Keep him off the court until he feels good enough to be the Man. He needs a long rest time to get the real T-mac(61 scores Magic player) back.
Tmac plays well in weak team only. Trade him to the Thunders and we will see the vintage Tmac back, jacking 30 shots a game, 30 ppg, 5 reb, 5 ass, no problem
Lower your expectations when it comes to Tmac. He's declining. It's a matter of fact. He can still dominate from time to time, but he can't do it every night any more. That's all.
My solution is to support him. I don't know what else a fan should do when your star player is playing through injury trying to help your team win. He might not be as effective as we would like him to be but he's trying.
he needs a speech this 1 especially i hope rick gives it beefore the start of the next game http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rFx6OFooCs
All these suggestions regarding T-Mac moving without the ball, or developing his post up game are all up to him. It is Tracy's mindset and habits that will not allow him to play like this. He habitually plays as the man with the ball who creates. This is because he learnt how to play playing with a bunch of scrubs in Orlando where he had to do EVERYTHING for the team to get anywhere. Now, I don't see this thread as "what should TMac do".. it's a "What would you do with TMac if you were the GM" thread. So all this talk about him playing post up or move off the ball is great, and I believe it would help our team... however, for the basis for this thread, it means nothing. What would I do with T-Mac? He is in decline, he will not get better. I would ideally trade him however there isn't a realistic deal out there that I would take. The Billups one would've been great, but that is long gone. All we can do is wait till his contract runs out and use the money to rebuild. This is of course assuming we do not win a championship in the next two seasons. NOTE: i don't see this thread as a tmac bash like many of the tmac fans do. It is simply a fact that TMac has not been 100% for 4 seasons. ?History shows us that he will never be 100%. And remember that Tracy HIMSELF has stated that he feels old for his age. I think he said something like he is a 29 yr old in a 40 yr old's body. I don't remember the exact quote.
Tmac is simply a great leader... ... Tmac for ever; great for ever; He's so brilliant that he always control the game perfectly. This is his team, he knows that, so he also knows he gotta do something to help his team gain a win, even when he's off the court. At the begining of the 3rd quarter, tmac fell down with a sprained left knee but without any body touch. It's nothing special for him though, the injury on his left knee is chronic; besides, if you have been to Houston, have visited Toyota center, you gotta know that tmac seldom do some warmups before the game starts. Nonetheless, he doesn't even moved his body during the 15min-break after the 2 quarter finished. That's because he's so gifted that he always advotes himself into games with a body which is not fully warmed up, so it's no wonder he always get sprained. (some basic rules for exercises) However, he knows he can still help his team more when he is on the bench. Sitting on the bench, seeming as a general who points his teammates here and there, he changed the trend of the game since the begining of the 3rd quarter. The OKC thunders scored 50 in the first half; 30pts 54 fg% for the first quarter; 20pts 44% FG for the second quarter when our bench off players took most of the 12min of this quarter. However, since the moment when tmac got off the court at the begining of the 3rd, the game trend changed redically (as a mentioned above). Thunders sucked during the 3rd and 4th quarter with 29%FG for the 3rd and 21%FG for the fourth. Houston was leading 58-50 with 11:32 to play in the 3rd quarter, that's when Vafer got substituted for Tmac. In the following 6 min right after the subtitution, the rockets enlarged their leading gap to 72-54 with a 14-4 run. Everybody were so dynamic and devoted that K durant couldn't break into the rim anymore the way he did in the first half. Their shooting rate was fantastic in the first half but it dismissed accidently the moment tmac got off the court. At the same time however, the rockets offense started to move on, seemingly appeared to be the "princeton systerm" that ric wants. Even though Vafer didn't get plenty of handling or shooting oppotunities, he stood on the right position instead, which had long been the missing piece to the Adelman systerm. Waiting at the open position, moving without the ball, seeking oppotunities with moving, shooting the ball when the chance came, vafer did what was the most needed to his team. The ball moved quickly and fluently, mostly to scola who is the real striking mastro at the offensive end. Then, when yao was doubled, scola got more space and chance to show his jumpers, or break in straightly into the rim and give the ball to yao, excuting the high-low