You really feel that Brooks (5'10, 165 lbs), Scola (great role player), and Ariza (minimal offensive skill in the halfcourt) are gonna lead us to the playoffs?? None of them are proven...if they could lead, we would've competed in games 5 and 7. As far as Tmac in the playoffs...how many times was he favored to win a series?? Once, and that was in a 4-5 matchup, and ONLY because of HCA...nobody realized how badly outmatched Yao was and how little our bench supported Yao and Tmac 2005, Yao and Tmac score 61 out of 76 total points in game 7...its Tmac's fault right? Also, the refs miss a blatant steal out of bounds by Finley...Tmac can control that too I guess. 2008, Yao was out, Rafer was out 2.5 games, and Battier was limited with an injury. Bobby Jackson was a starter, so was Deke...Tmac has 40, 10 and 5 in game 6...Scola is the only other player in double figures with 15...its Tmac's fault right?? 2009, Tmac is hurt, he didn't handle it the best way, that is his fault. But on the court, Portland was a favorable matchup...just go listen to why Jeff Van Gundy said we would "beat the Blazers, easily"...Yao didn't have to guard a player who scored, and they fronted him the entire series after game 1. Brandon Roy didn't have help either...except from Aldridge from a couple of games...his teammates didn't show up like Tmac's. Tmac in Orlando...never had rebounding or shot blocking (he led his team in those categories in 2001 as a shooting guard) ...can't win that way. Its still Tmac's fault right?? Only so much one player can do...
Tracy, don't hurry to return to the court until you fully recovered from the surgery. No matter what happens, I will support you--my favourite NBA star. I would like to see the real TMAC will be back in the upcoming season. Fighting!!!
He did say it, and it was another stupid quote made by McGrady...but in all honesty, he and Yao had the least to do with our playoff failures... They ALWAYS showed up to play in the playoffs. You cannot complain about their production. They cant make shots for Rafer, Luther and Juwan Howard. They can't teach Chuck Hayes offensive skills, they can't make Yao's feet quick enough to guard Boozer. They can't make the rest of the team show up in Dallas for game 7 Only so much those 2 could do...their help and their injuries have has let them down too often
But when you have to keep making excuses for the same player every year, you should ask yourself whether its truly the player's team that's the problem. Earlier, you stated that if he played this year, McGrady could take the pressure off everyone because he has the ability to do so. Let's assume you're right, and let's assume the Rockets do make the playoffs. It's inevitable that during the playoffs, McGrady will go through a dry spell. Additionally, since McGrady has been carrying the team all season, the role players haven't adequately developed their individual skills and are incapable of picking up the slack during McGrady's dry spell. The Rockets lose and so begins another offseason with McGrady apologists crying that McGrady had no help.
Lol. I love you blackknight. These kids will never understand. I sometimes feel like I'm wasting my time arguing with them.
Likewise. Doesnt matter though. My preferred team (without mcgrady) made it out of the first round. Your preferred team (with mcgrady) still has yet to. Ill call scoreboard on that.
Dude. It was the ****ing blazers... Seriously... JVG expected us to blow them out haha. They really didn't have any advantageous mismatches unlike the Jazz vs us.
Hey, Luther averaged 10 ppg and shot 44 % from the 3 point line during the season in 2007...he disapperaed in the playoffs....went down to 4 ppg and 26 % shooting I believe. Juwan Howard averaged 10 ppg as well, but his production dropped to 5 ppg in the playoffs. Rafer made the most 3's in Rockets history in 2007, but he shot 32% in the playoffs. Battier always shot from the corner during the season and the playoffs. Yao's fg% even went down to 44 %, when he shot 52 % during the season. Well, Tmac is our best chance at making the playoffs. Could he dominate the ball less...sure. I have no problem with that suggestion. When we started out in 2008, he didn't dominate the ball, and we went 6-1, and he averaged almost 30 ppg. During the 22 game win streak, the 1st 12 games with Yao, Tmac didn't dominate the ball. People assume he can't play without dominating the ball because of what he said last year...that was a frustrated star athlete who was looking for an excuse. I know that, because I took a Sports Psychology class at UH. A star athlete will usually blame outside forces for their failures, but will take the credit for their success. Average players blame themselves for their failures and blame outside forces (such as luck) for their successes. Tmac didn't have a problem playing Rick Adelman's offense in 2008...Adelman couldn't run it without Yao though...Mutombo isn't exactly offensively skilled to run an offense like that with, so Adelman told Tmac to dominate the ball, because that was our only way of winning. As for next year, we need Tmac, but we don't need him to dominate the ball. BUT, when our offense isn't working, its nice to have a creator on our team who can score, shoot, drive, or create easy shots for others with less than 10 seconds on the clock. Thats the poitn I've been trying to make...I agree about him dominatting the ball, it does make us predictable, and it should only be done, in critical situations when we need the ball in somebody's hands we can trust to make a good decision with the basketball late in the game.
