STOP WHINING ABOUT T-MAC!!

Not to defend his offensive performance in that game -- I say offensive because he played very well otherwise -- but the shooting percentage, in McGrady's case, is almost always misleading, especially in this case.

In almost every single game, McGrady takes all those 'forced shots' that no one else wants to take. How many 'desperation' shots did he have to force in that Jazz game? He took at least 3 shots down the stretch trying to make something happen, and they were not of the 'good shots' variety, but what other option was there?

He really wasn't trying to force the action at all, he only did it towards the end of the game when nothing else came to fruition. Moreover, he was clearly fatigued and just looked 'flat' by the time the 4th quarter came around, he's simply not in 'game shape' just yet; no one really is...brilliant of JVG to play him 41 minutes in the first game of the season.

I think criticism of McGrady for this one particular game is somewhat misguided/overstated. The stats alone NEVER tell the whole story, you have to actually watch the game to say why he did what he did when he did it.

But one thing I am sure of is that he's not even close to being in game shape, and his body simply isn't conditioned for 40+ minutes a night anymore, not with a debilitating back condition. When Wells joins the team, JVG MUST find a way to manage his minutes a little better; the same applies to Yao. JVG seems to be somewhat challenged when it comes to understanding that wearing off his players in practice and in game situations is detrimental to their healths; we've already lost an entire season thanks to his 'full-contact' practice sessions that literally 'broke the camel's back'. He MUST do a better job at making sure that he doesn't tax his players every single night, every single practice; this is a recipe for disaster in the long haul, just ask Greg Popovich and Phil Jackson, they know.

I know injuries aren't entirely on him, but he does play into it whether he likes it or not. McGrady's body simply can't take 41 minutes a night anymore, not during the 82 game grind that is the regular season. Thankfully, Yao's minutes haven't been as much of a concern, but he must be mindful of that as well.

Sorry to derail the thread somewhat guys, just had to get that off my chest...I just don't like the way JVG is managing his players...

 

The only thing I do not understand is why keep jacking up shots if you are cold. Wouldn't the smart thing be to get the ball to the one hitting his shots.

It does seem to jack up the flow of the game for the rest.

 

It's misleading to say that he "jacked up shots" because it implies that he did so throughout the game to the detriment of his team. He only 'jacked up shots' and missed them when the game was already out of hand, when he knew it was time for him to take over and try to do what he's paid to do for this team. He was coming down the court and pulling up for jumpers at the end of the game to try and spearhead a comeback when nothing else worked. It didn't work, it won't always work.

He's still rusty and his conditioning isn't anywhere near where it should be -- you can tell by how flat his shot looked and how he wasn't getting that elevation he needed on his jumper late in the game -- and that will take a while to work itself out.

 

Thing is Tiger, you and I both know, that JVG will never change. We all know he pushes the team in the wrong areas too much.

He played Tmac too many minutes since he's been here. You know he wont stop now. They needed D and he left Hayes on the bench and played Padgett

Deke who needs no more than 5 minutes a game, no Juwan, and no V Span

Its like the man has a blockage. He wont play the young guys like they have a disease, and the reason people can alway s pick yao off is becasue the team doesnt cut or move around. The defense knows this and knows what the play is.

The offense is stale and needs an overhaul but he wont change it. Worse than that, the fans blame it on the players when it isnt working for them.

The Spurs play high defense and arent all tired and worn out on offense. Its not that. There is no balance here, and the coach can't keep up with the rest of the league but noone wants to call him out. Noone young develops under this guy right. Yaao should be a high post player, not a guy who gets picked off every other play.

 

I've said it before Tiger. You are one of my favorite posters. Your insight is brilliant. You are neutral when people are committing suicide or jumping for joy. We need more posters like you and trade some of these bandwagon "instant satisfaction" rookies

 

I feel like I should respond considering this thread is directly addressed to the one I started.

I didn't intend for it to become a mudslinging thread and tried to keep the discussion to philosophy of offense. If you read my posts at the end of page 4 and page 8, I try to add as much evidence to my opinions and ideas as possible.

And it's not like I'm stating some ground-breaking idea. Throughout the offseason, T-Mac himself and Jeff Van Gundy have stated that this is Yao's team, that Yao needs more shots, that they want a Yao centered offense.

The points of my thread and subsequent posts shows through pictures of the building blocks at the Rockets practice, and through statistical evidence that the Rockets were right in promoting an inside centered offense that kicks out to 3 pointers.

