If an injured Tmac can average 24ppg then a healthy one should be ok. The guy is just saying he wont be as dominant as he was back in what 02-03, and that's not understandable? The problem with him was, ORL made him do it all. never picked up a big man, or any consistent player to go along side of him. Bobby Sura played more games with Tmac in one year than Grant Hill did the entire 4 years. Doc Rivers ran everything through Tmac and called no plays. The guy dominated off of shear skill and smarts as well as athleticism. Its not that his first step was super quick from jumpstreet. It was deceptive. Long steps and he'd be at the rim before you blinked. Now over a decade in the league and his body is feeling the effects of carrying sorry teams for years all alone. Getting others involved, scoring 30ppg rebounding, defense. This is a 5 man game for a reason. As far as Kobe, he is slower. He isn't as explosive as he once was, and the difference is he had Shaq to take the punishment before. Once Shaq left, he's been injured one season, played a full one for the first time in God knows how long, but that also took a toll on him and he had to have knee surgery. Now I guarantee you if Kobe has to play 40+ minutes all year long this year, he'll be hurting this summer, or by next season. Wade, he'll just speed up his injury filled seasons to come with how he plays. You can only take so much of a beating. MJ was an anomaly, noone is MJ sorry. Beyond that though, players bodies slow down, its not like Tmac is the only man meant to defy nature. I saw Reggie Miller get old and couldnt jump as high being in the league much around 13 or so seasons. It happens, but the thing is, ("you reach I teach") the smarts kick in and you begin to see how to pick the D apart without having to act like you're Stro Swift.
tough for anyone to admit, but man, that sux to hear...I know we've all known this, but to admit it, IMHO, makes you weak...
You couldn't be far from the truth. Accepting and embracing reality (even though reality might not be desirable) is a sign of strength and self-acceptance. He is evaluating his game and taking steps to improve it. Weak are the people who can't face their problems and resort to drinking and drugs.
For Kobe's sake. His body is probably better than T-Mac's body is. He didn't really have to carry a team until recently, and even then he had way more talent around him. I think Kobe is in better physical condition than T-Mac is, for that reason.
good read, step slower or not still better than 99% of the players in this leageau and that 1% that is out there will have a tough fight
Not for a 7"6 Center. Players his size tend to peak early and suddenly lose their ability to score instantly. Id say Yao loses his mvp caliber play at the age of 32, with a huge dropoff at the age of 34
Kobe has always had phenomenal endurance - no player without it is capable of scoring 81 points in a game, and the ability to overlook distractions (such as playing while on trial for rape whereas McGrady goes down for family issues every now and then). I'd have to say that he's just plain tougher than McGrady is.
Aren't you thinking of Shaq? He plays brusing offense, and that's why he is slowing down at teh age of 34. I'd say Yao game is similar to Jabbar's, and he won the MVP in in 30's (I think at the age of 34?). Yao can retain his shooting touch for quite some time, and his height doesn't diminish. All he has to do is get the ball, turn around, and shoot. He doesn't even notice the center trying to disturb him like a gnat.
Man that's kinda depressing when you think about it. He's given up hope on his athleticism and admitted he's not as good as he was before.
This post is just wow Its Kobe's fault he allowed his personal life to get in the way of his job. He's no hero for raping that girl and noone should feel sorry for the guy. While you're at it mention he also had 3 HOF players on the team including a HOF coach in Phil. The circumstances dont even compare. 81 points on a team like the raptors who didnt play defense (which brought nothing but a scoring title by 2ppg only because he shot more than lebron by at least 200 shots) and a 1st round exit just like everyone else has with no Shaq is nothing to brag about.
The last thing I want to hear is that some 27-year-old athlete is losing a step. My suggestion to TMac is to grab your Geritol, put on your Depends, drink your prune juice, and get on the court and win. The only person, on the Rockets, that is allowed to complain that his dentures are not fitting properly is Mutombo. No more excuses!
I already knew he lost 'a step' and needs to change his game. A lot of people didn't believe that he basically wasn't as skilled as he was before due to his injuries. But now you heard it from the man himself. I'm sure if he becomes a team player , he'll have good stats and he can prolong his career
He has played nine seasons in the NBA, and spent seven of those seasons playing heavy minutes, particularly during his time with the Magic, and his first season with the Rockets. Any athlete, regardless of age, will begin to show a decline in athletic ability as time passes. McGrady is only confirming what most of us suspected- that he has lost a step- but he has not made excuses. He has said that he is learning to adjust so that he will remain effective. That's no different than what any other player in his situation would do, or for that matter, has done in the past.
Allen Iverson to me is the biggest anomoly of an athlete not just in basketball but in prosports. The man doesn't practice and goes out there and puts ridiculous numbers. But again, he played 3 years in college as well. Regardless, I have huge respect for the man because he's always playing with injuries against guys twice his size. Dude has heart and leaves everything on the court every night.
