One of the things as you grow up in this game, the wear and tear on the body is significant," Jackson said before Sunday's 91-81 win over Memphis. "He's probably got 20,000 minutes now, or more, probably. Lot of playoff games. There's limitations of what you can do after you get some miles. He's going to return to a position where he's going to dazzle and be remarkable in some things out there, but he's never going to be 100% with that knee again. Quote: "There was an early phase in which he like was the sole person in our offense and generated a lot of offense," said Jackson, who coached Jordan for eight seasons during the 1990s with the Chicago Bulls, winning six NBA titles. "And then there was a phase in which we won three championships in four years. And then he retired, and when he came back he was a different player. He knew how to save a step and how to take a different [approach]. Instead of taking it to the hoop all the time, how to pull up and take the 14-footer. At that time he was 34, 35, and he was really capable of judging what the game demanded." In which phase is Bryant? "He's moved into the second phase of his career where he knows what he can do at what times on the court," Jackson said. "Right now, he knows he can't do it for a sustained period of time. He's not in the condition yet. [But] he's still taking that ball to the front of the rim and getting smacked and getting in tough situations."
It's all mental. His back injury really hurt his confidence. He'll need more time to slowly regain his game this season. Tmac is still too good to go un-retired MJ at us now.
Yes, it is all mental, and until he gets off this mentality of having lost a step at the age of 27 he will continue to struggle. It is all in your head !!!!!! DD
People need to accept the reality that T-mac will never be the same player he was. He'll shoot better likely, but not that much better. Back problems do not get better though, the get worse. This is a fact. And it will get worse the more weight he gains. I knew coming into last season when he has put on weight he was in trouble. Now - that doesn't mean he can't steer the team to a championship. It just means he will have to play differently - and he is adjusting. He's more of a scottie pippen type guy. But notice on thing - he's not exploding to the basket and dunking like a monster anymore. The jump shot may return, but that explosiveness...well it might be gone.
Kobe will finish higher in MVP voting again this year, because he is a better player than McGrady. This is a fact. The End. I base it on their two careers; McGrady has show that he is more fragile.
This is an important point that people may be overlooking. I think most people remember how Larry Johnson's career was shortened because of a herniated disk he suffered in 1993. I don't think McGrady's career will unfold as LJ's did, largely because Tracy is a perimeter player and should be able to have an easier time adjusting to the physical limitations his back has imposed on him. Johnson was a post player and had a more difficult adjustment to make, as he was undersized for the power-forward spot to begin with.
McGrady has said his back is fine, and he certainly looks ok jumping for rebounds and when he goes to the basket. He is 27 years old, his entire problem is mental, if he keeps talking about himself declining, what do you think will happen? Tmac's back is fine, it is his head that is the problem. He has lost his confidence. And, FYI, even at 38% he is not that far below what he shot last year....when healthy..... DD
yup as much as I hate to admit it. Kobe is a much better player than Tmac at this point. Tmac had that one break out year in orlando where he could of matched kobe but he has been down hill since then which is sad. Right now McGrady is a whole league behind the likes of; Pierce, Carter, Wade, Lebron, Kobe, Joe Johnson even, Ray Allen,...anyways the list goes on and on.... alll these guys are having way better seasons than Tmac. When I watch them play they have energy and explosiveness. they can shoot they can drive they can dunk... has Tmac even had a good dunk this season on someone? I dont htink so .. . anyways I sure hope tmac turns it around.. cause that is all we need now. Yao is dominating so now we jsut need to Tmac to gain 90% of his former self back and I think this tema can win it all
That is what separates him from Kobe, LeBron, Wade -etc. Those guys never have lost their confidence in mid-career. None of those guys are going to wake up on Monday morning and be unable to shoot free throws all of a sudden. That is why I think they are tougher than he is. They also happen to be possibly the three greatest players on the planet, so it's no real shame to be below them. Honestly with the emergence of Yao his crisis is more manageable and possibly even a blessing in disguise.
So many places you jump around on. Kobe wasn't a much better player in the year Tmac went bananas in ORL. Now that Kobe is without Shaq, he hasn't done jack. Lets go there when he at least, Wins an MVP Leads his team to win a playoff series. Until then, without Shaq, I see the same results. A scorer with average defense that can't get it done alone.
Kobe Wade and Bron never had a reason to lose confidence, nor were they ever in the situation Tmac has been. BTW, if you haven't noticed, Bron has had his share of FT problems this season, which led to his criticism of the new ball. Tougher, who knows, but as far as it stands, its not fair to compare an older Tmac to a younger generation (although you can compare his younger years and I'd say he was up there) Now Kobe, you can formulate whatever you want, but you are overrating him. Always rode Shaq's coattail, had the greatest coach since Auerbach (and coincidentally when he left the lakers missed the playoffs), and hasn't won anything to show me he seperated himself from this generation of top players. You can't point to anything as far as results to show me. Funny Tmac's first year in HOU, Kobe has an injury riddled season, lost 19 games of the last 21, missed the playoffs, sat out when his team was eliminated, while Tmac led a team with a Yao Ming who couldnt stay on the floor all game to push Dallas to game 7 of the playoffs. Sounds about the same to me.
Except you. Here are the 6 posts out of your total 8 posts so far: "i think that we should talk about trade Yao for a better big man,like D Howard or B Wallace " "Rock is T-mac's team but not Yao.For T-mac,B Wallace will be a useful big man,and he better than Yao,i think. " "i hope that Tracy could back soon " "no doubt,cause he is still a top player.if only Counted on Yao,Rox would repeat last season Tracy could help the team in other ways " "Rox needs you,Tracy" "why everyone talk about Yao now?can't they see Tracy's contribution? "
It maybe mental but his first step is NOT what it used to be. He's not the same slasher. We see glimpses of it through out a game like the 4th quarter against the Heat he was driving to the basket with authority but he can't do that throughout the whole game anymore. His shot will be back. I think he's got to make adjustments on his shot again because he relies so much on his jumping ability to shoot the ball. Probably more so than anyone in the league.
