T-Mac's action vs. Magic (plus interview after game)

Yes I was hoping that maybe TMac could change his ways but his game does not fit the current Rocket system. I hope the Rockets move on soon instead of waiting till February, get it done now if there is a move to be made.

 

I don't think energy or fitness is the problem here.
Do you really think that he should be able to come back from surgery and be able to play ALL OUT and go for it after playing grand total of only 45 minutes of actual gametime?
That the surgeries and pain hes had on his knee has not impacted his mental ability to trust his body fully?

Your logic that if a ball stopper scores efficiently then he is not a ball stopper, is just ridiculous.
If Artest has an on night, shoots something like 8-12 from the field, then he is not a ball stopper any more?
A ball stopper is someone that stops ball movement (obviously), it doesnt matter if hes putting the ball in the net himself, hes still screwing up the offense.

And by the way, even though Carter is slower than his younger days, hes still one of the better shooting guards in the league and still dunks on people quite often.

 

So we lost bc of Mcgrady? What have you seen this season that shows you that he has a bad attitude or demeanor ?

Let's face the truth, which is that you don't know how to handle losses. You've been like this for what seems like forever.

He's coming around and the Clippers game is evidence of this notion.

 

You know,

....because there were going to be so many things about this team that we just wouldn't get a clear picture on, at least until the roster was more or less settled after the trade deadline......

...I was going to keep my mouth shut about any of the Rockets having to play this season without Yao Ming or Tracy McGrady.

Most of the players were going to pull jobs that were just too big for them right now, whether Yao or McGrady were here or not. Trevor Ariza is no different from Aaron Brooks or Carl Landry or Luis Scola in this regard, to me.

First, I trust Daryl Morey and Rick Adelman to make the basketball decisions on the court and off the court. I trust them because they have both shown a desire to improve the entire team, not just rely on the "star" players to carry them to x-amount of wins through a long season. Their approach in regards to McGrady, for instance, shows the type of prudence and commitment (now and for the future of the club), that you need to have to be successful.

A healthy McGrady helps, no matter what your plans for the team and organization are. A smattering of minutes here or there for McGrady shouldn't provoke anything more than a positive response in regards to his PHYSICAL recovery (which seems to be going very well). Whatever decision is made regarding McGrady, the best thing for him and for the team is to recover his health, and to be as cautious in that process as possible. The Rockets have forcibly lowered the expectations of the season a bit, so that should relive the pressure of chasing a championship from the minds of everybody involved.

Next, because the Rockets have had to adopt a style to work for the talent and personnel on hand, it goes without saying that there would be more than a few of these nights for the Rockets. Tough scheduling. Tougher opponent. Stretches of play that belonged on a stretcher. All comes with the territory, considering the circumstances.

The big news: The Rockets are faring better than perhaps everyone expected, except perhaps, the team itself.

Including Trevor Ariza.

If Ariza had any intention of being the type of player that Kobe Bryant is, he should have learned how to work on his skills the way Bryant (or even McGrady) has. Minutes and opportunity will not make you a great offensive player in this league. Skill and savvy will do that. Ariza lacks little of either of those traits, but it is still too small a sample size and too transitional a state for the team itself, to rate Ariza as anything more than what he's always been—a high-end role player.

Again, during an 82-game NBA season, any team with talent, discipline, solid coaching and resolve will win about as many games as it will lose. That the Rockets, thus far, have done that says that they are not that far away from competing on a championship level. A small sample size, again, in light of the early season (and the expectations that this early success may bring for the rest of the campaign), but a positive sample nonetheless.

It's easy to say that Ariza (or any of the other current, regular-rotation Rockets) are in over their heads or are shooting to much or aren't getting enough playing time.....

...but these Rockets, individually and collectively, are who they are.

I wouldn't be too upset with Trevor Ariza, personally. His job is too big for him right now, and it seems to me that he wants to have the responsibility of the team's success fall to him. His skill isn't on par with his desire, obviously.

Perhaps this is why Coach Adelman is allowing Ariza to "find out" what he can and can't do. The expectations for the team (and the season) are modest, and currently seem to favor the Rockets, no matter how the season ends.

Wanting to win is a valuable attribute in a player. It tends to make you focus on what you need to do from a physical standpoint in order to improve. Or at least, in my naivete.....

Ariza wants to win, I believe. All of the Rockets do, of course.

Finding out how to do that is the course the players are on right now. As strange as it may seem, the wins or losses incurred (this season, at least) don't seem to be as big a preoccupation with the coaching as they are with fans. It's almost as if the Rockets are treating this season and players as if they are a lottery team that has accumulated a lot of young talent (see the Sacramento Kings, who are FAST becoming a team that could challenge for a playoff spot, after its young personnel have begun to establish themselves)....

We were supposed to give this season to "experimentation" and "growth" and "asset management".

