My theory on McGrady's decline in scoring productivity...

Here is my analysis:

Not as explosive as when he was young.

 

He had back spasms well before his last year in Orlando. He was born with scoliosis and had spasms through his orlando career. Only reason he missed so many games in 2003-2004 is because his team was so bad that he simply sat out the last few weeks instead of playing through any pain. What caused his PER to plummet was the absence of guys like Armstrong and many of their 3pt shooters, thus putting a lot more defensive pressure on him.

 

Not only is he not the guy that tosses himself alley oops off the backboard anymore (understandably), McGrady's just plain slow.

He's still lanky and limber enough at his height and still has a good first step off the dribble. His foot speed's kinda lacking. Basically yeah he's lost a step.

If a player gets the ball off a Rockets miss in front of McGrady he'll NEVER catch the guy. I want to say he's just "jogging" and coasting but I think some of it's that just IS his speed

 

http://youtube.com/watch?v=aYXC1BU4M_g
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zO90YNhA0mg&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=I_sTqR3dzzU
http://youtube.com/watch?v=tAH0F_hhXpI

Still looks damn quick to me.

 

It's partially mental but everyone has different mechanics for their jumpshot. Tracy has one of the most unique jumpshot forms in the league. He relies on elevation than most players because his shot is SO FLAT. It's a line drive and if you don't get high enough on your jump, your shot will be off. Then you try to adjust your mechanics during the game. Put a little more arch. Now when you get to the free throw line, you have to adjust again. Just take a look at some of his Orlando Magic highlights and see how high and how quickly he gets up on his shot. It's all in one fluid motion. Today, he looks so sluggish on his shot.

Not to mention that not all NBA players "age" the same physically.

 

The problem is from the shoulders up; we have all seen him make some incredibly explosive and athletic dunks within the last few weeks. He can do it, but he is often unable to do it. I think he has some significant "mental" issues. Hate him or love him, Rosen had it right when he said that TMac has the smallest internal "fire" of any star player in the league. He looks for the streak, the roll, the momentum. When he can't seem to make it happen he start chunking garbage. He and Rafer can shoot the Rockets out of games as quick as you can say first round exit. They can also explode for a 22 game winning streak. Unfortunately they are not on fire at the present time.

 

Tmac still has it in him... sure he's lost a step or even too.

He's definitely NOT fast, but he is still QUICK as hell. He can't shoot a spot up jumper to save his life (or a game), he has to pull up off the dribble every time.

Last night, he just gave up... We were down by 20 or 15 or whatever and he was just lazing around instead of trying to get us back into the game. The TEAM got back into the game, no thanks to Tmac, then once we were back into it he starts chucking contested 3's up multiple times instead of taking it the hole like he should have been doing.... I can't tell you how many times I threw up my hands in frustration with these bone headed decisions...

BLAH!!!!!!!!!!! LETS GO TRACY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I think he's playing hurt. His shoulder is still bother him. I think he needs to go back to Austin, TX and go see Doctor John Patterson for a full body tuneup before the playoffs start.

 

T-Mac is waiting for the playoffs to explode!! He'll bring his game come playoff time... he needs more help though.. he's going to be doubled a lot, even more so now because Yao is out. Everybody's going to have to step it up.

 

Everyone is now copying the Hornets defense of T-Mac and focused on stopping him. Stop T-Mac and make the rest of the team beat you. We gotta have better scoring from all our other positions and T-Mac needs to realize that he can't keep shooting contested shots and pass to his teammates.

 

there you go.

I love optimistic people, hell that's why we are fans. we're supposed to do that

 

As far as his shooting, both jumpshots and FT shooting, I'd say it's overconfidence, delusional cockiness. Think about it. The guy used to be unstoppable, scoring at will, from anywhere on the court. Two time scoring champ. Why the hell do I need to work on my FT's? Insulting. My jumpshot? Money.

Remember earlier this season when for one or two games he came out before tipoff to get in extra jumpshots? Well, how long did that last?

The guy has been so talented and so good for so long, it's beneath him to actually hone his skills. So I guess I'm saying, it's both physical and mental. Physical because he has aged and declined athletically, mental because he refuses to admit to himself that he might need to put in extra work to maintain his skillset.

*pulls on asbestos boxers*

 

Yes he was doing that. And I agree, he needs to start to do it again before games.

 

well he has to. Without Yao he needs to go crazy.

I also hope he will lead us in PO, damn it would be exciting I belive.

 

I think 95% of his decline is in his head.

DD

 

I feel he doesn't want to risk an injury by taking it in. He often gets injured that way. The best example is the shoulder injury he just got. He got when attacking the rim.

Another part is his athleticism. I think a lot of his faults just has to do with what he hoes off of the court. Perhaps he's busy and is handful with the job of having three children. I think he worked on his leg musacles, and I definitely see a different in leg size, just for strength.

Overall I feel like he still has the potential to be his old self, and use his athleticism and agility to attack the rim, but I feel he's saving it for the playoffs.

Another big part is that he still has to adjust when losing Yao. He has totally change his game, and now the defense are more focused on him.

Hopefully he'll pick his game up. I have faith in him.