Blaming Rafer is a broken record. I don't expect much from him because he is a substandard starter and most of us realize that. I expect A LOT MORE out of Tracy because he is a franchise player with a max contract who shouldn't bomb out against one of the better teams in the NBA. I know it's just one game but we only have 18 left. It's about time we roll off 10+ in a row like Tracy said a couple of days ago but it's on him more than any other player to make that happen. At this point in the season, I'll be very disappointed if he barfs up another 8/28 game. I've made excuses for him but now that is over. One thing I completely agree with JVG on is that your best player sets the tone for the others. While Yao gets up to speed it's on Tracy to lead this team down the stretch. I admit to being mad about Monday's game and about Tracy's shot selection. The feeling reminds me of when I turned on Steve Francis near the end of his last regular season here and with Rafer in mid-November. (Yes, I was a Rafer supporter to start the season. Oooooh the shame of it all).
That's the point. Rafer doesn't have a chance, even on his best day. Even on his best day, he isn't good enough to beat the Dallas's and Phoenix's of the world. If he had the potential that would be different. T-mac is human. Stars need sidekicks that can get the job done. Jordan had teammates. T-mac stars in a commercial that says, "IT TAKES 5". IT TAKES 5 folks! T-mac and Yao can't do it alone.
Do you know why Yao can not really lead? Because he requires someone to GET HIM THE BALL !! Every team needs perimeter players that set the tempo and actually run the team. Tmac is that guy on our team. Nash is that guy on the suns Terry on the Mavs Parker on the Spurs. Someone has to be in charge of bringing the ball up and getting the team going. Right now, ours sucks. DD
parker and terry don't set the tempo brother. they actually play faster than their coach wants. and if i see, duncan can lead w/ the best of them and he doesn't handle the ball. that's a dumb assessment. shaq didn't lead?? dream didn't lead? wtf are u talking about? u can only lead when u have the ball? so what do coaches do? nothing? leading a team goes beyond just touching the ball and score. the way yao wilts under the pressure yesterday wasn't good. i can excuse him b/c it was his 5th game back but it wasn't good. tmac sucked so no point in arguing that. but realistically, yao sucked too.
