That's like asking why the Rockets had that meltdown in the second half of the first Toronto game, which T-Mac did play in. The point is that the Rockets are prone to meltdowns, with and without T-Mac. There's no guarantee that even if he had played that the same thing wouldn't have happened in the Philadelphia game. Also I can't help but notice that the problem in the Philly game was defense, which is not T-Mac's strong point. Look, Atlanta's an underrated team but they're no Dallas. I wouldn't want to go without T-Mac for LA, SA, etc. But if the Rockets come out and execute and play with energy and hustle they should be able to handle the Hawks, even without T-Mac.
I don't disagree with any of that. But McGrady has been instrumental in the majority of all the close games we've won since he got back. I don't trust our other guards to make big plays on their own when the pressure turns up. And it's always more difficult to get the ball into Yao late in close games, particularly when our best post entry passer (T-Mac) isn't in the game.
Even the improved Lakers right now wouldnt say "We can beat the Hawks with Kobe". Not at this point in the season, in a ridiculously tough West where EVERY game counts. McGrady better make an effort to show up and contribute, even at half strength. Why's it gotta be such a drag for this guy to show up to work?
the role players didn't play well earlier on and tmac was frustrated. that's the point beaten to death. we have not blown one single lead nor have we looked bad in the 4th nor have we failed to execute down the stretch in ANY of the games tmac has been back. not one single time (even v. utah, it was novak's bad defense that cost us the game) the game that we lost v. philly was lost on turnovers and our guards inability to pass the ball to yao (b/c he was fronted) and yet we still tried to pound it to him -> stagnant offense. you have to understand how well we have played since tmac has been back. he has taken this team to another level. like i have said before, we have executed down the stretch EVERY SINGLE GAME since tmac has been back.
Kenny Smith would disagree with you. Check out the video from the Rockets' last game against the Cavs where both he and Barkley talked about T-Mac's impact on the Rockets. Smith's point was that T-Mac improves the Rockets but that it's not a dramatic or significant improvement. The Rockets are playing better now, but I'd say that's got very little to do with T-Mac. It's got everything to do with the role players and the bench stepping up. The Philly and Golden State games are actually perfect examples. In the Philly game the Rockets tried to pound it into Yao in the fourth and the result was TO after TO. In the GS game the Rockets successfully pounded it into Yao in the fourth and the result was something like 9 of the Rockets' last 11 points and a W. What changed? The Rockets got a lot smarter about passing the ball into the post.
fine, if that's what you want to believe. if you think chuck and kenny are good analysts, then go right ahead and believe them. if u watched the golden state game, we LOST the lead b/c we kept pounding it into yao (so u sure u watched that game). yao just got hot at the end to save us but we BLEW ANOTHER LEAD. we never executed well in the 4th in any of the games without tmac. the only way we won was to have a great start and hold on. since tmac has been back, our 4th quarter execution has been on point. yes, the role players have stepped up. but they stepped up in his absence also. but they were never this good in the 4th. what changed? you should ask yourself that. if you think tmac has VERY LITTLE to do with the rockets' surge, then well, u shouldn't watch the team anymore b/c it seems like you have given up on the season b/c tmac will be playing with us for the rest of the year.
This is not just about win or loss. Tmac has millions of fans. They want to see him to play if his health allows.
Yeah, I do think Kenny Smith and Barkley are good analysts. I think they've probably forgotten more about basketball than most people will ever know. I don't know what team you've been watching, but the Rockets this season have blown their fourth quarter leads for a whole bunch of reasons. Yes, sometimes they regress to trying to force the ball into Yao and standing around waiting for him to do something. But they also blow leads, like the last game against the Cavs, through poor shot selection and impatience. Go back and listen to what Doug Collins had to say in the fourth. He was super critical of the Rockets. They dribbled the ball down and jacked up quick, contested shots. They went away from the game plan which had gotten them their lead in the first place. The point is that blown leads are not exactly a new problem for the Rockets. T-Mac is not a consistent antidote for that. In fact, sometimes he's part of the problem.
Screw that. If T-Mac's sick enough then he should sit. Why turn the flu into pneumonia just for the fans?
We should never underestimate teams. Hawks beat Lakers and they can also beat us. ALso, we are better with T-Mac than, without him.
LOL at you spinning things and saying we've executed better and haven't lost leads since Tracy has been back. Umm hello? Indiana, Milwaukee, Minnesota! Relying on heroics to beat the scrubs of the league is not execution. We lost leads in the fourth to all those teams with Tracy in the lineup. The team with or without Tracy loses leads because we go away from the system. And Tracy hasn't remedied that problem. Only homers would think otherwise.
So if McGrady wasnt there went the team lost leads, who WOULD have stepped up in his place? Bonzi Wells? He's a help but not that much of a help? If he gets you over the hump he's important to the team, thats all that needs to count. Even if its not "$20 million" worth of importance to you people, right now I'll take it.
That's exactly the issue. He makes the team better, but what if you can get somebody else, or two somebodies, who would elevate the team even further for the same amount of money? That's the "moneyball" question.
It's much easier for the team to learn to execute like elite teams do or to obtain that elusive consistent third scorer than it is to trade Tracy McGrady. I much rather let the season play out and let the team grow and trade for that third scorer if you ask me.
ok, give me some names please. if the bulls offered me gordon/hinrich, nocioni, and deng for tmac, that's a deal that will make us better but you're not going to get 3 starters for tmac. if we can get artest and bibby for tracy, that's another deal that can make us better. but that's not going to happen. tracy can make this team MUCH better if he plays like he did to start this year or the way he ended 04-05 into the mavs playoff series. if that tracy appears down the stretch and into the playoffs, we will have a top 3 player to go with the best center. tracy can still do that. so relax and see the potential of this team. obviously from the way you post, you have basically given up on the season since tracy won't be able to play better than he is and he won't be able to help the team anymore than he has. to me, nobody on this team is untouchable b/c none of them are winners. if i was morey and i can make the team better, of course i would. but we can't make any trades right now so this is the team. i still have faith tracy will dominate like he was earlier in the season as he gets healthier. i still have faith yao has that extra gear that will make him be dominant in the playoffs rather than just regular season games.
