Would have, should have, could have. BUUUT he didn't. Sad but true. I wish Tracy could have been surrounded by the current Rockets cast 3 - 4 years ago. Things may have turned out differently. He may have been one of the most beloved Rocket of all Rockets history. Buuut he didn't have this Rockets team to help him out. Sad because what could have been never will be.
Agreed. He would of probably had less injuries as well due to playing less minutes. It's whatever though.
http://www.northjersey.com/sports/pro_sports/87610527_Will_T-Mac_be_worth_Knicks__risk_in_2011_.html Will T-Mac be worth Knicks' risk in 2011? Sunday, March 14, 2010 BY STEVE ADAMEK The Record STAFF WRITER DALLAS — Glimpses of the old Tracy McGrady that he produced at the outset of his three weeks with the Knicks have given way to reality — plus pain in the left knee on which he had microfracture surgery a year ago. The seven-time All-Star with the expiring $23 million contract admits the Knicks, who took on a Mavericks’ team riding a 13-game winning streak Saturday, might not see the real him the final month of this season. Which already has prompted wonder about whether he’ll ever be the old T-Mac again. He dismisses that, saying, "I’m just trying to really get to that point healthy. I don’t think going into next season there will be any problems [like] I’m having right now." Easy for him to say, but perhaps hard for a team, whether it’s the Knicks or another, to commit significant money to him this summer based on that promise, plus the unknown. With their league-leading, two-max salary-cap room, the Knicks aren’t close to that point yet and probably wouldn’t spend any of that room on him, anyhow. More likely they’d tap the midlevel cap-exception figure that starts at about $6 million per season, if they chose to keep him. Yet at this point, even that would be a lot for a player who, in his three games before Saturday’s, scored a total of 12 points on 5-for-19 shooting. "I don’t want to force anything," he said. "Right now what I’m trying to do is make plays for these guys and not try to force anything on the offensive end." Indeed, he had 15 assists in those three games, but the old T-Mac used to be the go-to guy from start to finish, the guy to whom his teammates would give the ball to carry them, particularly in the late stages of games. Friday’s loss in Memphis, though, was indicative of his current late-game role as the Knicks stormed back to within five from 29 behind: cheerleader. "I miss being in close games, down the stretch of games and just being able to take over a game," he said. "I miss that, I miss that competition. Right now it’s just sitting and damn, just shaking my head. It eats me up, but there’s nothing I really can do at this point." Nothing because his knee, which Dallas guard Jason Kidd told him would take a year to get right, isn’t right yet. It’s kept him from working out to strengthen it, robbed him of his explosiveness — but not prompted any doubt of impatience, he insists. "I know I’m not healthy enough to go out there and be as effective as I want to be every night," he said. "It’s not happening. "I’ve got to have patience with it. I’m not going to allow myself to get discouraged and not believe that it’s going to get better. … "Once I am healthy, then my game is going to be there. You ask any other team about their concerns about me, it’s probably my health." Not exactly a small concern going forward, though.
SOUND FAMILIAR, TMAC APOLOGISTS? I seem to remember a few months ago...TMac saying he was 100% (and Grover backing him up) and all of you yelling that he was "back" and we were not playing him enough. Same song, different city http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/rest_of_season_will_be_mcgrueling_5cvNDCFVQOTURUrysjFHSI REST OF THE SEASON WILL BE McGRUELING FOR TMAC Marc Berman DALLAS -- Tracy McGrady has waved the red flag. He has come to the realization his left-knee pain probably won't ease this season and that fans won't get to see the old T-Mac until next season. But McGrady said he believes if he stays healthy enough to play and help the team in small ways, such as a playmaker and rebounder, then he will get a contact somewhere next season. But as far as the acrobatic artist and dominant go-to guy, forget about it. "I know I'm not healthy," McGrady said at FedEx Forum after a four-point outing vs. Memphis Friday. "I'm not healthy to go out there and be as effective as I wanted to be every night. It's not happening and I have to have patience with it. I'm not going to allow myself to get discouraged and not believe it's going to get better when I truly believe it is. " If McGrady's audition doesn't get better, Knicks team president Donnie Walsh has to decide whether he is worth the gamble and evaluate whether he will have new legs next season. Because right now, McGrady is a shell of the player he was like Willie Mays was with the Mets. The Knicks, who faced Dallas last night, are a better team with Bill Walker on the court and T-Mac on the bench. In the Memphis loss, Walker ignited the Knicks' huge fourth-quarter comeback while McGrady sat. "[The pain], that's why it's hard for me to the go the basket," McGrady said. "I'm just not that