Tim... We need more T-Mac Media!!!

TMac shoudl bulk up... he's skinnier than kobe. maybe if he added muscle he'd be injured less.

 

Wow thanks for the great pics everyone I LOVE TMAC! GO ROCKETS!

 

I hear you, I hear you. But we got the press conference videos and transcripts up on the site, and there's just not that much else we have right now. We're going to try and post some shots from the post-press conference photo shoot. And we have a TV spot about the press conference that is running right now on KNWS and ESPN, as well as a few other cable channels ... we're going to post that.

As we get stuff, we'll keep posting it. We know the demand out there is huge. Good to see the enthusiasm.

(Now don't forget to pick up some tickets so you get to see the action live ... full seasons are available now and mini-packs will be available in about 5 weeks.)

 

Jebus... Kobe looks way, WAY stronger, even in the legs...

But T-Mac's still got the 3-point J on him.

 

What's up with those cheesy 50% off emails. I hope the nba is selling more than just the traded players stuff at 50%, otherwise that's just wrong. Gettin us all excited.

 

At this point we are willing to accept just about any media of anything Rocket related. If you want to sell those tickets & keep people excited during this long offseason, the Rockets organization has got to give the customers what they want! And that is ANYTHING. We are not picky

 

Good Stuff from 3 years ago

November 1, 2001
Top Dog
by Chris Palmer
ESPN The Magazine


Chris Palmer wrote our cover feature on Tracy McGrady. We asked him how T-Mac stacks up against AI, VC and Kobe. Check out his take and then cast your vote.



Who's the best player in the NBA?



Not the next Jordan (that's so tired), but the best of the game's young, new stars. He's got to have a can't-miss J, too many moves to count, the ability to make even Travis Knight better (okay, that might be too much ask) and go coast-to-coast for the dunk with his off hand. Actually, he better not have an off hand.

The best player in the game plays airtight D, and possesses a combination of skill, athleticism, intelligence, desire to win, potential and creativity.



And he's gotta be fun to watch, which is why Shaq and Tim don't make my final cut, though both are dominators in their own right. KG and CWebb can do a lot, but they can't do it all. And the Lamar Odom/Steve Francis set is still a few years away from consideration.

So who's No. 1? A good argument can be made for Vince, Allen or Kobe. But I gotta go with T-Mac. He's got all of the above skills, and a work ethic so hard-core he seriously believes he can master every bit of the game. Plus his upside is bigger than Shaq's backside. In short, he's gonna get a heckuva lot better while his contemporaries make steady improvements or level off.



Here's how me and T-Mac see it:



THE PLAYERS




Allen Iverson



What Tracy says: "You have to respect AI. He never gets tired, man. I mean his motor never stops. You have to keep him in front of you at all times. He's too quick for help defense to make a difference. The best thing is to make him shoot. His shot is streaky so that's what I make him do. But don't let him get into the lane because nobody can make difficult shots like Allen. He can shoot over anybody."


Why Tracy's better: Versatility. McGrady simply causes more mismatches on the perimeter, in the lane and on the block. Bubba Chuck ain't posting anybody and Tracy never gets posted. Ever.



The league is about big guards and T-Mac is the biggest. Tracy impacts the boards while AI doesn't. McGrady was the only non-C/PF to finish in the top 20 in offensive rebounds. But as far as toughness goes, no one can match AI's heart.




Vince Carter



What Tracy says: "He's got a great step-back J, but I'll still let him shoot it. But if he's on, it's over. His handle is not that good. You have to make him go left. Your best bet is to force him left baseline and hope you get somebody to come over to help and give him contact. That's probably why you don't see as many highlight dunks from him as you used to."



Why Tracy's better: Tracy's skill level is simply higher. He's a better ballhandler, passer, pull-up shooter and defender. Vince is too much of a nice guy and lacks McGrady's cutthroat mentality.

VC can still explode for 40 any night but is too reliant on the 3, the one phase of his game that is superior to T-Mac's. McGrady's passing ability allows him to create for others at the top of the key as well as off of penetration and the post. But it's the fact that Vince's D is nowhere near Tracy's that makes this a no-contest.




