Ric Bucher: I dont see a Tmac-led team winning a chip, EVER

I think that most of you forgot when Yao broke leg that T-Mac put a load on his back and carried Rockets to the playoffs.He showed some real leadership and mostly because of him we went to playoffs.And don't say that was JH or Deke.Yes,they supported but they wouldn't do anything without McGrady.Every superstar has to have good players around him.When Kobe had Shaq they we're winning championships,Duncan has real stars around him itc.And when McGrady is healthy 100 % he is one of the best players in the game.

 

This was the post I was looking for. You've got it exactly right. I completely blame JVG for that loss in game 7. If Tracy for some reason decides not to penetrate then it's the coach's responsibility to tell him to do it. The Rockets were down in the 4th quarter, and it was through tough defense and McGrady that they got back into it. JVG ruined it, although that game 7 loss is probably the best thing that could have happened to this Rockets team.

Adelman is going to completely maximize Tracy's potential. I don't blame Bucher for saying what he said - I think it's a little short sighted but who cares what some guy in the media says. T-Mac is the only reason any of those series, (Pistons, Mavs, Jazz) even went to seven.

Don't worry guys, the world will see what a T-Mac led team can and will do. Make no mistake, this is T-Mac's team. Actually, its going to be Adelman's coaching that will lead them, but on the floor? T-Mac will be the undisputed leader. If not the Rockets won't get anywhere.

 

Lets just say JVG, former Division 3 college player, got schooled by former NBA player Avery Johnson in the 2005 playoffs on how good penetration can win playoff games. The first move next season, trade Mike James one of the few capable penetrators in our lineup.

In the series against the Jazz, it was Jerry Sloan, Former NBA player , to take him to school in game 7. I think JVG's quote regarding Vspan's success in international play is pertinent " The NBA is a whole different animal. " so is division 3 college ball.

 

I know with my signature it looks like I'm a TOF or whatever it is y'all say. That's not true. My favourite players have always been who I liked the most on my favourite team. So I went from Hakeem to Francis and then to T-Mac. Now Francis is back he will retake that title.

Nonetheless, this is McGrady's team. Yao is a huge part of this team, but as he described it himself, he is the base to T-Mac's spire.

Jordan, Hakeem, Kobe/Shaq, Duncan all won with "competant" role players. T-Mac had an 80% Yao, a defensive specialist in Battier, a decent back up PG in Alston, terribly inconsistant Head and J-Ho. Combine that with Sloan's complete dominance of JVG and the writing was on the wall.

This year it will be different - bank on it.

 

T-Mac sure was disappointing in game 5, his 26 points and 16 assists sure put a damper on the Rockets.

Here are some regular season stats from three players

A: 35.8 min, 24.6 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.5 APG
B: 40.0 min, 27.3 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 6.0 APG
C: 40.8 min, 31.6 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 5.4 APG

Arguably B and C had better statistical season, but if A had five more minutes don't you think the numbers would be closer? If A didn't have the most offensively inept coach (JVG) don't you think his numbers would be better?

A is T-Mac. Although the Rockets didn't have too much beyond Tracy and Yao they're not as completely barren as B and C's teams. On those respective teams the coach wasn't a stubborn ass and each player was the end all be all of that team.

B is Lebron, C is Kobe. Lebron did step it up in the playoffs, but it was the Eastern conference and didn't matter because they got swept by the Spurs.

 

Did you watch the part where Tmac was absent during the last six minutes of game 7. Can someone please find Tmac, the rockets need him in crucial moments.

 

If it wasnt for tracy, we would have got swept. in all the games we won he was the player who got us the wins or was instrumental in the win.

 

Did Tmac get to second round? No! Because stats were determined to be false evidence, this case is officially closed.

 

Am I the only one that thought T-Mac had a great series? The guy was doing everything for us. Scoring, running the offense, defending and probably sold some refreshments during timeouts. One guy can't do it all, even though he was doing it all. Outiside of Yao, nobody else gave the team anything. Even Shaq and Kobe had role players that stepped up. While the Rockets, nobody stepped up. Basketball is a TEAM game and we are not the Houston T-Mac's. Just take a look at the Spurs, their best player wasn't even the Finals MVP.

 

http://www.nba.com/games/20070505/UTAHOU/playbyplay.html#4

That is the play-by-play of game 7. In the last 6:40 of the game T-Mac went:

2/4 FG, 2/3 FT, 6 pts, 2 assists, 0 rebounds, 0 turnovers. His final numbers were 29 points, 13 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 turnovers, 3 blocks.

