Good point. To be fair to both sides. The Magic's record was an aberration last year. The 21 win season was due to TMac's injury ridden season. He missed 15 games. But his performance was greatly effected by his back throughout most of the season. A better measure would be the previous records that hovered around 42-44 wins. 2003-04 21-61 2002-03 42-40
This is the funniest thread I've read for a long time. You people are basing the trade and players involved with ONE pre-season game? LOL, no wonder Steve didn't get any love here! What is to say that a change of scenery does not change Steve, Cuttino AND the Magic for the better? Shouldn't take much after McGrady got them all the way to the WORST team in the league last year. So how about we judge the trade on the season differences from last year, shall we?
MM, just wondering. Did you miss that part about McGrady being injured last season? Orlando is not the "worst" team if TMac doesn't have back problems (just to be fair). IMO, it's not about just one game. It's about building a roster that are competent, talented, and willing to sacrifice ones game for the betterment of the team. All five positions on our roster have those exact type of qualifications. So, that alone should be a indicator of what we should expect. We WILL be better than last year. A lot better. Book it!
I remember the Magic's season a little differently last year. I recall McGrady putting up amazing numbers in the beginning like a 50 pt game, but the Magic still continued losing. I mean the team's season was pretty much in the tank after the first 15 games if I remember correctly, so I don't know if you can attribute all the losses to only T-mac's injuries. This is not a knock on T-mac or anything, just something I thought I'd point out.
Well, we all know what "bad defense (worst in the league)" will do to a team...Also Grant Hill's addition really never materialized. The year before they managed a 42 win season, playing practially the same way (with the exception that Tmac wasn't having the same back problems). You could notice this from his stats two years ago: 32ppg, 45FG%, 38FG%3PT. That dropped to 28ppg, 41FG%, 33FG%3PT last year. Also, you could see that he really didn't want to be there anymore. The desire to "win" or "try" was a factor that caused him to demand a trade in the first place. In the end, it takes a TEAM EFFORT. McGrady started to realize this. That's why he's here. And as long as the pieces are in place (the right mix of talent). Things should look up for the better.
Alot better? This is PREDICTING. I wont believe it until I see it. And as for the case of T-mac having a bad back? What about Steve having to play a role that was not suited to him with all his numbers down? Define what you mean by fair.
You said, "Shouldn't take much after McGrady got them all the way to the WORST team in the league last year." The "worst" team wasn't as bad as it seems if you take into accounts all the factors I mentioned above. If a player has nagging injuries and misses 15 games. That's going to affect the the win/and loss column. That's what I mean by "fair." You need to take this into account. Regarding "Steve playing a role not suited for him; numbers down..." Yeah, and? Francis with numbers up (Rudy/system) or numbers down (JVG system), w/Yao Ming or no/Yao Ming... it wont matter. Francis still carries that baggage called TURNOVERS wherever he goes. It comes with the package. This wont change in Orlando.
As far as the injury thing... I think this is a very valid part of why Orlando was so bad last year. That is part of the reason why they got the #1 pick. But for those who want to hold that against Tmac, you have to do the same to Francis. His headaches and other injuries three years ago are what gave us the #1 pick and Yao. Otherwise, he had us consistently around 40-45 wins. But the same is true of Tmac. Out of the past 4 years, both he and Francis have had three years of 40 or so wins, with one 20 win aberration mixed in.
I think the real steal is the Mutumbo trade. Got rid of a longer bad contract for something productive. CD got his cake and ate it too.
Also I'd like to add, the Rockets would have had a much better season last year if they got Larry Brown. Just watch this year how many 80 point games there will be along with poor shooting percentages.
I'd take Larry Brown. But LB + Francis = LB going out of his mind! It might just send the man into early retirement.
Are you r****ded? Not being a smartass, just asking a serious question. Cause after reading that, I'm starting to believe you are.
MM, I edited my post.... I edited for a question (look above). But I didn't see your "serious question." Still waiting for mine to be answered...
Why would he be? He coached Iverson to the finals. Did he stress? Yes.... but if Francis is willing to change his game for JVG he would have for Larry. Just look at how well he used Billups and he has half the upside/athletic ability Francis has. LB wanted to coach the Rockets, Larry and Francis are also close so I really don't understand why he would be out of his mind...
Huh? We were discussing the wins from last season and what you are predicting what will happen this SEASON. To say it again in short. I believe (predict) that the Rockets wont have such a spectacular season this year because there STILL wont be any offense with JVG as coach.
Ok, just making sure. Yes, I AM predicting what will happen THIS SEASON. And the perceived lack of offense you talk about is not only related to JVG slower defensive pace. But also the ability of the players to play as a unit. Couple that last year with SF's scatter brain turnovers, the "team" would have never materialized to the level it should have (less than 13 TO per game for the team). It's the only way. Getting 16-18 TO per game is not going to cut it. Sure, you can have team that runs up and down the court scoring a lot of points, not playing D, and turning the ball over a lot (Orlando, this year). Makes for wild and woolly games. But it wont win consistently. Talk to me 20 games into the season. I'll remember this...ok? You mentioned having Larry Brown. Sure, love to have him over JVG. But he was not availible (I'm beginning to think that LB did not want to come here precisely *because* of Francis; been there done that - w/Iverson). IMO, getting LB while SF was on this team would have only been wasted time.
Because it always comes back to this: TEAM. And if SF has an inability to learn how to play as a unit (over time; five years, six years, seven years...and still not much change in achieving this). He'll always be a liability to the TEAM. SF strength is WITH the ball in his hands. LB would have tried to do the same thing that JVG did; try and teach him to share the ball for the betterment of the team. SF's stats would have dropped just like it did last year. Iverson is not a PG, but a G (high-scoring at that). So, LB knew this, and assigned Eric Snow to run the PG position and Aaron McKie as veteran support. So, you're talking about apples and oranges. Different people, different players. The Pistons played as a team for a reason. The players that Larry picked, although NOT all of them extra ordinary athletic talents, were capable of playing together. As a unit. Prince (smart player; hounded Kobe all series), Billups (smart, solid guard), Sheed, Wallace (does his defense and rebounding thing), and Richard Hamilton (great playing w/out the ball; screen, shooting off the pick). And you said yourself, "Billups and he has half the upside/athletic ability Francis." That should tell you something about relying on "all physical ability" and discounting the importance of ones "mental ability." Billups is able to do what Francis cannot; great athletic ability or not. Also, I don't mean that LB would be "out of his mind." I meant that SF would drive LB out of his mind because of the turnovers he would cause over and over...It's not an issue of "willingness" on Francis's part. It's an issue of "ability to learn." He just can't. It's beyond his capability. I mean, how many more years do you need for this to be obvious? If the coach in Orlando wants to let SF do the same thing he's done back in the Rudy days. By all means. Let him. SF will enjoy better stats. But it will harm the team. SF is in a catch-22. He can't play the team game by tempering his "scoring attempts" because that would harm his scoring. And he can't play the ISO game because that would harm the team play. He's just not good at doing both. On a side note... A lot of people have said that SF could score the same amount that Iverson could with more shots. Not true. Scoring is not just about "putting up more shots." It's also about hitting those shots (with attempts as a factor) AND physical ability. Iverson has the speed, quickness, and hand size (gives him more control of the ball) to get the shots off in the first place. SF could not do this if he tried (29ppg). Iverson's scoring ability was too much an asset (for LB) to turn him into a PG only type guard. Francis as a SG can't score 29ppg, but also can't do the PG duties w/out high-turnovers. Again, catch-22.