Kobe Bryant



What Tracy says: "It's close, we have the same type of game. He's quicker than me so I let him shoot. If you let him drive, he'll get the and-1 or dunk. I can block his J though. Just look at the 2001 All-Star game and you'll see what I mean. I blocked him three times when they came to Orlando last year. I think he had a season low. I feel I'm as good a defensive player even though I haven't made all-defense yet. But that will come."



Why Tracy's better: The most difficult case to argue, because KB's got two rings. But both were named All-NBA second team last year. Their jump shots, ballhandling and passing are dead even. Both are outstanding defenders, but Tracy's longer arms allow him to defend a wider variety of players just about anywhere on the court. T-Mac was the only non-C/PF to finish in the top 20 in blocked shots. (Do we have a theme here?)



Tracy can also seamlessly shift to point guard and create more opportunities than Kobe without worrying about scoring (KB's 0.4 assist edge is because he had better finishers last year). This is tough, but the nod goes to T-Mac.




THE CONCLUSION



If there's still some doubt in you're mind, here's the clincher: no player in the top 10 has developed less of his overall potential than McGrady. Remember the upside thing. In other words, it's possible for him to have another Most Improved Player year without picking up the hardware.



Kobe and AI are fine-tuning their games, and Vince's skills will improve but he's near his ceiling. Vince, Kobe, AI, if you guys disagree, holla. But for now, it's T-time.



Chris Palmer covers The NBA Life for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at christopher.palmer@espnmag.com.

 

Recent Article Before THE Trade

A Fork In The Road To Success
Jun.01.2004

By Gregory Urbano
T-Mac.com Feature Writer

Maybe, just maybe, he’ll be the one that saves this franchise. After all, the Orlando Magic practically stuck an “S” on his chest and waited for his Superman routine to save the day again. But instead of being faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive and able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, Tracy McGrady proved to be human this season.

Many fans thought T-Mac to be indestructible. His easy-going demeanor leant little hint to a vulnerability that any 25-year old in his position would show. No matter the problem – death in the family, loss of a good friend, having his best friend shipped away, his mentor released from the team or his coach shown the door – T-Mac appeared as though he brushed his shoulders off and carried on without a second thought.

It seemed as though the very organization for which he became the poster child was testing him harder than any college entrance exam could. The Magic continually made moves in hopes of aiding T-Mac, but eventually the changes would prove otherwise.

Yet these were not the issues that were able to penetrate McGrady’s rough exterior. His resolve had grown over the years and formed a shell able to repel meaningless trials and tribulations. T-Mac had learned to accept anything that went on around him. That figurative force field left a huge gap, however. When it came to sports writers, television analysts and everyday fans attacking his work ethic, determination, abilities and selfishness – or lack thereof – McGrady’s kryptonite had been revealed.

Not only did the doubts affect his super powers on the court, McGrady struggled with the mental anguish of personal and professional failure. Rarely had T-Mac faced blame for Orlando’s struggles. For the most part, it was quite the contrary, with McGrady receiving praise for carrying a downtrodden team to the playoffs three consecutive years. Yet the momentary glory of such a feat faded faster than even he could have imagined.

Even quicker than McGrady’s meteoric rise to superstardom was his media induced trip back to earth.

T-Mac did make mistakes. For a guy who is rarely outspoken, McGrady has found his foot in his mouth more than once in his career. As Tony Kornheiser of PTI continually reminds watchers, T-Mac spoke about how great it was to finally be in the second round of the playoffs after the Magic went up three games to one over the Detroit Pistons in the first round of the 2003 playoffs. We all know how that turned out.

These days, with reports coming out more often than a comedy starring Ben Stiller, McGrady has once again faced the wrath of those who used to praise his greatness. Numerous “insider” sources have stated that McGrady has all but returned his yearly pass to Universal Studios Islands of Adventure. T-Mac is as good as gone from Orlando, and he will only play for the San Antonio Spurs or Los Angeles Lakers. Or is it the Phoenix Suns and Houston Rockets? No matter the destination, it has been written that his departure is a certainty.

