From this post it is obvious to me that you do not watch enough Rockets games. I suspect you are one of those folks who just look at stats or just 2 games and come to conclusion. I could be wrong but I strongly doubt it. Let me hear from you.
I watch about 75% of their games, the others I can't because I am at work (overnight shift). I'm not interested in arguing the point any further right now, we just had a win and I'l drop it for another time.
Yes, that helped tremendously, especially on the defensive side and quickness. The main difference between the beginning of the season and now is that T-mac is asserting himself and JVG is letting him. We were headed the right direction before the trades happend. I give props to JVG for th trades thathave accelerated our growth as a team this season. But if your star isn't playing his game that made him who he is, it's not only hurting his confidence/rhythm, it's hurting the team's chances of winning ball games. Edit: That last sentence could be said for Yao ming as well.
My point here is that if you have watch enough injuries you will realize that tmac is playing hurt all season long so far. He has been hiding it or at least playing through it. This news is worrying but it is the reason why he is not driving more. The injuries has made tmac hesitant to go the hole for higher percentage shots or foul shots. He is not settling for jumpers just because they look pretty. Hopefully he will get healthier as the season goes along. On a small note, a small portion of the reason for this is the often inconsistent production from his team mates. When our opponent know no else is going to hit their shots they gang up and double/tripple team tmac. I expect all of these things (tmac's health and floor spacing) to improve as the season roles on.
But dude, most of the shots he took were good shots - no dribbling, no wasted motion - but here's the deal and most here who watch the game will agree - alot of those misses were right on the bucket.. they rimmed in and out... and some were missed layups. So he shot 10-28, and lets say about 3 of those many right-on-target-shots he took tonight went in, then what, we're looking at about a what, 44% shooting night for him? Then we wouldn't even be having this discussion. Point is, we're being too picky, too much of perfectionists, if we want stats that make the eye light up everynight. T-Macs not god.....yet.
Nods, I know it seems like I'm nitpicking from this game. I was just commenting on the shots I've seen him taking this year. I didn't see the game tonight, so I didn't have the viewpoint you had. I guess part of me just wonders why Franchsie got killed and then traded for doing the same thing that MeMac is doing. next time I'll time such radical statements better And yo're right, if he is anywhere close to 45% shooting, I wouldn't mention tonight at all.
At least 3 of those shots came with the shot clock running down - basically trying to bail the team out of a broken play. Another 3 or 4 were happened when he attacked the basket and was fouled but not called. He was almost murder in that one play where he took two shot and Horry mugged him. If you take those shots out of the equation you will be talking about a 10-22 night or thereabout. Once again Hotballa is just coming here to make a fool of himself because it is clear he does not watch the games or at least he not paying attention in the few ones he manages to see. PS. Hotballa, following the game on NBA.com or ESPN game update does not equate to watching the game. Maybe it will serve you well to watch the game in the presence of a grown up - you could learn a thing or two.
Lets try to stay away from personal insults like that, had you stopped after the first two paragraphs, I wouidla said, ok thank you for your opinion, perhaps I'll take that into consideration. As it is, I'll just ignore your post and your hypocritical comment about me being a child. next time, try not to flame, it's not really helpful, especially if you have valid points to make
BOY! NICE TO SEE THE STEVE-LOVERS OUT IN FULL FORCE! If you are actually replying to what hotballa is saying or taking anything he says about McGrady seriously, then you have a problem. The guy worships Steve "Turnover" Francis and just despises anyone who took his place/wanted to keep him down (i.e. JVG and T-Mac) I thought that would be quiet obvious with him referring to T-Mac as "MeMac". More involved?!! If the guy had the Suns shooters around him, he would easily top 10 assists a game. Compare his ball-handling skills to Kobe and their turnover averages and you will catch my drift... But let's say I take what you say seriously for a second (which I don't) and I would be able to tell you that even shooting 35% from the field on probably 50-60% healthy body was darn good enough to win. His ways don't win? Check out the last few games! BTW, we have won those games in SPITE of Yao's performances, not because of him. Check out the way the Rocks play with Mutombo on the floor and then compare it to the Rockets with Yao on the floor to see the difference. (The +/- system comes into play here) If the Rockets want to win, here is the winning combination on the court that should be used more often, especially when a comeback is needed or the Rocks want to seal the deal: T-Mac + Sura + Barry + Howard + Mutombo = more wins, hustle, and heart
Apparently, they couldn't tonight. The rest of the team shot 31.9%. Thanks for playing, though. If I'm in a knockdown, drag out with the best defensive team in the league, I want the ball in Tracy and/or Yao's hands. Tonight, Yao didn't really have it. Tracy scored 38% of our points, which is very good. The shots McGrady takes that you don't like open things up for him and his teammates. And lately, it sure seems to be working.
I'll never understand where the nick "MeMac" comes from. Unless McGrady did a 180 from how he was in Orlando, it is completely and utterly unwarranted.
BTW, just a quick follow-up on what I posted above... I really, really love Yao Ming, and it pains me to see him struggling consistently like this, but I am realistic about the whole thing and understand fully well what are Yao's strengths and limitations. Yao's strengths (however ill-utilized) consist of, obviously, his size, and the simple fact that the guy gives a sh*t, he is often very hard on himself and has excellent work ethics, just ask JVG. Yao's limitations consist of, surprise, also his size, which makes him slower and makes him such a low-endurance player. And by the way, no matter how much conditioning Yao does, his endurance will ALWAYS be low and he will always face these problems throughout his career. Another limitation of his is how utterly "weak" his psyche is; that is Yao is a mentally weak player, very mentally weak in fact. I think most of Yao's game is purely mental, and his struggles, IMO, are purely mental letdowns and due to his tendency to be quickly frustrated whenever he makes mistakes on the court. With that being said, I think Yao is the only player on this team that needs to be handled with kid-gloves: he needs positive-reinforcement and not beatdowns. JVG is obviously not that kind of person, but I think JVG is good for everyone else on the team. Yao will simply have to learn to mentally "toughen up" and be relentless for this team to have any kind of a future beyond just making the playoffs. But with all the "trade Yao posts", people have to understand that first: he will never leave; and second: even after we resign him to max money and if he ever tanks as a player, it is good to know that almost EVERY single GM and owner in the league wants the guy on his team for marketing purposes, the guy simply is a money-trail and will be more so as he progresses and China's middle class continues to thrive. So he is money in the bank, and his value will ALWAYS be there, even if he is not a superstar that will make you win rings. But no worries, since Les Alexander is more of an owner who cares most about keeping his pockets full, Yao is the most untouchable player in the league, not just on the Rockets. Thankfully though, I still think as Yao progresses, our chances of being real championship contenders will definitely improve in the future. But I think Yao's weaknesses will be largely solved/covered-up by a strong power forward who has his back out there. This would leave Yao to concentrate almost exclusively on offense. --Tiger
It is mainly a phrase that world-class Orlando sports writers (who are still bitter about the whole trade thing, makes you wonder who got the best out of the whole trade if while one side - ours - has put it in the past and stopped talking about it, the othe is still completely obsessed with it. Go figure ), T-Mac haters, and Steve Francis-worshippers (i.e. hotballa) use to hate on T-Mac. Gotta love the bitterness!
Earlier on in the season, Mcgrady was definately in somewhat of a shooting slump. He was at a 30% clip for 3pointers. But now, he's shooting a pretty respectable percentage at 36%. Back then I would have minded him taking so many 3's, but now I don't really mind. He's really found his groove over the past few weeks.
The guy quit on the teanm last year, how else do you want them to feel? What if Hakeem told everyone he decided to take 1992 off?
