After all the evidence is in and the way Yao is handled I believe Tmacs injury was the problem last year and the way the organization handled it after the Yao thing ended up similar. I think Tmac is all heart if he can manage to come back to his old ways. I hope he stays personally. I dont think there is a guy we can get better. Maybe we can convince him to come back at reasonable money and lower Yaos contract money as well and add the last part we have needed with such a deep team limiting Tmacs and Yaos minutes. That would be OK or trading Yao because I dont think there is no way Yao stays healthy even if Tmac did. Honestly I think the odds of Tmac being healthy from here on out are greater than Yaos. I also think he come back being a better player and Yao will take a dip in his play like Big Z did when he had similar injuries. I would rather have Tmac than Yao after these injuries in other words.
With Yao out, I really can't see much of a point in T-Mac's early return. Short of him turning back to Orlando T-Mac, he's basically the difference between a 8 seed and a lottery team. And he'll likely hinder the development of our young players. I have a feeling Morey just wants T-Mac to showcase his skills so he'll be easier to move by the the trade deadline.
I hear Grover say a week ago last Monday that he could make Shaq's legs 4 years younger. Roll with the hype if you wish. But I do believe TMac will be the best player he can be this year. And I haven't thought that for almost three years now.
Morey could be showcasing him as a trade bait but I do not agree that He would be the difference between the lottery and 8th seed. No one knows YET how He will play. T Mac would not hinder the development of the young guys. For one, they play different positions and the pressure of producing immediately would not be a burden on guys like Brooks and Scola. They do not have to be the first option on offense so they can just play their game and feed off Tmac. Development comes with experience.
tmac led the rox witout yao for a portion of the winning streak.. if we can get 04-05 tmac back not even orlando days or raptor days, I'll be happy..
If it happens great. I wouldn't place any bets, but I would love to see it happen. If it does, it would be a great story, and a happy one for Rockets fans. If it doesn't then it's just more of the same. Only time will tell. Though honestly I would have liked to see him talk less, and let his play do his talking, but oh well.
also I think this is different from recent years when he came out mouthing and produced nothing.. this year is a contract year so he has no choice but to back it up..
T-mac returning to near-elite level would not be a surprise. The guy gets such a bad rep for the way he speaks to the media. He just is too honest and open sometimes. But more importantly, the knee injury was on a non-weightbearing part - this was always the case, and made it different from other microfracture surgeries. He should be a very good player for at least a few more years. Now that his knee is better - it probably should hold up that long. Maybe 3 more years. Will be a big help if he can keep his weight under 215.
One of the best playoff performers I have seen live, I have to admit he really steps it up then even with his lack of success. I really hope that Tim Grover can get this guy back to jumping like he used to, he really needs that elevation for that jumpshot.
he's still about 3 months away from the start of the season. he's being optimistic to aim for 10/27 v. portland, but a late november/early december return is very likely -> 4-5 months away.
Based on the video footage of his training I really like the chance of him starting in the first game of the new season.
If he's doing drills with contacts now I really doubt it would take that long to get ready for real games.
that 04-05 tmac was a top 3 player. i doubt we ever get that guy back. the 07-08 player (though more consistent would be better) would put this team in the playoffs. the 04-05 mcgrady with this team would put us in the 2nd round.
Realistically Tmac will never be like he was during the Toronto n Orlando days period!! So when they say that its all BS just cause he is in his contract year. If they are so sure he is that good now and will be later, they should have a target date of his comeback. I think he is just trying to get an extension.
with this type of surgery, you can NEVER set a target date. he did say sooner than later and both him and grover sounded very confident in saying, "HE WILL PLAY AS A ROCKET THIS YEAR." he learned the lesson last yr of setting a different target date every damn time.
You really think TMac is that stupid to believe that a positive speech would land him a new contract?