So now McGrady must face the mudslingers as he is called selfish or a sell out. His mistake wasn’t getting pulled over with drugs in his car, arrested for beating his girlfriend or accused of sexual assault. McGrady made the mistake of wanting what is best for his career and his reputation – whether or not he decides to change his address.

Just like the general manager who demanded a decision from T-Mac, McGrady has demanded that the Magic surround him with players capable of bringing this team to new heights. He has come out and spoke his mind, even if it may fuel the fire of criticism. In a way, he is admitting his own weakness. T-Mac will tell you he cannot do it all on his own. He fully understands that as great as he is, he is not Superman and by no means indestructible. At this point, that is the only certainty. Reports have stated that a final decision will be made by T-Mac after the conclusion of the NBA Finals. Until that time comes, rather than criticize McGrady for jumping ship, try looking at it from his point of view.

T-Mac spent his entire career working himself to exhaustion to claim his space among the greatest players in the NBA. After two straight years as a member of the All-NBA First Team, the Magic’s 21-61 record took Tracy out of the list of the top five players in the league. While SOME of the blame for this record does lie with McGrady – who didn’t have his greatest season as a pro – it seems as though ALL of the fallout has rained down on him. When you become the face of a franchise, you get the praise and you get the blame. Fed up with all the criticism, McGrady is forced to seek a greater career path. With his legacy and reputation on the line, T-Mac can stick it out through a rebuilding process with no apparent timetable or he can join a team with a strong foundation in place. After all, that is why contracts have options and a precise number of years on them. And while Karl Malone and Gary Payton stayed on board their ships for longer, with a trip to the finals ahead, do you think either of them regrets their decision? Regardless of whether or not he decides to leave, McGrady must explore any and all options that may lie ahead. The result of such actions might portray T-Mac as stepping on the feet of an organization or scorning his hometown fans, but in the end, when it comes to how he will be remembered, it will be how many wins and rings he collects that will define his greatness.

 

I can not wait for times like these.




GAMEDAY: Demonstrating Versatila-T
Feb.23.2004

Sunday, February 22 – Magic (87) @ Pistons (86)

On a night when Tracy McGrady has an 'off' evening in the scoring column, and he shoots three-of-20 from the field, all you can do is hope that the Magic don't lose by more than 20 and keep their heads up for the next game, under the inevitable guise that their captain is going to have a bad day every once in a while.

Factor in, now, that the team T-Mac is struggling against is none other than the Detroit Pistons … the high-horsepower, blue collar team that muscled its way back from a 1-3 deficit and over the Magic in last season's playoffs.

Add one more X factor … the fact that the game is played at the Palace at Auburn Hills.

The problem, for the Pistons, is the factor overlooked the most … the T factor … that Tracy McGrady is NOT just a scorer.

Characterized by some as an offense-first, selfish scoring machine, McGrady dispelled the myth once again as, on a night when the cylinder was about as narrow as a thimble. He found numerous other ways to get his team the W.

"I was just telling myself that it was going to be one of those nights," said McGrady, who was ejected from his last game for twice kicking the ball into the stands. "The shots weren't falling and they were coming after me every time I got the ball. So I knew I had to find other ways to contribute -- pass, rebound, play defense. I had to keep talking to myself so I didn't get frustrated."

McGrady DID finish with 19 points, with a pair of jump shots connecting at the right time in the waning moments of the final quarter. He also finished with eight assists and five rebounds, all on the defensive end.

But McGrady's most significant stat might have been that third and final steal. T-Mac stripped Detroit's Chauncey Billups in the game's final ticks, leading to a three-point play by teammate Juwan Howard with :03.5 left on the clock, sealing the win. "I turned my back, he grabbed my arm, the ball is just sitting right there," Billups said. "He picked it up. Stupid, man, no call."

"That was clean," McGrady said. "I was going for the steal first and then I'd foul him, but I got all ball. He stumbled and I was able to get to the ball first."

The Magic had been on the other side of the ball far too many times. It's nice to see that the ball finally bounced their way, thanks to smart plays on defense that have cropped up lately.

T=Mac and the Magic face another team on a winning tear tomorrow night when Shareef Abdur-Rahim and the Portland Trail Blazers visit the TD Waterhouse Centre.


By Tracy Graven for Ultimate Pros and Basketball News Services