Because he is....even if he's not a superstar anymore, his overall IQ and playmaking ability combined is better than anyone on the team. It doesn't mean that the team can't function without him, it's just that I don't see how he would hurt the team if he runs the offense.
AI was great at racking up points and assists, but you have to admit he was a chemistry killer in Denver. I am not saying McGrady would necessarily be as disruptive, but just pointing out how he can affect this team. Nobody is mad at McGrady for wanting to play. It's just that what the team has turned into when the cord was finally cut last season surprised everyone. The gritty, hard-nosed, hustling, intense on defense, run the break squad is everything McGrady is not. He is an old dog that won't learn these new tricks. He needs to get himself back into basketball shape and figure out what he is capable of doing now. That directly contradicts what the Rockets are doing, which is branding a completely different culture into this franchise and developing guys who will be here long-term. Two boats are rowing in opposite directions and it's unrealistic to expect McGrady to suddenly be several things he never has been. It's also unfair to expect the Rockets to slow their plans down just to accommodate him. He doesn't fit and needs to leave. It's good the charade is ending so the distractions and chatter can die down.
I don't have a problem with them moving on because I trust Morey to make the right call. Also....the team was a gritty hard nose team a season and a half ago when he (tracy) lead them to a 55 wins season. I can't honestly say that he won't fit in with this group because a player of his talents fits most teams. He's NOT AI.....he brings a whole lot more. I'm just a little dissapointed it's ending this way but I certainl understand. I'm not starting a rebellion to keep tracy here lol. I just would have liked to see him play decent minutes with this group and see what we could have done with him. That's all...but if it's going to continue to cause a uproar between coach and Mac, they need to find a home for him and a piece (pieces) for our puzzle.
You surely agree the offense would completely change if McGrady "ran" it. Question: What good does this do the Rockets? Adelman is branding his motion offense into the consciousness of the other players, so why allow McGrady to interrupt that? He only likes to go in motion when he is making a move WITH the ball, otherwise he just stands around. Even when he has the ball, instead of making a quick pass or a quick move, he prefers to stand still and survey for several seconds. If McGrady could still be a superstar talent at this point, it might be worth a try. But those days ended two years ago. He's now 30, over-the-hill and coming off a major injury.
In a nutshell, I have this feeling in my stomach that I got when I sold my old house and not yet found my new one.
It isn't McGrady's talent that doesn't fit, it's his intensity, attitude and style of play that doesn't fit what the Rockets have become. With his talent now diminished by age and injury, he isn't worth the trouble of experimentation.
Yes, I get that fully. I just wasn't convinced that he was against running the offense. Not with 7.7 mins a game....maybe coach knew something we didn't. But wouldn't mind seeing him at the top of the key calling for a high screen and creating open shots (if he was healthy enough to do it consistently) That's really my only concern....I really wanted to add his talents to this group hoping it could take us to another level. Let's be honest....I love this team to it's core, but this group will only go so far this year. I was ok with that, until there was hope Tracy would return and add that "extra" we needed to close out close games and more. You don't have to be a superstar to be a great playmaker.
McGrady run offense: Brooks, Ariza, Battier, Lowry, Budinger = spot up shooters Chuck, Scola, Landry, Andersen = rebounders I'll stick with what we have now, thanks.
Exactly! lol I just feel like my peach cobbler ain't as sweet as it could be. I guess I'll just wait and see. You're right....just them now
I think that this is a really nice post and wonder, like you, what went on behind closed doors. I'm also not sure that he was the team's best player after he came back, as that distinction might belong to Landry or Brooks at this point, but he's certainly among the more skilled players on the team. Personally, I think that the team will likely just let him expire and he'll sign for a contender elsewhere in a more limited role. Most of us have accepted that he'll probably never be quite the same again. I look forward to seeing how Landry and Brooks' contracts will be handled in the future.
I guess that's true if we all knew for a FACT that he's diminished. How do we know?? That's what irks me! There is NO way of telling with 7.7 mins a game, playing a actually NBA game. I understood the process and why it was happening I guess. At first I thought it was for his sake because of the knee...bringing him on slowly. Then I hear Rick talking about he just doesn't see how he can fit him into the rotation and give him more than 7 mins. I was ok with the precautions thing, but then it seems to have turned into Rick not wanting the Bull in the Tiffany store. I have mixed feelings now because I never got a chance to see him play more than 7 mins. I'm sorry...practice and real game speed are totally different.
Don't underestimate the hard-work advantage the Rockets have over most teams. They could still surprise a few teams in round one or maybe even round two. Sure, they might be down by 15 in the middle of the third quarter, but they won't give up and when the opponent suffers their inevitable letdown, these guys will be right their to capitalize on it. That said, Morey and RA both know we're not going to win it all without bringing in a few more talented players.
Nobody has returned from microfracture surgery and hit the ground running immediately. It's usually the 2nd season when they begin returning to form. If McGrady had this surgery 3-4 months sooner, you might be on to something. Even when considering his microfracture procedure was less radical than others, I don't think we have much reason to believe McGrady would have become explosive again any time soon. And the Rockets have no interest in sacrificing what they've gained while McGrady experiments with himself and rounds into form. After the sorry experience of last season when nobody knew which McGrady would show up, the Rockets weren't willing to put up with his "good days" and "bad days" again this year. I don't blame them.
Well, it's obvious that they aren't willing to waiting seeing that more than 7 mins is asking waaayyy to much of Rick to do. So, move on and find some players that will fit the bill. Believe me, I understand that Tracy has done his part in wearing out his welcome.
You are correct that you only got to see McGrady play for a few minutes. That doesn't really matter since you are not the decision maker. Adelman/Morey are the decision makers and they've seen McGrady practice. A guy can look good in practice but that certainly doesn't mean that it will carry over in games. On the flip side, if a guy struggles in practice, then it's highly unlikely that things will change in a game. After seeing McGrady in practice and limited game action, they decided that extending McGrady's minutes would cause more of the offense to run through him and that we'd have a lesser chance of winning games if we did that. The only way this had a chance of working out was if McGrady altered his style of play. That's a lot to ask a guy of his experience level and stature.
You're probably right. Wish I could think of a more fitting term for it, I know its out there...Anti-McGrady implies a bit of hate and animosity. It implies an "iso" Maybe just NON-McGrady. As in without McGrady.
Dont see the confusion. Chase will be LUCKY to be as good as Brent Barry was when he was younger. Dude was nasty.
I'm pretty aware that I'm not the decision maker...you didn't have to bring that to my attention lol. I was clearing stating things I wanted to see him play healthy with this unit and as a fan, it would make ME feel better...that's it. No one knows what went on in regards of their decision making, all we can do is assume because they aren't talking. I don't have a problem with then upgrading the team.....just make SURE you're upgrading the team.
