Did you just say Vince Carter is similar to Mike Miller? He's better than anyone not named Yao on this team by a *far* margin - it isn't even remotely close.
VC has been leading by example in NJ - and LOL @ people saying he's a superego. You guys have absolutely nothing substantial to back up your claims... it's ridiculous.
I'm indifferent at this point. I don't want the season to be a wash though. We've already been through that. Something needs to be put together so the team has the confidence to continue playing for something. I don't want them to play and just get by. I want the team to play for something--ideally a playoff spot and second round advance.
I'm guessing you never heard of Ron Artest, but It's close. Vince Carter is much better for this team than T-Mac. Vince Carter is the far better shooter and doesn't really need the ball that much to be involved.
I'm with you Rocket River. Sit T-Mac and do the best with the guys you got this season. Extend Artest and then reload by trading T-Mac's expiring contract for a couple of real solid players next season so that the Rockets can still be a very good team without completely rebuilding.
I agree with the OP. With McGrady out, we might be able to kindle some magic. It might be time for some karma to swing our way in the playoffs. I am one of those who believes that Artest will be magic in the playoffs - and the lack of McGrady will totally shift the focus of our offense to Yao and to ball movement. McGrady (whether you like him or not) has that playoff monkey on his back and will try to force it too much. The best move might be no move at all.
i say shut him down for 2 months until he gets 100% healthy with aggressive rehab and comeback strong during the playoffs just like D-wade. if he thinks he healthy during the first month, i say don't play him yet however, he needs to go to practice sessions and keep rehabbing that knee as well so they can have a plan for him when he comes back. at least that way, we are not totally out of sync. he's not helping himself or the team if he keeps coming in and out of the lineup all the time.
Looks like the team is preparing to move on without him Tracy McGrady will spend some of this week visiting out-of-town doctors in order to get more opinions on his left knee. He did not practice with the team on Monday evening, will not play Tuesday against New Jersey and is listed by the Rockets as day-to-day. "I didn’t expect to see him," said head coach Rick Adelman. "He’s gonna get second opinions and we just have to deal with who we have right now and get ready for this game (Tuesday) and see if we can build something." McGrady, who has played in 35 of the Rockets’ 53 games this season, has not been on the court since shooting 1-for-9 and hitting the underside of the rim while attempting a dunk at Milwaukee on Feb. 8. The day after the failed dunk, McGrady said there was no pain, but that he didn’t have confidence in the knee. Two days later, he said there was pain and did not play against Sacramento in the final game before the All-Star break. "Like I said before, it’s been hard for him to be consistent on defense, because his knee is not right," Ron Artest said. "It’s only right for a couple of days. His health is most important for him, organization when you look at the long term and, of course, for his family. He’s shown courage trying to fight through it and whatever the diagnosis is, I’m not a doctor, I just hope he gets better." "I think we all don’t know how much pain he deals with right now," said Yao Ming. "It’s really hard to say. I think he just needs to do what he needs to do. He’s looking for a doctor he trusts and hopefully he can get back healthy." ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I don't see a lot of concern that they want him back on the floor anytime soon. DD
If this is true I want him traded as soon as possible Rocket River . . . .can't have whiney b*tch*s on the team
If TMAC sits. . .he is DONE FOR THE SEASON no Willis Reed in the playoffs he is done . . . If we make it to the playoffs with out him LET THOSE WHO EARNED IT PLAY! The dynamic of the team changes with him out of the game. Rocket River
I agree. If we sit him and then bring back during the playoffs we would only be screwing ourselves. Everyone seems to be on the same page when he's out.
I really don't care either way as long as Morey and the front office have some sort of plan in place. I really commended Morey when he first got going at the job and managed to fix our problems at PF. I think the important thing now is to try and get things settled at PG from here on out. Brooks is a good start, I really believe this kid can be a meaningful backup in this league for along time and if we could get a stater who is worthy of playing minutes in front of him, then everything else will work out from there. I don't know if that plan means trading for someone now or waiting until the season end, but that what I'd like to see in the future from the Rockets.
I say we put t-mac with the 2nd string and let him earn his mins, as his knee gets better. T-mac has shown he can be effective on offense in very small spurts plus he seems to feel that if the ball in his hands he's more effective. I say we put Artest in the starting 5 him and yao have been pretty sucessful together lately. Putting mac with our 2nd string will allow him to have limited mins, against 2nd string players, while giving him the freedom to create or jack up all those crazy jumpers he likes to take. It would also add some size to are small backcourt, and he would be surronded by "hustle players" to mask his lack of defense. No crazy trade needed that would eat up cap space for the future, and we would keep tmac for the playoffs (remember he's always makes some noise individually in the playoffs) and we can keep him as trade bait for next season.
I agree that this team shouldn't make a move. I don't see any trade that makes this team a real contender this season nor do I see one that gives short term flexibility. Sit McGrady for the rest of the season and assume he won't be a Rocket next season. Try to make some financially sound/flexible deals that address this team's needs (PF is not a need) over the summer. As far as this season goes, see what these players can do in the playoffs without the revolving door lineup.
