We'd be unstoppable if we had this tmac. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2s5trPQLPI Watching those highlights it too depressing. We're stuck with jump shooting tmac instead.
I don't think it's a coasting problem as much as it is a HE JUST CAN'T MAKE A JUMPSHOT problem. T-mac's field goal percentage with Yao has always been a big area of concern for me. You would think that since Yao's in the game and there is so much focus on him that T-mac could get some easy shots. Asking your superstar to shoot a legitimate (c'mon just give me at least 41 or 42%) percentage is not too much to ask.
T-Mac doesn't drive to the bucket very much anymore, and when he does, he doesn't finish very confidently. That, coupled with not shooting very well from the perimeter, makes one hell of a FG%. 9/23? That's pretty bad, just like the last few games. He's shooting 43% for the season, which is not really bad, but it's not good. And his current slump isn't helping either. Not to mention his FT shooting, especially this season. I can't wait till the playoffs.
People weren't complaining about mac shooting jumpers when Yao was out, and mac was playing great scoring 35 every night, and 44 on Utah when we crushed them. look at the beginning of the season, and look at the 32 with yao out, and look recently. Bottom line, for some reason tmac's offense goes to hell with yao. Or it could be just a cold streak, like Yao had a couple games ago. mac needs to just go out and score and maybe focus on passing less maybe. If tmac doesn't play like the yao-less tmac, we have no chance in the playoffs. you see Yao can be unstoppable like fri or tonite and we barely win and lose, because tmac has poor shooting. tmac is the absolute key to this team.
When TMac and Yao are both "on" and the rest of the team plays decent, we get 50 point blowouts against the 76ers. Not sure why they keep teeter-tottering the last several weeks ... when Yao is on fire, TMac is cold, and when TMac is on fire, Yao is cold. And then you get games like the one against the Phoneix Suns where both are cold ... Rocket Zoom
here is a idea... its seems sometimes both Yao and Tmac play a better game when the other is out resting... I am sure JVG sees that... I think in that stretch when Yao started to miss his shots... thats when he usually gives Yao 3 or 4 minutes rest... and brings in Tmac... I may not like JVG as a coach... but I still believe he did it on purpose... we all know what JVG thinks about back to back games... and the non (rest betweeen them.... its all in the mind
the main problem with t-mac and the rockets is spacing. when yao was gone t-mac had room to operate and he was in spots on the floor where he was more comfortable. it's mainly jvg's fault that everytime down the court yao is basically taking up everything inside. he should definitely mix it up and bring yao to the top of the key where he used to have that automatic 15 foot jumper and great passing to cutters in the lane. or offense is pretty stagnant when teams clog the middle thus forcing yao to give up the ball and not giving much room for tmac to go in when yao is already inside with 2 guys on him.
The biggest question left with no answer. Will T-Mac have enough heart and fire in him to compete in the playoff ?
When both Tmac and Yao are on - we can beat every team in the NBA. When only either Tmac or Yao is on - we can beat 90% of the teams except the few elite ones. When both Tmac and Yao are not on - we can only beat 50% of the teams. That's what a two-men team without a strong supporting cast can give you. Don't complain.
First, Tmac had one bad shooting night. No doubt about it. It's not time to call him a horrible person and start looking for a trade next season. He tried to take some really bad shots, but for a superstar like Tmac he gets a pass because for him they are still relatively good shots for such a talent. I still cringe when he goes for those crazy shots though. The turnaround leaning fadeaway against Utah was such a horrible shot selection that he swished. But I wish he would miss 5 good shots rather than make 1 impossible shot. This post sums up my thoughts. Guys like Lebron, Wade, Kobe, etc all drive to the hoop and draw contact. Some shots you make, some shots you get free throws. I'd like to believe Tmac is still in that group but the past few months I think he's relegated himself to more of a Ray Allen type player - a shooter, not much of a slasher. The problem is you live and die by the jumpshot and when it goes bad it goes BAD.
he drove w/ high frequency for the past 4-5 games outside of yesterday's game. i dont know why he stopped yesterday. let's see how he responds v. the warriors.