perfectly. During a 14pts scoring storm, yao got 4pts while scola got 6pts, and rafer also added 4 as well. By extention, ron also got a chance to make the most of his strong body in breaking in--- what he has no chance to do when tmac is on court. Artest made the score board 77-60 with his 7pts in a row. Great tmac, permanently great tmac who can make all his teammates concentrate on defense, show their talents fully on the court. What a leader. Rockets team began to substitute some benchers for the lineups when the leading seemed valid, let yao, scola and tmac all sit on the bench. As a consequence, rockets made a series of turnovers time after time without their leader on court. The thunders took the chance to shorten the gap to 82-74. Afterwards, yao came back and so did scola. together with artest who was still playing on court when yao and scola rested on the bench, Yao and scola stopped the running thunders. However, unfortunately, yao and artest both sprained their ankles around the rim. Yao's injury seemed to be slight but artest's seemed serious... ... A reporter told me that artest had been cooling his right ankle with ice-package since he got off the court, he couldn't even walk. But when was asked about the game vs mavs the day after tomorrow, artest responded directly:" I'm on for that game." Tmac's injury? that's pretty bad. He said:" I won't play any game until the CAT report is accomplished. But I've found another way to help my team... ..." He's a great defensive coach, even a little bit better than JVG. All the rockets will play great defense as long as they take a quick look at tmac. Is that RIGHT? TRACY? (It's not my product but a great job by a chinese fan, so I don't take any resposibility for this ariticle. But I really appreciate it though.) I have to acknowledge that some chinese people are really pretty creative and humourous.
I love t-mac, and I think he can still dominate games, every 2-3 games though. And is a spotty star, his injuries have gotten the best of him. We are on the verge of a championship with Yao and Ron, trade t-mac and rafer for the best possible case, gusy like Rudy Fernandez, or even manu..smart team players who can be stars if neede and will make yao a better player by spreading the court, and good team passing, unfortunately with t-macs trade value thats all we can get
T-Mac can be a beast and take over a game on any given night. The problem is he is not consistent in doing so, unlike a Kobe or Lebron. This is partially because of his health, and also because of his laziness. You'll notice that he turns the heat on when the Yao doesn't play so well. I have a lot of respect for T-Mac, and I wish for him to get out of the first round. But my loyalties lie with the Rockets, and not any individual player. This is why I say we trade him after this season IF WE CAN. His incosistency means he is not reliable enough for us. I'm just as happy being patient and holding on to him until his contract runs out. That's when rebuilding starts. Even if we still have Yao, I'd consider that rebuilding.
Of course it is frustrating but. He is not unjured, he is not 100% which means he is not fully healed from his offseason surgery. So all he needs is to make the knee stronger. It is just weak right now physically and it is still something going on (concerns about his knee) in his head. It is not like he decides it by himself. Ok, we can not belive our medical staff but I belive a few doctors took a look at him. So if they allow him to play that means it doesn't get any worse by playing. It is only getting better, but the problem it isn't going fast at all. If he could do the knee worse by playing we are all sure he wouldn't be playing. It is a matter of time. He can't jump, move well defeisivly now but once the knee gets stronger he will get his explosion and movement back. It is a young season, nobody needs to force anything. If he can't play we really can give him time off because we have a lot of games comming up. But if he plays that means he can do that and the knee won't get any worse. And those games when he scored 8, 3 or 2 are nopt because of the knee. It is mental. One game he is just agressive, the other one he is just staying and watching the game. That's it. If he wants to be agressive, he will score. He can drive, as he said. He just needs to get his mind set, he needs to wont to attack the rim. One night he wants, the other one not so much. That is the problem. So it is not like he has to play and we have to have him one the court. If he is playing it means he is fine. He was shaken up last night, I agree. But it is only going to get better unless he bumps it again or tweaks or something. As for the pain. He said he felt the SHARP pain (like before the injury) after OKC game. Now it os pretty much gone. Of course he is playing with discomfort but as I said, it is only gonna get better. If he wants to attack he will do that. If he wants to score he will. The problem is he doesn't always wants.
