I'm not bashing Yao. Read my posts again. I like Yao. I was making the point that around the same time last year on these boards you had the same posts about McGrady when we lost in game 7. We are approaching that time again.
It'll be hard for you to convince me that you like Yao as much as T-Mac. And to be fair, there were more than a few posts criticizing Yao after last season's playoffs, not just T-Mac. However, Yao wasn't the one who made the "It's on me" comment last year.
Yao couldn't board to save his life towards the end that cost the Rockets the game imo, but no need to defer blame. That was last year. People have too high expectations on here for our team this year. No Rafer for the first 2 games really hurt I think. Bobby Jackson was out of sync as the starter and got into a good groove once Rafer came back. I think if Rafer was there for both games we probably would have got one under our belts. The team just has a ton of injuries going on right now, and we're running one of the smallest teams in the playoffs since Yao went down.
Hehe, this is a real gem Rocket River, that I missed earlier, especially the governor at the beginning with the Southern drawl. "They must dahhhh tonight... Fry'em!" What's the name of the group?
My understanding is that TMac said it was on him to take pressure off everyone else on the team. Instead of being commended for it, he's dogged for it. This year, knowing how tempermental (sp?) Houston is, he even came out saying that he was just trying to take the pressure off his teammate, but that this year, he acknowledges that he can't do it alone, that he needs people to step up whether he's hot or not. He's asked questions, and he's going to answer. Tracy should dismiss all the hate, and realize a lot of this city is still behind him, win or lose. *I* see the effort, and for now, that's enough considering the events of this season.
So you're saying that when he said it last year, he didn't mean it? It was just to take pressure off the rest of the team, so that they can bring him his first win in the 1st round? Do you really believe that what T-Mac said made any difference whatsoever? Since he's changed his tune this year, do you think T-Mac double-guessing Adelman keeping Deke out and Landry "mistiming" his rebound is going to take pressure off his coach and teammates for game 5???
When I heard he said "it's on me" last year, I didn't even give it a second thought. It's only been made a big deal by Houston media and this board. I really thought when he said it, he was going to put his neck out there for the team. That if they lose he'll take the blame. I honestly don't think he said it so he could get all the glory. Again, I didn't pay it much mind, but after everyone was all yelling and crying about it, I went back and listened and watched the interview. He was adamant when he said it...as in, "FINE, if we lose, blame me." Why people care so much about what he says vs. what he does on the court, I'll never understand. Criticize his play, talk about how he's been basically ineffective in the 4th quarter minus our one win. Talk about how you think he's too injury-prone. Too jump shot happy. Etc. etc. But putting SO much discussion into what he said that could be (apparently) interpreted 50 million ways? I don't get it. Even the talk between the Wiz and Cavs...who cares? Makes it interesting, but still comes down to what happens on the court. I didn't say he tried to take the pressure off them this year. I think you are misreading what I'm saying. Last year he said one thing, for whatever reason each person thinks. This year he said the opposite, for whatever reason each person thinks. At the end of it all, it's what he SAID. Jesus, who cares? Care about what he DOES.
If it wasn't for what T-Mac fails to do on the court, we wouldn't be here talking about what he says. And that's not necessarily a good thing. An athlete is a person just like you and me. They have human emotions. What T-Mac says is a window into his inner thinking and emotions. Sports is a huge business and pasttime in America and many parts of the world. Great athletes are worshipped and looked up to as heroes. What they say and do on and off the court do matter to those who look up to them and/or root for them and their team. As any fan would attest, part of our happiness does correlate with how our favorite teams and players perform. And if you only care about what an athlete does on the field, you and your kids may end up looking up to people like Barry Bonds, Pete Rose, Mike Tyson, Roger Clemens, Doc Gooden, Shawn Kemp, OJ Simpson, etc. All were at or near the top of their sports. None with characters to be proud of. In fact, many of these are or will be convicted criminals. If you bring up the name of Jesus, damn right you SHOULD care about what these supreme athletes do and say off the playing field.
Um, you mean something as awful as, "It's on me?" I think I'll shelter my kids from things, but TMac's words is hardly one of them. I'll most likely tell them what I drew from what I heard. That I found it commendable that he's trying to take the pressure off everyone else. And follow it up with what I was saying before, "In the end, it doesn't matter what you say, but what you do."
Whatever happened to the "Its on me" mentality? Because its true. If the team cannot play well, then its on him. If he cannot play well, then god help us.
It's funny to read most of the posts on these boards. When Tmac doesn't play, the Rockets become a lottery bound team, 0.500 at best even with Yao. Even though his body is wearing down with age, he is still option 1A on a solid 55 win team that plays with heart. Tmac might not be a vocal leader or the best player in the game, but without him the Rockets are nothing but a lottery team. Give the guy a break, he has been overmatched in every series he has played.
