Well put yourself in his shoes. I really can't blame him for trying to play even though he's not 100%. Every player looks out for themselves, I mean its a business after all. I think Rick understood that and wanted to give McGrady a chance to realize that he wasn't ready by playing him out there and limiting his minutes. But McGrady wanted to show everyone that he can play in order to land another contract so he "pushed the envelope". However Adelman didn't want to play McGrady for 20-30 mins because he knew that McGrady would have the ball in his hands most of the time trying to prove that he can play the way he used to when in reality he was just forcing himself without being 100% healthy. I believe that it's a good thing that he was told to stay away from the team. Hopefully he gets to be 100% after rehabbing 2 more months with Grover while the team shops him around. I also hope it works out for both sides because I'm rooting for both the Rockets and Tmac. But overall I still can't blame Tmac for trying to save his job and land another contract. It's all human nature I suppose.
I don't think Adelman was saying McGrady wasn't willing, it is just that he can't play on the level needed for this style of basketball. He lost a step so his offense and defense are both weaker, making him a liability to play because he would slow the team down but have no upside. Honestly, given more time to rehab, I'm sure a month or two down the line, McGrady would get time to play. Unfortunately, McGrady and his people realize that it is a contract year and want to show case McGrady for another his next contract. Had this not been the case, McGrady would probably have not kicked up the dust about a trade. But the fact is, Tracy as he is now can't help the team and Adelman doesn't want to risk games by giving him minutes when he brings nothing to the team.
it's mcgrady's fault because he wanted to rush back and, any time things didn't go his way, his complaints ALWAYS showed up in the media. if tmac would have just gone with the flow and kept his trap shut, then i think it would have worked itself out this season. but, tmac wanted too much too soon. it's a shame...cause it might have worked out if tmac wasn't so me-mac. but, he's a player who doesn't want to wait on coach to use him the way he thought he should be used. i wish tmac could have just kept his trap shut and done what coach asked of him. it would have worked out eventually. i also think the two games tmac missed was the straw that broke the camel's back for tmac. he made his decision after that...that he no longer wanted to be a rocket. so, it can't really be on adelman then. it's on me-mac.
I think this does clear a lot up. Basically it's a case of T-mac thinking he is ready before he really is. Adelman handled it as best as he could. T-mac wasn't happy and has decided to move on. The organization isn't pushing him out - it's just been beaten down and acquiescing to his wishes because there is no other choice. I think Morey knows that they can't get much for him - and will trade him only if it doesn't hurt the team with long-term contracts or any way financially. T-mac just isn't ready to fit in - his body isn't going to allow for it. Adelman gave him 8 minutes a game and was iffy about that even so when T-mac complained and asked for more Adelman scrapped the plan. Makes sense. He was trying to make T-mac happy - and you know, you have to give props to Adelman for really being open minded there. Ultimately, it's up to T_mac, and it's T-mac that has decided to part way. Seems like the Rockets were happy to keep him and see if he could get back to his old self - but not by sacrificing the way they are playing. Interestingly enough, it also seems that Adelman isn't married to this style of play. Only that this is the way they have to play without guys like T-mac and Yao to win. I think he's saying that when Yao returns, he expects the run n gun style to be set aside a bit because half-court Yao makes this team much better. I agree with that thinking. Good luck T-mac. I wish you were a more patient man.
I'm starting to believe T-Mac really can't play within the system, I'm not saying T-Mac is wrong, but maybe the reason he wanted more minutes is so that he could touch the ball more, and I don't blame him. But maybe this trade will be better for Tracy too. This team has changed, and it looks like he can't play this way, so he's going to be traded to a team with a more "his style" system, in which he will actually be able to play good, which means get the ball a lot, and be the main scorer. He's actually not doing anything wrong, this is just the way the guy plays. If that's the only way he can play, he can just play like that, but if our team isn't willing to change the way they play just for one player (which is right), then maybe it'll be better for both Tracy and the team to go ahead and trade him. I'm actually starting to see this trade as a good thing. I kinda agree with this decision, and wish luck to both Tracy and the Rockets.