I believe all long time Rocket fans were MUCH HAPPIER last season since it was the first time we made it past the first round since the Charles Barkley era. All the stats and one player only fans don't understand how good that felt, you can't wikipedia or basketball-reference that happiness.
Your team also happened to have a 7'6 center, who is the most skilled center in the NBA today and shoots 55% from the field and 87 % from the free throw line...good luck replacing him with David Anderson and no creators for easy shots. Good luck expecting Brooks to shoot over 60 % for a season, because he did it for 2 games vs. Derek Fisher and Jordan Farmar. Good luck expecting Battier to shoot 50% from the 3pt line all season Scola may average 18 and 10...but he aint gonna draw double teams. Good luck expecting Landry and Lowry to be consistent scorers every game. You are looking at the best case scenario...look at game 5 and game 7 again...its scary how sorry this team could be without Yao and Tmac
Theyve shown they can do that against the world champs. I think they will fare a little bit better playing the rest of the league. With the squad we have now (excluding mcgrady) our players wont take nights off. I think youre in for a big surprise watching a team play the way our coach actually wants to play.
Hey, we agree to disagree. This offseason has been long and hard for every fan. Clearly our minds will not be swayed during the offseason having no REAL evidence to base what we believe on. Its late, and like I said a few posts ago, I dont care. Late.
Man, I just wish that every TMac hater, would AT LEAST 'support' the guy. Instead of b****ing about him, have some faith and hope the guy can come back and help this team be a possible 4/5/6 seed. If he comes back in shape and healthy, he should be able to fit into Adelman's system. He's a willing passer, so I don't see why not. He was once a superstar. And imagine... that starless team that beat the world champs a couple times with a healthy McGrady: Elite scorer, outstanding passer, MISMATCH for the opponent. Support. All I ask for. Swallow the past. Let's move FORWARD. Thanks.
Not in the NBA man...NCAA, sure its much more team oriented, but the NBA is too talented for that... You can't exclude matchup problems...Lakers can't guard PG's, and they don't guard the 3 pointer well until the have to since they have 2 7 footers and a 6'10 small forward to guard the paint and don't like to get on the perimeter. What happens when we play a team with an athletic point guard? What happens when we play a team that has a big, athletic, long power forward? What happens when we play teams that zone up against RA's offense (which is meant to be run vs. a man defense)? Thats when we need a creator or a player that can get us an easy shot. More than Likely, Yao won't be back at all, and that means Tmac is the one guy who can create in the half court with an iso or a post up...he doesn't need an offense run for him...he can get a clean look at the basket any time he wants when he's healthy. Now, the improtatn part is to make sure he's healthy.
Thats cool, no problem with that...just saying, you need stars to win in this league...go find a playoff team (5 seed or higher) and then I'll listen to your argument.
I think a lot of people don't like Tmac the person, for what he says after games and what not, and thats fine. But that shouldn't blind them from the fact taht he does perform in the playoffs. Does he dominate the ball a lot, yes he did, but he was listening to the coach. JVG told him to do so, and wore him out doing it all year. RA had no choice since Yao was out in 2008 and no way we could run his offense with Deke as our center. In all honesty, he's had A LOT of things go wrong for him in his career. Toronto doesn't offer him the $ he's worth for his skill. Grant Hill only plays 47 games with Tmac in 4 years. He plays 68 games and averages 20 ppg in 2005, the year after Tmac got traded. Tmac has to lead the Magic in rebounding and blocks for 2 seasons. The team gets rid of the little talent they had from the team that took the Pistons to 7 games. Yao isn't fully developed by 2005 because of his toe...team outside of Yao and Tmac doesn't show up in Game 7 in Dallas Yao and Tmac both miss a lot of time due to injuries Yao hurts his knee...could've had a higher seed if he doesn't miss 32 games. Bench doesn't show up for playoffs vs. a bad matchup in the Jazz. Yao goes down during our winning streak...we were contenders til then. Not enough help in the playoffs Tmac is injured, teams gets a favorable matchup and takes care of business. I don't like to blame luck...but the man has been extremely unfortunate on the court...makes you wonder if he's cursed or not,
Its a contract year for McGrady. My money says that he'll want to dominate the ball. I edited out all the fluff that you've repeated over and over. Can you just tell me why you think it's in the Rockets' best long term interest to make the playoffs and lose in the first round?
It would hurt him more to be on a losing team...therefore I don't think its in his best interest to dominate the ball. I don't beleive in tanking, and we won't get equal value for Tmac (contract is too big) we would have to take back bad contracts in return...which would hurt us even more...might as well keep Tmac and let the contract expire. Its not as if we can't go after Wade, Bosh, or another big free agent in 2010...why tank to get a draft pick...those are hit or miss. Thats just my opinion...Brooks is too small to be a great player/leader on this team. Ariza has a chance, but from what I saw of him last year, I don't think he'll develop right away...gonna take a couple of years for him to develop. Scola will benefit greatly from TMac...they can run the pick n' roll and Scola won't have to go right everytime he posts up. This is just what I think.