My page 8 post in that thread goes on to state that T-Mac is the Best decision maker in the NBA coming off the Pick N Roll. In fact, I love the T-Mac pick N Roll because it allows T-Mac to drive, shoot, or dish in a very advantageous position.

I also stated in that post that the elbow Reggie Miller screen and shoot play for T-Mac is inefficient. I hate that play. There's no chance for offensive rebounding and it limits T-Mac to making him a catch and shoot player...something that should be used seldomly, like only when Yao is out.

I stated that Yes, it is Yao's responsibility to be more demanding of the ball, but it's also T-Mac's responsibility as the other Star on this team to get Yao the ball more. No other member of the Rockets has the status or standing to shoot as much as T-Mac without getting pulled or criticized. T-Mac has very much leeway because of his status, and with that power comes an obligation to follow through with the team strategy.


I disagree with your premise. And the stand by my thread title. T-Mac should take a backseat it terms of shot volume. T-Mac and Jeff Van Gundy have stated all summer through many interviews that Yao needs more shots.

And mainly, I just want more of that sign they they read every day. Inside shots, 3 pt shots, and freethrows.

I'm not blaming T-Mac for the loss. I stated in my thread that there were many reasons for the loss.

But I also pointed out that Great Teams don't just win when they outhustle and outplay the other teams. This is where I somewhat disagree with Jeff Van Gundy. I love that he wants 100% effort all the time, but his mindset was like "we didn't deserve to win the game".

I believe no one deserves to win or lose. There's just always a winner and loser, and great teams find a way to win. Sometimes Great Teams are only doing 1 thing right and 10 things wrong, yet they find a way to exploit their advantage to achieve victory.

I believe the Rockets will be better this year, but I also believe that in order for them to pull out games in which they are playing poorly, they need to milk their inherent advantage...and that's Yao Ming. I believe Yao is the most effiecient post scorer in the League and that he'll create open 3's and that's what the Rockets should stick to, especially when things are going wrong. In the past, when things got tough, the team turned to Mr. 13 in 35. I think while T-Mac is still capable of putting the team on his shoulders, Yao is more capable nowadays.

I'm not mudslinging, just adding some discussion. I hope the responses in this thread can be applied with some thought and warrant.

 

His excellent performance the year before last year does not mean we can not whine forever even when he plays terribly.

I have to say it again: Yao needs a bench center, who is not Mutombo or Hayes definitely!!!

 

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.....i wonder if that could mean that he has a bad back and he's never going to be his old self...you could look at it either way...

 

Whats wrong with tracy taking a backseat when hes not shooting particlarily well in a game and Yao is shooting over 50% shouldnt we feed the hot hand? that 1st game is a perfect example of this stop taking these threads so seriously they're just the nature of being a "fair-weather fan" most people including myself still believe in t-mac and what he can do for this team so dont get so offended so easily

 

BTW, I am firmly in the "Yao is the team's #1 option on offense" camp, as anyone who reads my posts would know. In fact, McGrady and JVG fully support that AFAIK, and have said so publicly.

It will take some time, let's be patient, this is essentially a new team and these guys don't have much chemistry together as of yet.

Give it time, be patient, good things come to those who wait...

 

Once T-Mac starts having good games, everybody will hop back on his d**k... once again.

 

Yeah, let's just hope that happens aye!? sooner than later..

 

or you can say it's money time. You are not pointing right logic but playing language games here and wont give you hoop credits.

and they were not desperation shots--they were bad shots! you need draw clear line between them. we were done by 19 but still got plenty time. it was too early to say that.

 

Well done! I couldn't have said this any better!! Who is to blame though? Tmac for being given this *FREE ROLE* by JVG? Or is it Rafer Alston who can't execute a single play correctly OR DEFEND or is it JVG's COACHING that's so bad that they're playing so unbalanced on both offense and defense? In addition, i dont care if vspan gets 5 TO's per game if he can actually execute good plays..i dont see rafer executing that many good plays..so his detriment to the team outweighs any benefit he brings by a lot!! Phil jackson has a team of youngsters ...and they're winning because of great *Team basketball*! JVG may be too uptight and stoic that his style is so rigid and causing confusion(at least that's what i see in the rockets plays)

 

given time i see it coming

 

That was awful. Yao should definitely solve this issue. I do not want to see that kind of TO again and again.