Considering there is no point to this year's season (we really should be tanking it instead of winning) it is more important to develop our long term assets, which as currently depressing as it is, Ariza is one of them. T-Mac never appeared to be part of long term plan or short term plan. While it is always painful for us fans and even more so for players to tank and lose games, I am willing for the development of our team, watch Ariza risk the Rox throwing away a few games with his house building campaign if it helps Ariza round out or show him in no uncertain terms what he can and cannot do. Long story short, RA wants to develop a team identity for the long haul and T-Mac is clearly not along for the ride.
Exactly, and I think the decision to move on without Tracy shows the Rockets are leaning towards keeping Adelman around.
I find no reason to believe he couldn't play in this "system." He adjusts where ever he goes. But you are spot on about touches. I think Tracy came in, and wanted to play within the confines of the system. He seemed to do so. Within those confines, you just don't get as many touches. As someone mentioned before, some players are good at short stints where they come in, take their shots, and then go back to the bench. At least they get those shots. Tracy does that, he's dominating the ball. Doesn't matter if he makes buckets or is making the right play in passing the ball. I think Tracy was damned either way. I think that's why he wanted more minutes to show he could run the current play style, play without the ball, and also have the ball in his hands when the team needed it. 8 minutes...people say it's enough to compare game to game. I just keep replying, I take dumps longer than 8 minutes, and I take relatively fast ones. I still feel like I need more time. :grin:
It's fitting that you compare McGrady's stints on the court to someone taking a dump. Many believe that McGrady took a dump on the court in 5 of the 6 games he played in. Many more believe he took a dump on the organization. Perhaps the Rockets should retire #2 in Tracy's honor.
Adelman did himself and the Rockets a great service with that interview. Major props to him. If the most fanatical McGrady fan cannot under clear reasoning like that, you are either hopeless or can't read. I've always liked Adelman, but that interview raised my opinion of him several notches.
Funny, but ignores the point of my post. It's just so hard for me to "dump" on his small stints on the court while Ariza is "stinking" it up in 30-40 mins a game. What does Adelman say about that "crap?" See what I did there? snicker snicker But doesn't matter anymore. What's done is done. He may not be traded, but it appears he won't be playing this here year.
At least Ariza hasn't alienated his teammates to the point where a lot of them hate his guts. At least Ariza didn't decide to vanish for microfracture and not tell the team, only the media. At least Ariza didn't decide that he was only going to play one game out of back to back's. At least Ariza didn't go whining to the media about his playing time. There's plenty of off the court reasons why T-Mac wasn't going to get a lot of playing time.
He doesn't get just 8 minutes. He gets hours on the practice court and Adelman hasn't seen anything to shows that Tracy can play without the ball. Adelman has been trying to put in this offense for 2.5 season and Tmac has not shown that he can play off the ball during that period. The next time Tracy makes a back door cut will be the first
They play the game on the court. And this season in games, he wasn't given a fair shake (in my opinion). Ariza hasn't allegedly raped a woman in CO. Ah, I'm not going to go down that road too far, but point is, Kobe has done plenty of off the court stuff. Doesn't matter...read the siggy. Ariza can't play ball the way the Rockets are asking him to play ball. I don't care that he does or doesn't do the things you listed. He can't play ball the way they are asking him to. He's been given PLENTY of minutes and real games to do so. The same can't be said of McGrady.
Come on, he's done it before. Just not a lot here in Houston. He was the one with the ball most of the time.
It wasn't that T-mac looked bad, he just didn't look dominant. That's what Adelman was saying. Adelman is saying we are playing a certain way because we have to. He's saying if T-mac was the guy he was 2 years ago, then he'd completely change the way the team functions and build it around him. That makes sense, because when you have someone that good, it actually makes the team better. But T-mac isn't there right now, and to do that will cost wins, not lead to more. And Adelman doesn't know if T-mac will ever return to elite status or when. Basically, T-mac can practice with the team and have a few minutes, and when he sees the old t-mac return to form, things would change. But since t-mac is unwilling to be a role-player, that's all there is. The ball was always in T-mac's side of the court, and T-mac decided he couldn't do it.