The only reason the Rockets were close was because of him. He played a part in 10 of the last 16 points the Rockets scored. The Rockets didn't lose because of T-Mac, they lost because of their inability to rebound and JVG.

JVG's follies:

- How do you NOT foul with 9 seconds to go, down by two? (that's the coach's responsibility)
- If T-Mac was not being aggressive, how does JVG NOT tell T-Mac to attack the rim?
- In 3:06 minutes of play Deke had 3 points, 3 rebounds and 1 blocked shot. How does JVG not go to him for just a few more minutes?

These mistakes will not be made by Adelman. But like I said before, maybe that game seven loss is the best thing that could have happened to these Rockets. W/ JVG, we wouldn't have Bonzi, Francis or Brooks (Adelman liked him and I'm sure had some stake in that decision). With JVG the fantastic offseason we've had so far would NOT have happened. Good riddance.

 

Well it's a good thing you're not judge and jury of the case. Where would the Rockets have been in the regular season and in that series without T-Mac?

Hey, you're entitled to your opinion, just don't jump on the bandwagon when McGrady blows up under Adelman. If it doesn't happen I'll eat crow, my signature is not going to change until the MVP result is decided. Whatever happens during the season I'm going to stay consistant, I hope you remain consistant too.

 

Playoffs is where you make your name, not the regular season.

 

I agree with you.T-Mac for MVP?!Urmm maybe if he stays healthy

 

You can make your name if you have other players to support around you.Tracy didn't have that and we must admit that Utah was better team.Still we wouldn't have this kind offseason if it wasn't that heartbrakeing game 7.

 

Tell me your reason why Tmac didn't show up in the last six minutes of a crucial game 7 at home. Remember "It's all on me" . I bet Ric Bucher based his opinion of Tmac soley on that. That was Tmac time to shine and make his name. That game was their for the taking folks, but our superstar didn't deliver.

 

i agree with you. i put all the pressure on tracy to perform. i expect tracy to DOMINATE every single game he steps foot on the floor on. but that ain't the case.

did kobe dominate every game 7?

did lebron domiante game 6 v. the pistons? the answer is NO.

whenever tmac struggled AND HE DID, none of our other players stepped up.

when kobe struggled, shaq stepped up and dominated (and did every game in his prime)

when lebron struggled, daniel gibson stepped up.

basically, when tmac struggled, who the hell stepped up on this team?

did yao? NO. did alston? NO. did luther? NO. did battier? NO.

again, i'm with you, i blame tmac more than anybody b/c he's our best player bar none.

but i just wonder, WHEN HAS ANOTHER PLAYER ON OUR TEAM STEP UP IN THE PLAYOFFS WHEN TMAC STRUGGLE AND CARRY THE TEAM TO VICTORY FOR ONE GAME? if that was the case, we'd win. tmac carried us 3.5 games.

did wade dominate all 6 games v. dallas??? NO. he struggled for 2 games on the road mightily. did wade dominate the deciding game v. the pistons in the conf. finals of that year? NO. it was shaq and jason williams.

now again i ask you, tell me ONE player who has CLEARLY outshine tmac in the playoffs FOR ONE FREAKING GAME?

in ANY of his playoff games? NOBODY.

so although i blame tmac, but then i look back, and i ask myself? did anyone else step up for ONE game to carry the load for tmac? NO.

so clearly i have punished tmac for not getting out of the first round, his teammates still are not there.

 

He did his best.He had all-round stats and he just couldn't get those balls.Still you can blame him for those 6 minutes but you can't blame him for what he did all season long.After all he brought Rockets there.I beliave now when he has matured players like James and Francise that crucial games and moments will be much easier for him.

 

what ahout a team lead by adelman

 

sounds like B.S. to me.

TMAC led the rox last year and they didnt lose cuz of him. nobody else did there job. 28 pts 13 asts is not some who didnt do there job.


next year we will have more players to step up.

i see

HOUSTON ROCKETS vs. BOSTON CELTICS in the NBA FINALS

 

I am not questioning the numbers that Tmac can put up. This thread is about his fire, determination, his will to win. What good is it to look good for 3 quarters and the lose the game. The thing what I'm pissed about is he didn't even put up a fight of any kind.