Some feasible solutions: 1. Address the health situation - not healthy, don't play There has been a high amount of variance in T-Mac's physical and mental health from game to game. What's worse is that his teammates and coaches never seem to know what to expect from him and it is having a negative effect on our play. When he is on the court, the team expects him to bring it strong, not shoot 1-11 and get owned on defense. We need a much greater level of transparency between him and the coaches, and hell, lets sign up 5 more team doctors too. If he just doesn't feel good, then he should sit on the bench. 2. Create more post-up opportunities on offense When T-Mac has been posting up smaller players in the wing area 15-18 feet from the basket he has been very effective. If he's going to iso, this is where it should be, as he can find the open man for a pass, or create contact at the hoop. As a third option, he can also go to the fadeaway 3. Run him off more screens to create open 3-pt looks Mac is still one of the better shooters on this team generally and one of the best shooters in the game when in rhythm. Rather than isoing from 25 out and trying to create space, I think we need more Reggie Miller-like opportunities for him to get open looks off screens 4. Cover for him on defense. Due to his lack of mobility, his usual apathy for defense has been amplified. Regardless of whether you agree with him being on the floor, if he is, he needs to be covered for. Against Boston, for example, its inexcusable to have him on Ray Allen all game as he gets torched for 30. We need greater awareness and communication on the helpside, more zones and more crafty planning from RA than just regular man to man D. 5. Sit him down and have a talk about leadership Like it or not, he is still the leader of this team. Even though he is not feeling great, he needs to find other ways than scoring 35 pts per night to be a positive influence. If Artest, Brooks, Landry, Alston, Wafer, etc see him bumming around and acting like he's not that interested, then that's going to have a negative effect and he needs to realize that. Why is Landry doing the pre-game huddles? Step up as the leader, T-Mac!
Oh boy...this forum is for opinions and I love it, but I can't help but laugh how far people's opinions are from reality. My belief is that Tmac is a great player, my opinion is that he's frustrating to watch because he's struggling. The difference between a belief and an opinion, is that beliefs are deeper rooted and based on more long term empirical evidence. Opinions are fickle, short term, and based largely on the most recent topic. Recently, Tmac is hurting, playing average and everyones fickle opinion is to have his soul on a platter. My belief is that he will mend and return to being one of the NBA's best players. You guys just need to stop and think before you throw some of these emotional and exaggerated posts out there. It might get frustrating for a while, but Tracy will get better.
more opportunities for this.. off the bench.. that requires movement off the ball.. something Tracy has proven to be either incredibly incapable of.. or incredibly stubborn to.. since Adelman's first year.. what say we get him to make at least some off the ball cuts.. before we start dreaming up of a Reggie- like constant mobility and use of off the ball screens.. give up on this.. it's just not in Tracy's personality make-up.. Tracy rely's on Alston for his "rock".. for god's sakes..
also.. as evidenced by your post.. beliefs tend to be religiously/passionately biased.. and in sports.. inclined to misplaced "hero worship".. while opinions a bit more open towards objectivity.. in other words.. you have a better shot at addressing the truth.. with the latter.. especially in a subject such as this..
Do whatever is the best for him to get back to being 100%. If that means sitting for a month, then that's what he should do. If it truly is an injury that won't be hurt by playing nor helped by resting, then we're in for a rough few months.
Its almost like his knee is worse that it was last year before the surgery. Despite playing about 80% most of last year, there is no way he wouldn't have crammed that alley oop down that he missed tonight. He can't jump, or move laterally. His skills right now are his post up game and his passing ability, both of which should be taken advantage of until he can regain some of his health. Also, in flashes this year, he has great success taking the ball to the basket hard and getting to the line. Even without the jumping ability, he can still get the ball up off the glass inside and should do that more often.
I've been saying this since day one ever since tmac declared that he wasn't 100% to shut him down and let him rest till he does get healthy. I'd rather have a healthy tmac in the second half of the season heading into the end of the season and playoffs rather than right now.
I'll say it again ever since tmac announced he wasn't 100% I've been saying to shut him down and let him rest. I want him healthy down the line compared to right now at the beginning of the season. Lets not start getting carried away with trades and all other sort of crap because lets face it, its not going to happen. We need a healthy tmac to make a run this year so I believe letting him sit hopefully will heal him and get him back to the old mac. Lets all pray and hope.
I think if shane was healthy at the start of the season, he would be sitting right now, but since shane is out, he playing on one leg. Just as I never thought Yao was healthy and shouldve been limited to 30 mins, I thought tracy should have been th same way. As far the long term solution, I've said for awhile, its better to let his money fall off the books than get a couple of ok guys. I think Artest is pressing trying to get his value up for a contract also. I think long term,2-3 yrs, Les needs to evaluate the franchise. I wouldn't offer Yao nor tracy a max extension. The rox have 2 shots at this, then they're going t have to start making some really tough decisions.
tmac can still play hes just a lil banged up, like he always is. but sines he more hurt than usual he shouldnt play big minutes, 30 is good. maybe when shanes back and tmacs still hurtin bad he cna sit out a few games but daam he has to get a lot better than this. ron needs to step up but of corse hes gettin in game shape and learnin the system. yao is surprisin me but hes hurt so ****ING A. shane should be the guy who makes up for our big 3s injuries and he will do just that.
I say keep him healthy on the bench till hes 100%, and start trading the extra ones for a decent SG backup. Trade Luther + Barry.
i don't think tracy would sit even if shane plays. he probably would play only 25 mins a game. tracy has talked it over with the docs and coaches. the problem is not the knee structurally or anything like that for the most part. it's just that his knee and leg ARE WEAK. the reason his play is so inconsistent is that when he plays a lot of minutes, his knee gets fatigued b/c it's too weak. some nights, when he feels good, he plays well. and vice versa. so their new plan is to limit his minutes. work him a long SLOWLY (rather than playing him 35-36 min a game like we have been doing) and build that strength in the knee. when that strength comes, he'll be fine.
