This may be kinda repetitive. But, the hell with it. The Rockets and especially T-Mac are getting tons of media recognition due to T-Mac and his NBA Live 07 and the signing of Bonzi. Plus, this one on T-Mac and the Rockets was written by the "Jets Insider" on Newsday.com. ------------------ Ken Berger Jets Insider McGrady's ready to hold court October 1, 2006 Tracy McGrady looked rested and healthy this past week at the NBA Store in Manhattan, where he served notice to the rest of the Western Conference that the Houston Rockets finally will be as good on the court as they are on paper. For that to happen, it's pretty simple. McGrady and Yao Ming have to be on the court at the same time. "From the first time I set foot in an Orlando Magic uniform to last year, I've been pretty much at the top of my game, produced some great numbers," McGrady said. "Last year was just one of those years where it was just time to take a step back. It's all about how I bounce back from that step back. I am healthy. I'm healthy and ready to get back on the court. I think if you give Yao the opportunity to progress and gain more confidence in his ability to lead a team, what he did last season in the second half of the season was just unbelievable. I think he's ready. And with the two of us out there on the basketball court, anything's possible for us." McGrady and Yao played together in only 31 games last season, and Houston was 21-10. The other 51 games were the problem. The Rockets were 7-28 without McGrady, were 7-18 without Yao, were 1-8 without both and finished 34-48, in last place in the Southwest Conference. But McGrady vowed that if he and Yao can stay healthy, the standings could be reversed. "San Antonio's getting older; Dallas showed that," McGrady said. "You've got Phoenix and I don't know who else. I think we're right up there with them." The Rockets need their two superstars to bounce back, but McGrady also lobbied hard for Houston to add more pieces in the offseason. His push for Bonzi Wells paid off when the free-agent guard signed with Houston this week. But McGrady believes the acquisition of Shane Battier will lift even more pressure off him and Yao at both ends of the floor. "When we play Dallas, and Dirk [Nowitzki] is playing the power forward, we can go small and put a guy like Shane Battier on him as opposed to me having to try and guard him," McGrady said. "With him being a great spot shooter from outside, that releases some pressure off myself and Yao." http://www.newsday.com/sports/colum...01,0,3120613.column?coll=ny-sports-columnists
I love T-mac's positive affirmations of the upcoming season. I'm praying he and Yao backs it up with a healthy and dominant season. A championship would be perfect but should focus on staying healthy and getting into the play-offs first. In the play-offs anything can happen.
I love it in the article where he states "San Antonio is getting old" they damn sure are. Mac, Yao, Batt, and the Bonz... what could possibly go wrong?
I want him to respectfully zip his piehole and SHOW San Antonio they are getting old this season, not tell them. I don't want SA to have an extra reason to want to beat the Roxs I want T-Mac to bring some "13 in 35" intensity when they play SA.
man, i can't WAIT for the season to start. i already have my tickets to rox vs. knicks at MSG. knicks tickets sell out in 2 days so i got really lucky this year! this is the first time in 3 years i'll get to see my team play!!
agreed. but on the other hand, i like our star player to be a bit arrogant. it shows their confidence. and i believe he, along with yao and others in the team will back it up. as a matter of fact, i'd like yao to show some arrogance sometimes. it only means he's comfortable with himself and confident that he can be dominant in this league.
and im sure that will go right up on their lockerroom wall. we dont need to go around calling out other teams - it only adds incentive for them. and his "you've got phoenix and i dont know who else" comment will certainly draw the ire of other western conference teams. we didnt even make the playoffs last year. lets not get ahead of ourselves and start talking contender just yet - stay humble and stay hungry. i like us in the underdog role - sneak up on the other teams. let them think we will be as bad as we were last year. just keep your mouths shut and kick some butt.
The Spurs board is certainly pissed about it: http://www.spursreport.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61437
im more concerned about how the spurs feel aboout it. i bet that there will be a little piece of paper w/ t-mac's comment taped up on the lockerroom wall all season long. t-mac has a history of making these type of comments (detroit-orlando series). or that whole finger shake thing the team did during the dallas series a couple years ago when they would hit a 3. i know it was several players, but t-mac was one - and there was a general cockiness when we went up 2-0 on dallas. these are the things that only serve to motivate your opponents.
I'm positive about this season, but I agree. TMac, you know I love you man, but with all due respect.....shut up and play. TMac was saying the same kinds of things after we lost to dallas in Game 7. "I'll be back and I'll be stronger...this will make me stronger....etc" We all know how that turned out. Until we prove ON THE COURT that we are a good team, we're still a lottery team. We have no right to talk smack to teams that are better than us.
He just needs to talk less. it seems like he's always either giving opponents motivation or ammunition for his critics. if you really have to talk, at least wait until you're in a position to do some talking. The whole drama during the all-star game was embarrassing.
I don't see his comment as a big deal. The Spurs' play is driven by execution rather than emotion anyway.
I can see that, but will YAO get T'd-up when he gets in someone's face ..ie #4 at 1:40. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWj4NoHsIdU&mode=related&search= But I like it anyway...when YAO throws down and takes a few steps back in the paint...with that I just raped you look on his face...OH SNAP..whatever that means.....I love it. at 2:58 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk0MPyiJBbc&mode=related&search=
