article link Burden falls on Tracy McGrady Rockets' playoff fortune rests squarely on shoulders of star Ira Winderman | NBA Columnist March 2, 2008 Considering LeBron James advanced to the Finals last season with Moe, Larry, Curly and Shemp, isn't today's NBA all about singular perimeter stars, anyway? Didn't Dwyane Wade's run to the 2006 championship make that eminently clear? Uh, what about Tracy McGrady? What about a player still viewed as one of the premier perimeter talents in the league, a seven-time All-Star and two-time scoring champion, a player called a "top-10" talent this week by teammate Rafer Alston? Shouldn't such talk about writing off the Rockets come as a personal affront? Or, indeed, have the previous playoffs failures merely cemented the notion that the sometimes superstar remains too soft physically and mentally? Yes, everything the Rockets have done recently has been built around Yao. And yes, a February to remember was anchored by a defense that was anchored by Yao. But among the reasons Rick Adelman was brought in this season and Jeff Van Gundy was deposed was a goal of getting the offense more creative on the perimeter, away from pure isolations. While James and Wade achieved their success coming out of the Eastern Conference, where good often is good enough, consider the supporting cast that still surrounds McGrady. Did James last season have considerably better support than the talent of Shane Battier and Bobby Jackson, the scrappiness of Luis Scola, Carl Landry and Chuck Hayes, or the floor leadership of Alston (who, if you haven't noticed, lately has been playing as a top-tier point guard)? Yes, doing damage as a low seed in the West will be exceedingly difficult against the likes of the Lakers or Spurs. And yes, McGrady's 0-for-6 first-round history may well continue. But consider the bottom of the Western Conference: Does Baron Davis have decidedly more around him at Golden State than what McGrady is now left with in Houston? And even if you prefer Denver's muddled mix (athletically superior, aesthetically pleasing, not the least bit cohesive), isn't this when a player such as McGrady should be expected to step up? A month ago, the league faced the embarrassment of having McGrady voted in as an All-Star starter. Instead, late ballot stuffing by Allen Iverson's supporters made that issue moot. What followed was a snub by conference coaches when it came to the reserve spots in the Western Conference. At the time, it was viewed as a product of yet more time missed by the brittle swingman. But now McGrady supposedly is healthy. And now, in Adelman, he has a coach who has endured before in the absence of a dominant big man. When Shaquille O'Neal went south with the Heat, Wade went south with him this season. That has had Van Gundy, in his role as television analyst, questioning Wade's rank among the league's elite shooting guards. Similar questions have swirled around McGrady for years, especially when he had his Wade-like plummet to the bottom of the Eastern Conference while with the Magic. We ask the question in light of the foot injury that has sidelined Rockets center Yao Ming for the season and has many therefore sidelining Houston from the postseason. Thing is, for all the NBA wear he has on his body, McGrady is only 28 (hard to believe, isn't it?). He should be young enough to still get it done. "Losing Yao is shocking," Adelman said, "but we can continue to win. We're not stepping away." Unless, that is, McGrady backs down, hoists another of his white flags. Last season, McGrady helped the Rockets push through to a 20-12 record amid Yao's absence. Anything close to such a winning percentage will get Houston back into the postseason, even in the competitive West. "We have the players I think we can get it done with," McGrady said. Now they have one specific player who needs to get it done. After all these years of doubts, redemption could be at hand.
Well so far T-Mac hasn't had to play like he did in Orlando and we're still winning, which is good. Let's just hope he does go back to his old self and wins games for us when our other players aren't quite enough.
This is not a story exclusive to the Orlando Sentinel. This is a Sun Sentinel or AP article. Ira Winderman is a beat writer for the Miami Heat. He knows nothing about the Rockets. Tracy McGrady is still the main man, but he has as a small a role as he's ever had. When it's money time, he'll have the ball in his hands, but the Adelman offense is less Tmac-centric than what Ira thinks.
What a basher. Does this guy make all of his money trash talking NBA players? "the league faced the embarrassment of having McGrady voted in as an All-Star starter." ?? He uses hints and then downright blasts towards Tracy. Screw this guy He clearly knows nothing about the Rockets, or team basketball for that matter.
Well, everyone in Orlando is still bitter about how T-Mac left, so I'm not surprised at how this loser is taking jabs at Mac.
Typical bandwagon sports writer that is looking from the outside in with probably the smallest magnifying glasses in existence. You can tell by the many typical cliches after cliches: "oh Tmac is 0-6 in the playoffs, and its all on his shoulders; why can't he ever get it done?" (team concept anybody?) ....."Oh Lebron James had a worse supporting cast, but yet he tore through the likes of teams like the Wizards and the mighty New Jersey Nets..." ......"he never steps up in the playoffs (despite having the third highest ppg, while averaging 6 assists/ 6 rebounds and shooting consistently FTs in the 80s and above)....."but oh stats don't matter, only wins!" .....yada yada.... I'm the first one to criticize Tmac when he does something wrong and acts lazy, but we all know that in the playoffs Tmac does truly try to give it his all (including diving for loose balls too btw), and really does all his team can ask for, even defending the opponents' best player. He and Yao are just so unlucky for some reason and it does get (really) frustrating, but to blatantly blame him for everything is .....well....just r****ded
Right there with you. I am on Tmac when he isn't doing what he should but let's get real. Other than last year's playoffs where he should have attacked the rim more (but still played a great series) the guy has been an animal in the playoffs. I knew what the article would be about as soon as I saw the source.
His two examples of perimeter players who have taken their teams to the Finals (Lebron and Wade) were in the Eastern Conference. Enough said.