confident. It's going to take time to get confidence in my legs which I really don't have right now.' At times, McGrady sounds like Allan Houston during his many failed comeback attempts from microfracture surgery. With the Knicks out of the playoff race, coach Mike D'Antoni has the luxury to suffer through McGrady's many off nights. "As long as I make it through the rest of this season. Running, rebounding making plays I don't think I have to go out there and really show I'm my old self," McGrady said. "I think just being healthy is what everybody's concerned bout. If I'm healthy, my game's going to be there." In the past five games, McGrady has played four of them, averaging 6.3 points, with the Knicks losing each one. In the game he missed, the Knicks beat Atlanta. It's sad to watch McGrady now, often uninvolved in the offense. He still has been a friendly force in the locker room, full of personality. "You know what I miss. I truly miss being in close games down the stretch of games, being able to take over a game," McGrady said. "I miss that. I miss that competition. Right now it's, damn, I'm shaking my head." Walsh knew McGrady was a risk, which is why for months he wanted this deal to clear more cap space. But when D'Antoni got McGrady, he called him his best player -- a statement that needed amendment. Within days, D'Antoni admitted McGrady could take a dip like Amare' Stoudemire did when they were in Phoenix after his microfracture surgery. "He's dealt with it before with Stoudemire," McGrady said of D'Antoni. "After he had his surgery he had an awful year. Its' something I have to deal with. I'm trying to get through it the best way I can. It's quite difficult going from where I used to be, seeing how I am right now. It's difficult. But I got a summer to really just work my butt off and prepare for the next season." * According to a source, the Knicks preseason trip to Italy and France has been altered. Originally, the Knicks thought they would be playing in Rome and Paris. But now the Knicks will instead play in Milan, home of Danilo Gallinari and where D'Antoni starred as a player and coach.
So glad we dont have this guy on our team anymore. I remember those statements used to piss me off....now I can laugh at them.
It's been said before but I'm going to say it again: good riddance to this kind of Tim Grover BS from January 15, 2010: 'Tim Grover, trainer of the NBA stars, reports the Knicks would be lucky to get Tracy McGrady and invited NBA scouts to Chicago to check T-Mac out. "One-hundred percent ready to go and he's been ready," Grover told The Post from his Chicago athletic compound where he's been working with McGrady since Christmas. "No limitations, no anything."' http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/knicks/trainer_mcgrady_is_ready_PB8Y6fxhLNgbtntTA0oBdO#ixzz0iGgdPhMs
Agreed. The contradictions are endless and frustrating. Make up your mind whether you're healthy and ready to play or not. Even within the article above he contradicts himself..."if he stays healthy" means you're currently healthy, otherwise how can you stay that way...that's immediately followed by "I know I'm not healthy". And another same article contradiction...can he not be acrobatic because of pain (physical) or lack of confidence (mental)? In a lost season from the start (contending wise), this is what the mean old Rockets were supposed to bow down to and put up with?! He (and Stephen A) seriously expected the Rockets to dedicate the whole season to a TMac rehab drama session rather than develop the young guys, experiment with Ariza, and run an offense that benefits the players you have? Stunt the growth and direction of the rest of the team so I can sometimes play and sometimes not (at my discretion)...even though my trainer and I say I'm completely healthy and ready to go...sort of. Mean old Rockets!
That could be the first line of the story for every year for the last three years, and probably every season from here on out for Mcgrady. May have to edit the injury depending on the year, though-- "He has come to the realization his [insert ailing body part here] pain probably won't ease this season and that fans won't get to see the old T-Mac until next season." Then, he'll come out with something like this, and the cycle will just keep repeating itself.
As much as I've disliked MerGady, it upsets me to see all that God given talent go to waste the last few years. Can you imagine if someone like Scola or Landry had his dimensions and skills?? El Loco. Now I'm just wondering if he'll go the Quitten or Sprewell route financially once he hangs it up for good (hopefully soon for his own good).
yup, it's always sad to see great players on the decline, that also includes Ray Allen, Garnett, Rasheed, Shaq, Kobe(almost), Iverson, Ben Wallace, Carter, Kidd, Duncan, etc makes you feel old doesn't it
Ben Wallace? Great player? The? And exactly what signs of slowing down has Kobe showed? Im no Kobe fan but you gotta back that statement up. Remembered when Tmac was being compared to Kobe to see which one was the best? Those were the days.
hahahaha Since when do you go from NBA FINALS MVP to decline? and how in freaking earth are people still comparing this joker to kobe?
