First, and most important ,of all......... Tmac-you gotta stop chucking those ugly, straight-lined threes in transition. Plus, with the spacing in this "new" offense, you should be able to drive more easily to 1)draw a foul ; 2) kick it out after drawing defenders (like you did tonight) ; 3) heck, make a higher percentage shot. He's not selfish by any means, but he gets a little too trigger-happy with his shots. I know he is still "recovering" from his injury, but he still has his handles-learn to use it! That is the main step forward we need to take in order to become a better team. (Note to Rick: employ the off-ball screens for Tmac in catch-and-shoot situations Despite our hot streak, we're still winning some close games, and most of them were where we were usually up big but gave the oppenent a chance to come back. We need to be more aggressive more often, not just in spurts-cue in: rookies. We may not have made any big-time trades like the Lakers, but I think the chemistry is too good to be tempered with right now. (we have Yao to counter that, and Landry is a strong enough body inside to handle the likes of Gausol-somewhat) But basically, when Rafer plays well, we play well. Example: when he shoots over 44%, we are 17-4.
I don't know why, but it seems to me everytime T-mac catches the ball. Either 1) Yao Ming set a screen and T-Mac falls all the way back between the 3pt line and half court with his back to the basket. 2) One on One with teammates standing and watching. I am not saying we should trade him or he is not good. I think thats just the way he plays. I agree with what Reggie Miller said during the game "T-mac is a ball stopper." But can't we find a solution, whenever he leaves the game, the ball moves well. Yao catches and if he is doubled he passes out and everyone catches it and we usually get an open shot. can't we use T-mac like a catch and shoot guy or post up? But I doubt he will do that. So what do we do with T-mac???
T-Mac took one 3 pointer in transition. He was open, and was 4-4 at the time. The other shots he "chucked" up were all in the flow of the offense. Aside from some hesitation in the 2nd half, those are shots you want him to take every time unless he has an immediate opening for a cutter.
a] Tracy needs to stop setting himself up for his shot! He needs to become a team player and needs to get used to the idea of receiving the ball in a pass and if he is open, shoot and if not move the ball on to an open man. Our team chemistry will not gel correctly till this happens. b]Rafer also must stop looking for his shot as his prime objective! Again the ball must be passed to him if he is going to shoot, he must be a team player. Possibly it is because Rafer is nota good playmaker, even though he gets some assists. c] Who is Yao Ming kidding, he is no role player he needs to demand the ball more often and lead the team. Since Tracy has returned Yao has played SOFT. d] In general our team must trust their team mates and pass the ball.
Reggie didnt say it, Charles Barkley did. Reggie was talking about T-Mac starting to get his elevation back. And T-Mac finishes the play far more often then he starts it. Yes, sometimes that finish is a drive after the catch and he dishes to an open man when the defense draws. (TNT showed this one late in the 4th as Landry made a great dunk with the "extra" pass that was made after the play had its opening.) Get it right people. T-Mac as a ball stopper is so much of an argument from yesteryear. Chuck needs to read up a bit more, alot of his analysis is generalization over the last couple of years. How can a ball stopper get 10 assists??
Tmac needs to learn to dribble deeper into the paint, especially when you're isolated at the elbow, all you need is just atleast one dribble into the paint and you're guaranteed to a higher % shot. I just don't get whats so hard about that. Yao is our best constant, but he needs to be more secure with the ball. He also needs to be more ferocious sometimes, but mostly he's playing up to his norm as usual
A. I like T-Mac as a good option when the other teams are making it hard as hell to get the ball to Yao. B. Rafer's shot is option number 36 in his own mind. How many times do you see Rafer not shooting til late in the shot clock, when nothing else develops. C. OK, Yao demands the ball, pouts when the other team wont let him have it, and the Rockets commit 20 turnovers trying to "force" it in to him. Good plan. D. Season high tieing 32 assists tonight.
Oh, random fact to prove that Tmac is best as the "point-forward" we're 46-14 the last two season when he gets more than 5 assists FYI
T-mac is playing horrible while the team is winning, why? because he is taking less shots. he is still our go-to guy in the 4th quarter and will be in the playoffs. Because non of the others on the team is capable of creating his own shot. But T-mac is suppose to like kb24. No disrespect to T-mac. Kobe is playing in a whole different level than T-mac. And T-mac is prob playing worse than Brandon Roy, Baron Davis, etc. They don't just make one play in the last 5 min. of a game. They make 4,5 including game winners and when their team is down by 1,2, or 3. T-Mac on the other hand has the ability but I don't think his confidence is there like 2 years ago. If you watch Houston's games lately. T-mac only hits his 3s wen the defenders doesnt jump or doesnt put their hands in the air. Everyone time his jump shot 3 is contested, he will miss 8/10. Kobe hits all his shot like he is open.
THIS IS NOT A KNEE-JERK REACTION, b****IN', COMPLAINING THREAD. Do you think we're perfect then because of this win streak? So we have nothing to improve upon? Jeez, constructive criticism is never bad if you take it in the right way
The play I want to see T-Mac scoring on: that little curl where he catches the ball 12 to 15 feet away from the basket and shoots immediately. I said in a post before tonight's game that that play could be money for the Rockets. Anything where he gets the ball 15 to 18 feet away from the basket max and the defender is trailing is probably going to result in a high percentage shot.
i don't know why we don't run that more often for tmac. that's like a moving pick and roll b/c it always opens up yao ming too.
when T-Mac scores, he will shoot no matter whether it's approprate or not... sometimes, it's good for T-Mac to feel cold cuz he will know he needs to pass and share the ball
by no means perfect but to call out tmac is so unnecessary. tonight should have been a huge blowout and a great opportunity to rest our stars for tomorrows true test the hornets...
Dude, I'm the biggest Tmac fan, but I know when to call him out. I'm not really complaining but rather making a proposition-by a big fan-that I think can make Tmac play better, and consequently, the team
