He's been "the man" on much less talented teams. A season ago, the Rockets didn't have Yao Ming, Ron Artest, or their starting PG for half the playoff games. And the Rockets don't need McGrady to be the man. They're not asking him to score 30ppg any more, and I think he understands that. But he's a good half-court offensive player, he draws defensive attention, and he's a good passer. The playoffs are about half-court basketball, and they require players who can create their own shots. The Celtics won games by utilizing Paul Pierce's individual brilliance in the fourth quarters. The Cavs achieved their playoff success with LeBron. Miami a few years ago won a championship with Wade's shot creating abilities. The Spurs won their championships because they had a great post player and two guys who could score one-on-one from the perimeter. You need those kind of players. Perhaps. The Rockets will be better off getting McGrady on the court now, building chemistry between him and the rest of the team, and then enter the playoffs. But the goal is to also be healthy entering the playoffs. So, on one hand you want McGrady fresh, on the other you want him and the team comfortable playing together. The way to achieve that is for McGrady to stay healthy, and for the Rockets to monitor his minutes and not be overly dependent on him with the other options on the floor. Offensive balance is important. It will take more than a few games to achieve it, which is why its important that McGrady returns to the team asap. I don't think McGrady being "tired" was due to him playing extra hard on defense. Last season, obviously, his knee wasn't in good shape, he didn't have Yao for the last third of the season so he was playing a lot, and in the playoffs he didn't have Yao or Rafer. Confidence requires repetition and familiarity. That's why I don't understand how people can be happy when McGrady misses games. No matter what you or I think, in the playoffs McGrady is going to play if he can. The Rockets will not bench him. Knowing that, we should all want him to play games and build the necessary chemistry with his teammates.
If we can get Tmac motivated and healthy, he'll help us in the playoffs. Yao needs to be the man of the team though. I mean...sure, we'll be able to win games with just an Artest/Yao led team. We might make the 2nd round. But we aren't going to get anywhere near a title unless we can get Tmac playing at least like he was last year. Don't give me the "he can't play team ball!" early part of the year last season right at the beggining of the 22 game win streak, right before Yao went out for the season, we WERE playing team ball. Thats how we won all those games. It CAN be done.
I think when McGrady is 100%, he helps the teams, wheather it's the playoffs or not. Chemistry with him on the floor is the key. If he's 100% and don't play defense, then yea, that's a problem.
McGrady is fourth ALL TIME in scoring the playoffs at 29/7/6, yeah those numbers really suck don't they, and we don't need that kind of player on our team. Third in scoring in the playoffs last year with a bum shoulder and knee at 27/8/7, which also sucks, right??? Can't have that kind of player on our team? Yes he has some deficiencies, but to say we don't need him in the playoffs is asinine. Team success is a reflection of how the team plays, not just its best player. If the team continues to suck in the playoffs, then the Rockets will continue to be one and out, regardless of McGrady’s play. And to say that McGrady is not a team player is a reflection of the ignorance of a given poster. I am sure all the haters will continue to blame McGrady, and once he is gone, they will turn on the next player, and the next.
Wheel, The problem is the enormity of shot attempts that Tmac needs to get to those numbers. He is a very inefficient scorer.... The team would be better if he took half as many shots, and got better efficiency...say 20ppg..... Looking only at scoring is telling a very sordid tale, it is just not accurate as far as winning as a team. DD
No one will argue that Tee Martin is better than Peyton Manning but Tennesee won the National Championship with Tee Martin and Not Manning It is sometimes not about the Talent. . . but how it meshes Rocket River I'm just saying. . .
its not like tmac averages 28.5 ppg 7 rpg and 6 apg in the playoffs. yup no team in the nba needs someone like that in the playoffs.
Be careful about the tenses. I believe you should use the word "averaged." MJ had great averages too, but I'm pretty sure no one would want him playing on their team NOW.
Bing bing bing bing. Give any chucker the green light and he'll put up 20 to 30 ppg easily. They'll often lose too ....
McGrady's career playoff shooting percentage is .430. Its not perfection, but I'd hardly call that "very inefficient." The problem is, when the offense bogs down in the playoffs, there aren't that many Rockets who can create their own shot, other than McGrady and Rafer Alston. And guess what? Alston's career playoff shooting percentage is .346. Please also note that McGrady has averaged about 7 assists per game in his Rockets playoff career. I agree the offense has typically revolved around T-Mac in the playoffs (often by necessity), but calling him a "chucker" (northeastfan) is unfair and inaccurate.
I didn't call TSlack a chucker. I said that to get 20ppg or even 30ppg, just give a chucker the green light....
I was just saying that the ppg statistic isn't really a great statistic. Is TSlack a chucker? He can be at times. That may be why his FG% is steadily declining ....
I agree that T-Mac has played quite poorly at times this season. However, this thread is about the playoffs, and T-Mac has been the best and most consistent Rocket in the playoffs since he arrived.
I argue that the evidence is mounting that he will not be this year (if there is a playoffs) and if he plays the same offensive style as he's playing right now, we're an easy out.
LOL so who is going to take his place? Von Wafer??? lol. He averages 28ppg in the playoffs. His it his fault? No. He is doing his part. When it matters the most McGrady steps up. its just the other people don't. Yao was hurt last year and Scola was the only one that showed up next 2 McGrady. The year b4 that we should have won but idk what happened the whole team just broke down. So all in all yeah lets say a 28ppg player in the playoffs is not needed. Great idea