Have the Rockets achieved so much (again, overachieving is what those say who underestimate the Rockets' talent and desire), that we're all ready now to not let ourselves be enamored and even surprised with a young group growing in front of our eyes?

Warts and horrible shooting and all?

 

excuses for what? i said he played bad help defense. it he gives zero effort, he would not give any at all. why even try on the 1-on-1 D?

 

he's not saying he shouldnt be playing in his current condition, he means that someone that gets that surgery shouldnt be playing, he's trying to prove a point...that should be understood.

and why wouldnt he admit to the contract situation? It's his job afterall, he didn't say he specifically wanted the mx, he already said he's not interested in money, just wants to come back, just because he mentioned it doesnt mean he's thinking "big" contract, he's mainly refering to the fact that he's not guaranteed to be a rocket next year, so he's got to show them he's still go it.

 

What? Who says I am blaming the loss on him?

Don't make crap up...please....

I am just commenting on his lack of effort out there....and a guy playing 8 minutes TOPS, should be busting his butt to show the coaches and organization that he deserves more time.

Right now, he just isn't doing that....

Honestly it is flat out amazing...the guy should be busting his hump out there, making the coaches sweat out leaving him on the bench...but, he is making the choice easy...by playing pretty badly.

He has had glimpses...and honestly, I don't care if his shot is off, as long as he plays HARD....

Do you hear that T-witches?

HARD....he has to play HARD.....

That is the problem...it is not his knee, not his jump shot, nothing more than his lackidasical play that is the problem.

How HARD is it to play for 8 minutes....???? And go all out, show effort?

DD

 

It is one thing to be frustrated by the team play today and another one to blame it all on the 8 minutes play of McGrady.

 

you really flip on the hater switch mighty fast DD...it's obvious he's still having issues mentally with his knee...you can see how he tries to not land on it at times, it changes throughout the game...if he's still doing that when he's been cleared to play big minutes, then fine, but let's keep in mind he's still working out kinks mentally and physically and he's going to be up and down from game to game and within a game for the first month or so.

 

And an entirely new level of ignorant to think that people are blaming any loss on Tmac.

Just commenting on his play.

DD

 

You got anything else?

And who cares? This is about what he can do or not do...NOW...

Nothing else matters......what can you do today, this is a meritocracy, not a charity.

DD

 

dude what dont you get?? he came back from MICROFRACTURE SURGERY. its a process. there are reasons why he is only playing 8 minutes. relax on the all out thing. if hes giong all out every play im pretty sure RA and DM will both be cringing every time.

 

Why don't you show us in a video how HARD you can play the next time?
Watch out and don't sprain your ankle.

 

If he can't go all out, he should not be playing.....that is the point.

Welcome to 2009-10.

Hey look more dumbassery by you....what does that have to do with anything you noob?

DD

 

oh wait...has anyone mentioned that maybe DD is mad about the wafer debacle? and just taking it "ALL OUT" on tmac?

 

Interesting take on what being a ball stopper is but anyway.

Every player on this team that played tonight was beat more than once by their man. So whatcha saying?

For goodness sake even Redick had his moments offensively. We just got outplayed tonight. Your critique of T-mac should be equally applied to everyone who played in Rockets Red. If the goal is to prevent your man from scoring, looking like you tried (playing hard) is not a legitimate consolation prize for when you're not getting the job done (i.e., holding your man). I would have less of problem with this stuff if people who complain about T-Mac's "mistakes/lapses" would also complain equally when Ariza, Battier, Brooks, Landry, Scola and whomever else did similar things. Each one of our players has some bonehead trait. But most of you guys fail to do that and then tell people they are TOFs or YOFs.

And I will be one of the first to remind you of this post when Budinger comes back and gets beat by his man again. As you've put it, "...I don't give two craps that he is coming back...it is a dog eat dog world and if he is not able to help...I don't care.

Meritocracy at it's finest.....the strong survive the weak get eaten."

One thing is for sure, you're consistently inconsistent with your application of criticism.

 

Ok. But it is also your personal opinion. Others might see that he was trying and it was not that bad. Our team lost and some players played very bad.

 

then i guess according to you no one can ever come back from microfracture surgery.

 

Sure they can, but when they are coming back and in limited minutes they can hustle, is that asking too much?

DD

 

DD, have you played ball after a serious injury to your leg(s)? If you havent, you really have no business saying he should be doign this or that. You sit there and look and look and look, but looking and knowing how he feels are two very different things. You may say, well he's been playing for a while now he should be ok physically and mentally", but every time you go up another level it feels differently. Running drills is one thing. Practicing with your teammates, who may take it easier since it's practice, who you know by instinct, it's different. You step on the court with guy who won't take it easy on you and actually want to come at you hard, it's different. It's only been ahandful of games since he's been playing, at least hold off until he's got no more excuses. And as far as i know excuses aren't always invalid, there's valid ones as well, so stop dismissing them as if we're saying his dog ate his homework or sumn..