Even Jonathan Feigen said: He is not pretty much injured, he just needs to build that strength in his leg which he doesn't have. And he needs to play to do that.
He sat all summer.....and only had arthoscopic surgery....Brandon Roy had the same surgery and he is back playing at a high level because he rehabbed. TMac is what he is......when healthy an amazing player, but if he has a hanging toe nail it is going to limit him because he is so mentally weak. I was happy we traded for him, still think it was the right trade but when Clyde Drexler is saying things like "Everyone is hurting, you just have to play through it" then you know....he is basically calling Tmac a wuss. I think the team should sit him, move on, and when he sees all the other players out there playing hard, he can come back, but you don't cater to a whiny baby, you move on. DD
I'm suspicious about his knee. I wonder if he has a problem the doctors have missed. I don't think he should be playing. He should rehab the knee and rest. Start playing in February, perhaps. He can still be great, but I don't want him pulling into the playoffs all banged up.
I took some heat for this before the season, but I still maintain that it is for the best if the team de-emphasizes his role. Adelman came in wanting McGrady to be his Drexler. Well, a guy that is unable/unwilling to go into the lane 4 games out of 5 can't be that guy. People are saying he needs to get healthy or that he needs to play to strengthen his knee....that's all well and good, but why would you screw over the team letting him waste offensive possessions and play matador defense? We're treading water right now, and letting McGrady continue as a main option when he's 60% is an unnecessary handicap. Let's be honest with ourselves: The playmaking 2006 McGrady (24.6, 6.5, 5.3) is gone and isn't likely to ever come back. Tracy McGrady will probably never be 100% healthy again in his career. Tracy McGrady is probably through playing at an All-Star level more than once or twice a week. I'm not advocating that we get rid of him. I AM advocating that we alter his role and our offense to better mesh with reality. -If his knee/back/shoulder prevent him from being an efficient, inside/outside playmaker...than stop asking him to be one. Let him roll of screens and shoot jumpers occasionally. -Let him focus his energy into playing defense with at least average activity if he can't give it all on both ends. -Tell McGrady you want him to be our closer in the second half of 4th quarters. Retool our offense, putting more burden on Artest and Scola as main options. You're right, they aren't as good as McGrady or Yao....but you know what? At least you can count on them. You can't run a team when your primary options are constantly missing or mailing in games. It sucks, but we can't keep deluding ourselves and shooting ourselves in the foot each time McGrady lays a total egg or Yao strains something in his foot. Evan
Yes, mine also! The problem is that every year I lower my expectations but he always seems to Fail! Tracy hasn't been a beast in years. He will occasionally will have a big night when we play a weak team or have a not so important game. But to have a big game on the night the Rockets need him too, or against a true all-star? Never! The difference between Kobe, Lebron and Tracy? They have the drive and passion to win at all cost. Tracy wants it easy and is not willing to fight for it, only cry about it. They leave it all on the court EVERYNIGHT! At this point I'd rather have Drexler come out of retirement then have Tracy blow this team up. Solution to T-mac? Hope Steve Francis make a full recovery!
Say what you will about McGrady and his lack of post season success, whether his fault or not, him always seeming to be out hurt or playing hurt, etc. etc. But as far as not trying and wanting to win. I just don't see it. He's out there, either making or missing shots at the end or trying to make some play at the ends of games. He gets just as excited as the next guy when things are going well. He has an angry look on his face when things don't just like some other "greats." Am I calling T-Mac a "great." No, he can be, but it's all based on his success or lack of success thus far. Walking up court is nothing strange. Everyone does it, whether you like it or not. Actually, I don't know why I waste my time saying this stuff. I know the dude tries, and I know he does deserve his fair share of criticisms. I can understand the latter, but sometimes some of the stuff I read/hear just seems to stem from blind hate/frustration.
