OK so basically people want T-Mac to drive it in more. Get to foul line, get layups, dunks, etc. That's all good and dandy...when you don't have a back problem. Would you rather have him shoot jumpers all night or drive it in, make his back take the extra wear and tear, possibly leading to more back spasms? There is a scary stat that goes with that: the Rockets are 0-16 when McGrady has to leave the game early or doesn't play at all. I'm fine with the jumpers. He usually makes a good number anyway, and he almost always makes them when they count (i.e. 4th quarter). He's not in Orlando anymore. He's not quite as young. He's not a SG anymore. He doesn't take it in on guys smaller than him anymore. He doesn't have that mismatch very often. When he has to deal with other SF's, the physical punishment of driving in probably is too much for his back. However, he still drives in when he has to: i. e. that one game we stole from the Lakers, the Clippers game, the game against the wolves where he shot 13 FT's, and made all of them. His jumper is really tough to stop as it is, let him use it. He's just been in a slump lately. Maybe he will realize that he did well against the Clippers because of driving it in so much, maybe he will start more often. I don't know. I'm just saying unless the game is on the line, let him shoot J's, and even when the game is on the line, that J of his is pretty handy. McGrady is a finesse player, he's smooth. Smoothest player in the league IMO. His personality is the same way. He's not a fierce competitor, bulldog attitude type guy, which is the source for all the "T-Mac is weak, is not a good competitor, leader" arguements. But I think he brings it every night. Whether it shows or not. Everyone is going to keep knockin on McGrady until he gets out of the first round, then he's going to need to get to the WCF, then he's going to need to get to the Finals, then He's going to need to win a championship. They won't stop hating until then. I hope he leads this team to a championship, so then people will know McGrady is a good leader. Whether it shows on his face or not. If you think Kobe is a good leader, this is what I think: That's not leading a team, that is BEING the team. But I'm not a Kobe hater. BTW how many of you were happy that McGrady drove it in when he got popped in the elbow by Jake Voskuhl ? He had to wear the facemask, and that's when his cold streak started, I believe. .
I don't mind him taking jumpers, but he can still have much better shot selection. I mean, Larry Bird never had blazing quickness and athleticism, but he still got himself good shots in the flow of the offense. Same with Michael Jordan in his last few years with Chicago. McGrady needs to utilize his midrange game more, and his turnaround jumper out of the post. He's capable of being devastating in those areas, but he relies way too much on difficult jumpers off the dribble from 22 feet out. The problem is McGrady has played this way for the last 4 or 5 years, so he probably won't change. He's only had one year where you can say he scored with a high efficiency, so that might be a fluke. McGrady is a high-volumne scorer, and because of the quality of his shots he's a streaky scorer as well.
i am so sick of people like u keep bringing up he has a dying back........ IF he can windmill dunk in ASG!!!! He's in perfect health! if he is capable to take all the shots in ASG, He's in perfect health! !! IF he demands to do big ammount of alley-opps, He's in perfect health! !! jeez!
It's interesting how you bring up Larry Bird. Surprisingly enough, McGrady game reminds me quite a bit of Bird's. Bird never really attacked the basket with reckless abandon the way Jordan did. For Bird, it was a lack of athleticism, and for McGrady, it's his bad back. They both pull up for a lot of jumpers and have great court vision (although Bird's was probably better).
I don’t mind him being primarily a jump shooter, but I don’t like how he gets his jumpshots. I would prefer to see him move without the ball more to get an open jumpshot rather than see him create off the dribble. When he tries creates off the dribble, his offensive game becomes terribly predictable. 90% of the time he’s at the top of the key, he takes a couple of dribbles and launches a +20 footer over the outstretched arms of the defender. Not a high percentage shot. I would much rather see him patent his game after Reggie Miller or Richard Hamilton. His teammates should be setting screens for him and he should be moving without the ball to get himself a more high percentage open jumpshot.
With all due respect, you're an idiot. I guess if you have an uncontested dunk in a exhibition game, you should be good to go for the rest of the year. According to Dr liu1107, that is...
Is the Back the built in excuse from now on? Is it the reason for EVERY OFF NIGHT from NOW ON? Is it possible for TMAC to *just* have a bad game? Rocket River
Tmac said he only has "3-4 more yrs left" so this could be his last contract but would he make it to the HALL OF FAME if he doesnt take a team to the FINAL or at least the WFC? AI/Barkley/Malone played in the final atleast.
Tmac's shooting percentage is abysmal and that includes his layups and dunks. If you were figure his percentage on those 20 foot step backs and 19 foot fadeaways, I would be he shoots in the high 20s to low 30s.
I like that way T-Mac plays for the most part. I wish he would drive to the hoop a little more often. My big issue with T-Mac driving to the hoop is that sometimes he will miss wide open layups, and I say to myself, "how the heck did he miss that." His touch around the rim isn't very good. But his range on the perimeter is freakishly unlimited.
I'm so sick of dumbasses like you not reading the post. I didn't say he has a dying back, but would you disagree he has a back problem? I never said his back is about to die on him, i said, "would you rather have his back take the extra wear and tear" especially since you know it could cause spasms. Then, unless you're too stupid to realize it, we're 0 - 16 when he doesn't finish / play in the game. I don't care how he plays, he gets his numbers, and when he and Yao play, we're 16 and 8. Not to mention other injuries to this team. If they were both healthy this season, we would be so much better, just by the numbers. BTW your point in another thread is that peja > tmac just cuz peja can shoot better. you're so stupid. when i said tmac could do other things, i didn't mean peja could dunk or layup, i meant that peja can't set up his teammates, draw attention, and be a force on the court like tmac can. Whether tmac touches the ball or not, having him on the court already makes the team better, because they know they can throw it to hiim whenever they want. T-Mac was a good finisher at the rim in Orlando, and he still is. He just doesn't go in as much. It's up to him to drive in the ball or shoot outside jumpers. I wonder who liked that finish on Shawn Bradley in the playoffs last season???
But isn't that the main reason he is so injury-prone this season? He over-worked himself in the summer. I am not saying he shouldn't do the weight training. I am just saying that he should avoid putting too much wear on his body. Also, I wonder whether he can be a more consistent shooter instead of a streaky one.
McGrady hit the weight room pretty heavily this summer to give him more body strength the finish around the rim. While he's definitely good at it, he doesn't have Kobe-esque upper body strength and toughness to finish effectively in traffic. Even back in Orlando, he didn't drive to the basket nearly as much as people think. It's just not the way he plays. His lanky body doesn't have enough leverage to push through the defender every trip down the court like Dwyane Wade. Moreover, he's bigger than the typical shooting guard, so he can't worm/squeeze his way between defenders the way Iverson does. Personally, I think he's created more of an "illusion" to score at will when he drives. He has good court vision and plays the percentages...driving only when he recognizes an opening. If he drove the ball into the teeth of the defense every time down the court, I'm sure we'd see a lot more blown layups.
as much as i hate to admit it, yeah that's true. he doesn't have kobe's upper body stength to finish at the rim, but i still think he's a good finisher. a layup blown here and there doesn't mean he's not a good finisher.
There was a period when TMAC did take it to the rack with regularity, it was very early in his Orlando days. During that time Sir Charles called him the 2nd best player in the league, only second to Shaq in his prime. IMO over time Tmac become a much better outside shooter and become in love it.
