[nbatv-gary payton] "I think Houston is better without McGrady"

If Parker has a mismatch, then he should exploit it. That's the correct basketball play. It doesn't matter the Parker is a "superstar" or not. The correct play is the correct play. I'm sure Pop would insist on that.

If by "making the play" you mean creating an advantage, then yes, there are players can create advantage by themselves (Kobe, Lebron, Yao, Jefferson, ... the list goes on and on), but basketball is a team game. All players on the floor have to "make the play" for the offense to have a high efficiency opportunity.

 

Tmac creates for others but in return his slows the offense down at the same time. The players are better without him except when Yao is not playing. Tmac plays better without Yao bc the paint is not crowded. Tmac never embraced RA's offense which was evident when our bench was outplaying our starters earlier in the year.

 

thing is...our defense has been GREAT...PHENOMINAL the past few games.

We go on these scoring droughts but our defense is there to win games....sounds sorta like Detroit.

Detroit wasn't a good offensive team, their defense won that championship. That's what i'm saying.

 

this team has play worst with tmac only this year, and it coincides with him having season-ending surgery. the team has always played better with tracy in previous years.

 

Do we really need yet another thread to talk about whether we are a better team without TMac?

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=163352

 

our defense has ALWAYS been great. notice how our playoff games are always low scoring, sometimes to our distate?

remember that playoff loss a few years ago where we gave up 75 pts to utah? that's a win right? unfortunately not. we scored freakin' 68 pts.

 

National media guys are finally realizing what many Rockets fans who watch every minute of every Rockets game have known for months now ....

 

I am well aware of season stats of wins with Tmac. The problem is the ball goes to his hands and that often becomes our only offense along with pick and rolls. There was not much going on with the team which made them one deminsional in the playoffs and easier to coach against. Do I think this team would be better with a healthy Tmac who embraced the offense? Hell yes, I would give anything to see him healthy and embracing RA's offense but that won't happen.

 

Yeah but we also slowed the game down and each team had less possesions, not entirely impressive. Although I agree the past couple of years the Rockets defense has been pretty good. I am definitely liking what I have been seeing recently.

 

Isiah Thomas was a better player than both of them. I guess he should have a lot of player cred when it comes to what deals he should make for players.

Again, does this really need another thread?

 

Our offense isn't bad though, we just still go through scoring droughts because we either...

A.) Go away from Yao
B.) Can't get the ball to Yao
C.) Start jacking up threes

The thrid option has slowed down with the subtraction of Alston.

We have to improve the other two and this will be a dangerous team come playoff time, not championship but no one will want to play us that's for sure.

 

Bottom line the team looks much better when they play team ball, five guys scoring, five guys providing a balanced attack.

That's what McGrady stifled. And that's why they're now 16-6 (.72) without him compared to only 20-15 (.57) with him.

 

Since when Gary "the big mouth" Payton becomes credible?

 

You thought the Rockets looked good in the fourth quarter when they scored 1 point over a 6 minutes stretch? Was that team ball? It just looked sloppy and confused to me.

 

To be fair that has happened plenty of times with Tmac on the court. And considering we have a second year pg and another young pg new to the team I would say it is bound to happen sometimes. Offensive drouts happen to every team, lets just hope it is not a recurring theme which it was in the past.

 

thats not cool man dont insult craig hodges like that

hodges at least won multiple 3 pt contests

 

That stats are even more stark if you look at the recent (say past 30) games ....

I agree. This year, this team is much better without TMac. The offense works better and the defense is better.

 

It's happened regularly, with or without McGrady. That's why I don't agree when people want to pin responsibility for our fourth quarter issues on him. When he's right, he makes us a better executing fourth quarter team.

 

You're right; it did. It is a good thing that basketball has 4 quarters and 48 minutes.