I feel ya. You know, I think perhaps that's why I'm so defense of all our players. I have a lot of hope and expectations of these guys. It *is* frustrating to see such talented players just play so horribly at times. The amount of actual talent on this roster *should* make up for each players shortcomings. Instead, so far, each player has played below their expected levels. As someone mentioned, it's much harder to swallow knowning they CAN be better, but for whatever reason, they just aren't right now. I really hope that the team finds success and we will look back on the images (yao getting ejected, Rafer getting pumped up during a good performance, Tracy for the last couple of playoff series, etc.) and be proud of how far they've come. When you talk about our championship guys, everyone else seems to pale in comparison. If they don't win it all, every single team and player we come across now will never be good enough.
Heart = McGrady carrying his teams to two seven game series until he couldn't carry them anymore? Heart = McGrady playing hurt during the beginning of a season, and realizing he's hurting his team more than helping them and sits? Heart = McGrady takes over 4th quarters much more often than not? I remember someone being up 3-1 in the playoffs against the suns and lost...Can't recall who that killer instinct guy might be. Oh, and then they lost 4-1 after that. Point is, you can find examples of heart, and non-heart for each player mentioned here. Meaning, you can't say they have heart, and another doesn't. Maybe if a Tracy-lead team ever wins, he'll be considered to have a heart. Maybe it's as simple as that.
I don't even know what to say about that garbage. I have't heard or read the quotes. If he wants to say, he's not going to drop 30, that's fine. Perhaps he's coming back as soon as possible to try and help the team. But yeah, depth perception? eh...just keep that to yourself. As I've said...he's got his faults. But even this r****ded comment doesn't have anything to do with heart.
So if I were to say you were handling things like a b****, it's all good? Don't try to make it different through a technicality.
I skimmed through the thread so don't know if it was already mentioned... I know TMac has *heart*. He just hasn't been consistent with it. I think the 7th game heart argument is more about his *pride*. Then there is a so called cliche of being a *professional*. Going night in and night out getting work done, not slacking off just because you don't feel like it. Not smiling on the bench while your team is getting their butt whipped. Not giving excuses even if it's convenient to do so. Heart. Pride. Consistency. Professionalism. Franchise players have these or aspire to have these. TMac has been questionable on more then one of these throughout his career.
How do you measure heart? You take Stevie Francis and go from there. He's got a heart the size of Texas.
Heart is simply not backing down no matter what, no matter if the team is in first place, or on a 7 game losing streak. Heart, is not really playing with emotion, its playing with intense focus. Executing under pressure and always keeping the opposition on its heels. You'll never see Duncan thumping his chest, or glaring at his opponents, but he accepts the challenge every night no matter who it is. Double overtime loss to Denver= Heart Fourth quarter collapse to Philly= no Heart
Nicely put. I agree with the game 7 comment. I kind of alluded to it by saying he's sitting there pissed about the loss, but also feeling sorry for himself. I think that's where he's gotta man up more. I mean if you cry after a tough loss, I can respect that. If you feel like you let yourself down, or failed to accomplish your own goals or team goals. I respect that. We see it in all sports. But if fans think you are crying b/c you feel sorry for yourself for one second, you lose fan's respect. I think sometimes, that is where Mac may lose some fan respect. If he was crying about anything except feeling sorry for himself, he could stay up on a podium and answer questions postgame.
I just want to win. Heart: Hard D Run Don't care self-state Shots low percentage then do more practice. Give all your talent to the team. But I know Heart not equal to win, not equal to smart basketball and can not control f king refs. I do feel shame when you have ability to do something but not... No one like lost but I do understand it when you fight and play stupid basketball or they play better or they have more talent or refs help them or .... I will blame on coach, on refs, on...... You just don't have that talent and also don't make that much money. that's ok when you play hard like a rooki (yea, sometimes stupid bkball, I know). Then I can accepte it and understand it and will not blame on you.
I do...kinda. I think you cannot give your all unless you are really into something. Yes, they earn millions of dollars which is a huge motivator but players like Ryan Bowen who really don't do anything really well (when comparing to other NBA players) but just try their hardest, they love the game and they're passionate about it. I think we can agree that having passion is at least somewhat related to having heart. Thus, if you don't have the love and passion for the game (or any job really) you won't have the 'biggest' heart. Think about yourself. There must be a job that you would rather do (if not, congratulations). Now, if you had that job, wouldn't you try harder? Wouldn't you be happier overall? For me, every job thus far has been a 'job'. I try but I also coast at times, my mind is somewhere else and I look forward to going home. I think Tracy looks to basketball as his job. He has said that he likes baseball more. I think if the Rockets were a baseball team and we were all baseball fans, we wouldn't have to question T-Mac's heart. He would be doing what he loves most and would give it his all. I can't say that it would translate to success but it certainly would take some of the blame of his shoulders. I guess this posts just continues on the last sentence of my previous post that if you don't put forth the effort AT ALL TIMES, I cannot mistake you for having heart. And the effort, imo, comes from the love for the game, which Tracy I believe does have but not as much as some other players. In another post you (or maybe it was someone else, I'm lazy) wondered if people's main gripe with him is being the man on one night and coasting on another. For me, that's it. On some nights the determination is there. Bobcats game is a perfect example. I don't remember any other game EVER where he wouldn't be denied for five or six possessions straight. And then we have the Raptors game. It's frustrating.
If it's just a stupid comment, that's one thing. The problem is that this sure looks like a stupid comment which is being offered up as an excuse.
You make very good points and observations. I think it is a valid gripe of fans to say that T-Mac doesn't always have his heart in the game. Sometimes he's thinking about baseball, the birth of his child, fear of being hurt, the depth perception in the TC I'm ok with him having a life outside of basketball. I think we all do. I think that we all like to think, well if it is your job, then we want to see the effort 100% of the time when you are on the job. Much like how we take our personal jobs. Perhaps I'm too forgiving for him. I am too ready to accept that, "well he has his faults and we get what we get from him." But you all hint at something, which I agree with. I don't think he's heartless, but I do expect more from him. He is going to be compared to our championship guys. He is going to be compared to his 20mill/yr salary. He is going to be held accountable for leading the team AT LEAST out of the first round of the playoffs. I think we are all hard on him, because as anotehr poster was saying, we know you can do better...it's frustrating to know you can, and see you not try night in and night out.
Yeah I don't know why he felt the need to say it Coming back from an injury alone, people understand sometimes you aren't going to drop 30 that night. But to make excuses before hand? Man...I don't like that. As for his other quotes in another thread, I did like that he said he didn't want to come in and hurt his team. This made me see that he knows just his return isn't enough. He knows he has to fit in while helping the team be better with his talent and skills. As you all know...let's see him do, not just say.
Pay me twenty million a year and I'll show you some heart. I would dive after every loose ball even though I had no chance. I would fight anyone, including Shaq, hopefully the twenty million covers health insurance. I would bring water, wipe up the sweat on the floor, and hand wash Deke's jockstrap. I'll show you some HEART! Seriously, it is all about EFFORT and caring more about winning than personal stats. Tmac is great, I wouldn't say he doesn't have heart, I would say that he is too much of a wuss to take it to the hole so instead he jacks up fadeaway threes.
to me heart... is giving 100% of yourself on the court... its not how many points you score... or assist you make...shots attempted... rebounds made etc.. its a never give up additude... maybe its the lazy way Tmac plays... or the fact that he has mailed in games and some of his seasons... but to me... just because things are not going your way.... you dont give up...
