then he can really contribute to the team with scoring and playmaking even further.
I'm rather shocked that this is even a question in anyone's mind. Saying he just peaked would be optimistic. Ask any outside observer and they'll tell you he's on his way down. Maybe slowly, but still down.
u kidding me right? even when he had patterson fixed his back a few days earlier, he went to dallas on a road game and u TRULY see him go all out FROM THE FIRST MINUTE => bam a sore back at the end of the game. he has to pick his spots on when he wants to dominate. that could be a lack of conditioning and things like that. but compare his athleticism from his orlando days to now, its different. he has to play more w/ intelligence and smarts than just using his better physical skills.
I think he's been on the way down the last two seasons. He's a couple years away from being in Steve Francis-land, but at least he's smart enough to remain a serviceable player as long as he stays healthy. Even with the comments he's made in the past year, he thinks he peaked a while ago, too. Drive to the hoop a little more and stop settling for contested jumpers and I'll gladly change my mind.
thats a little harsh. if u took away his first 2 months where he CLEARLY wasn't in shape, he put up around 27ppg and 7 assist ever since he came back fro mhis injury. i tink he has 3-4 more "superstar" years before he becomes just an all-star type player. but i think tmac wil lretire before he comes a "serviceable" player. tmac can really extend his career if he regains his J. patterson seems to really extend his career a few more yrs.
I do not think this is a fair question and neither the other thread "is t mac done?" One thing most here don't pay attention to is that when you play for JVG you have certain duties and thats exactly what you do,no freedom and no free lancing.You do not get to be yourself because you have to perform a certain task. Yao had that same problem in that system. As a matter fact I can not recall one single player that picked under JVG,that has been Van Gundy's problem and will remain so(kind of like his way or highway). And not to forget,Jordan picked at 28 I believe and dream played his best ball in his 30's. Next year will tell.
