[PBN] insight into McGrady's desire to "shut it down"

T-Mac is sort of an open book. I think I know what he's thinking. He wants to take it easy as much as possible during the regular season. Do as little as possible, and rely on his teammates to do the heavy lifting. Then, when the playoffs come, he hopes that he'll be fresh and ready. He's thinking he'll be able to turn it to another gear, unlike last year.

Sure, there might be some pain now. But he's saying to himself, "Why exert myself? That's what I did a year ago, and what good did it do me?"

 

That's why I think he wants to sit out. Let the team do all the hard work and hopefully he feels better.

In a way, I don't have a problem with that. We need the team to build chemistry. I think Artest has passed up a lot of shots for T-Mac. I think this would be great for Artest to be able to assert himself in the offense even more. Even Battier said, Artest needs to score and not pass soo much.

In another way, I'm worried because the Rockets need to be thinking about playoff positioning. It's going to be a race this year. The Lakers are way ahead and we're in second place right now. They need to stay in second or third come playoff time. Playoff positioning is going to very important this year. And it will affect how far the Rockets go this year. You can count on that. Hopefully someone can knock out the Lakers in the playoffs but that's just asking too much there!

 

Unless you're a fan like me and havent been back home in a while so I decided to fly down and see the game for thanksgiving weekend with a bunch of friends. Tickets weren't cheap. I would definitely like to see Tmac as he's my fav Rocket still. He's been playing good lately I'm even sitting near the Rowdies

I hope he isn't shut down for the Spurs game.

 

The funniest part is that there are people that don't think T-Mac is that hurt at all. They think hes just being lazy and not trying hard enough.

Wait, did he not step it up last year in the playoffs? His regular season numbers were 21/5/5 , and his playoff numbers were 27/8rebs/6.8ast. I'm pretty sure thats turning it into another gear. I'm not saying we should rest him until the playoffs, but T-Mac does play better in the playoffs than in the regular season. 27.6PPG, 7.1RPG, 6.9APG as a Rocket in the post season.

 

Also, to the people that say he just wants his teammates to do all the hard work in the regular season, what about last years run? Played 66 games but was one of the reasons why we kept winning games without Yao. If anything, he was doing the most, running the team, getting teammates involed, making plays and scoring. If anyone was doing the heavy lifting that year, it was T-Mac. He did everything for the team besides sell popcorn. How can you say T-Mac took it easy?

 

Before Yao went out last year, he was deferring to Yao the whole time.

And we're not talking about him taking it easy last year. We're talking about NOW. Read our post before you speak.

 

amen

there is a reason he is the captain of the team people...

 

I winced when I read that.

 

I don't think he is really hurt, I think he is embarrassed.

He used to be able to blow by players he considers scrubs, and they are now torching him at will because he physically can't keep up.

Why? Because he is out of shape, and did not do the rehab necessary before the season on his knee.

He is even sporting the fat guys - no chinline beard -

The team has asked him to play through it to strengthen the knee, they are even limiting his minutes.....the doctors went in with a scope, saw no damage and took out some loose particles. Tmac should have been rehabbing within a week and should be fully healthy 6 months later.

Now, he is asking the team to play without him while he rehabs....ok great, but we all know how important HC advantage is in a competitve WC.....and if the doctors are saying he needs to play to strengthen it, and Tmac says he needs to shut it down, who has more credibility here?

It ain't the man saying his elbow was cracked last year I can guarantee you that.

And if you listen to the reports on sports radio the organization is worried if he shuts it down he won't exactly dedicate himself to rehab....WTF?

So, sure shut it down Tmac, let your teamates do the heavy lifting.....BUT...don't be surprised that when you come back the team no longer relies on you.

I understand people falling in love with his abilities, but his mindset has major flaws, and it has limited his career....Tmac is not lazy, he has just never had to work hard at something...it has come easy for him, and now he is challenged, and what does he do? Back down.

Q-Rich was right...bang him a bit and he backs down.

DD

 

I still thinks it's a bad idea. He heeled his knee all offseason long, what would mean month more?

He needs to strenghten his knee and leg in order to be effective. That means playing limited minutes and proper medical attention.

Shuting knees down? Come on?

 

Finally someone else brings up home court. The Lakers are about to play 8 more games with teams with losing records. That goes to show how important it is to win as many games as you can.

To point out something about last year, the team made strides without T-Mac. I think the team went 7-2 when he was out. I think Tracy is going to see this team leave him behind if he doesn't come back right.

This team does need him but they need him with heart. If he doesn't come back right and with the right attitude, it's going to cost this team a lot. They do need him in the playoffs.

 

I guess he did step it up (though he averaged 8 more minutes per game in the playoffs, so the stats are inflated), but he wasn't playing at full strength. He was clearly playing with pain, and that limited what he could do in crucial moments (fourth quarters).

 

Also, Boston's big three would score like 60 to 80 points for their team last year. You have to have Yao, T-Mac, and Artest kicking at the same time. It's going to be very important. You saw how much the Celtics struggled when Allen wasn't playing well in the playoffs. Or Garnett when he wasn't doing well either in the playoffs. In the end, our three need to be on the same page.

 

Let's be honest. None of us really know that to be the case. Not all bodies are the same. Some guys take longer to recover from injury than others. Look at Jermaine O'Neal. His knee injuries have lingered on far longer than T-Mac's. Is he just being lazy as well?

 

He deserves credit for that, no doubt, but they FIXED that issue after the season, and he did not do the rehab in the summer, that is my main point.

Now, the doctors have told him what he needs to do to get his athleticism etc back, and he responds by saying he wants to do the opposite?

That is not going to work out the problem, he has to get to work to get his knee healthy, because I agree we are not going anywhere in the playoffs without him.

But it is as much mental as it is physical....he can get in shape, but if he is afraid to test the knee he will have to adapt.

The play that amplified the situation the most for me was the failed alley oop from Rafer where Tmac didn't bother jumping, not because he can't but because he won't....he is afraid of hurting his knee....he has to get over that.

The only way to get past that hurdle is to play....not by shutting it down...but by playing.

If you sit him, and he rehabs, he is still going to come back tenative because he has no confidence in the knee....it is like a guy coming back in the NFL, you have to take that first hit on the knee to make sure you can make it through.

Tmac is going through that.....and it was MINOR surgery......if anyone had any doubts about his lack of mental toughness, this should remove them...the guy is flat out weak minded.

DD

 

No, I concede that, but arthoscopic surgery typically takes about 12 weeks to fully heal....

Typically.

To me, I don't see a guy limited physically, I see a guy limited emotionally, one who is afraid of pushing the knee for fear it is going to break on him.

The reason I say this, is that you can see in stretches where he is upset where he is not thinking about it and he just goes....and does well...the Phoenix game for example.

But then he stops and thinks about it, and slows it down.

That is what he has to work through......the belief that his body is going to betray him.

Maybe all the injuries he has had over the years has made him shell shocked....fine.....but that doesn't change the fact that he needs to play to get through that.

When your coach is telling the media...he should play, and the doctors and GM say the same thing......it speaks volumes....usually they protect the player....but here they are basically saying "Meh...that is just Tmac".....even Morey said it was probably frustration talking when Tmac said he wanted to shut it down.

Come on...the GM....MOREY...is saying that....

I am not calling him a wuss.....I just think he needs some tough love.....

People who can't see the truth through all this are just not paying attention.

DD

 

Just like JVG said, T-Mac has to be strong mentality. The Rockets are going to need him for the playoffs. They won't go anywhere without him.

 

This an opportunity for the players to step up and take on an expanded role. I hope it isn't Rafer that starts taking more shots. I think Brooks is capable of scoring 20 on a regular basis. Artest will crank it up, but he must regain his touch. Scola and Landry will be be relatively consistent. Battier was never much of a scorer but he can contribute. Yao will likely carry the scoring load. Barry has to get better.

 

this resting time will determine whether he is traded or not and whether Artest is in our out.

 

Sitting down will not get him strong mentally, working THROUGH it will....

To me, this is almost entirely a confidence issue.

I feel a poll coming on...



DD