Is this it? Which comes first team or T-Mac? The Rockets are about to figure out. By Chris Palmer (ESPN Magazine) T-MAC File BORN: MAY 24,1979 SIZE: 6'8 210 STATS: 21.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.1 apg One lousy 61 loss season is all it took to transform T-Mac from one of the greatest players in the league to an overrated superstar whose selfish ways were hurting his team, at least according to Magic GM John Weisbrod. "I think a superstar is defined by wins, by making the players around him better, and by making the team better," Weisbrod said. So he dealt McGrady to Houston, where he'll team with Yao Ming in a frontcourt that transforms the Rockets into a potential Lakers-like title machine. Now its time for T-Mac to deliver. McGrady's career has been defined by huge numbers, spectacular highlights and the steady green light. But is he willing to be option No. 2 in order to help the Rockets reach No.1? ORDER IN COURT Upon first meeting McGrady, Jeff Van Gundy talked with him about where he was comfortable on the court. (T-Mac favors the 17-footer from the left baseline and penetrating down the right side from the top of the key.) "You definitely want input on their spots, then you go from their," Van Gundy says. "Going from there" generally translates into playing Van Gundy's trademark style: slow, defensive, half-court basketball. ("We hardly ever worked on our running game," says departed point man Steve Francis.) This will be the first time in along time that T-Mac's team will play a style directed by someone other than him. MING DYNASTY John Ameachi. Shawn Kemp. Steven Hunter. Pat Garrity. Just some of the low post "threats" T-Mac has teamed with in Orlando. Yao is a different story: he requires constant double-teaming, which will open up driving lanes for McGrady. In his welcome aboard press conference, T-Mac repeatedly praised Yao as the prime reason Houston was his top choice. "He's going to get my championship," McGrady said. T-Mac can opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season. Whether he will depends largely on how he clicks with Yao. But dont expect a Shaq/Kobe personality clash here. "If I need to sacrifice and give Yao the ball" says McGrady "then thats what I'll do." Only time will tell. STAR POWER With the dismantling of the Lakers, Houston is now among the league's marquee attractions, putting T-Mac on center stage. But even with lowly Orlando, McGrady's No.1 jersey was the league's third-best seller. The week after the deal, Rocket's merchandise sales tripled. Fallout in Orlando though was harsh: Weisbrod was soundly criticized by local media, and even recieved two death threats. But T-Macs not ready to pull up stakes quite yet. Right now he's overseeing the construction of a 43,000-square-foot pad in central Florida, where he plans to live in the off-season with wife ClaRenda and their 18 month old daughter, Layla Clarise. WIDE OPEN In his four years in Olando, McGrady averaged 22.7 shots per game (second in the league at that time). Van Gundy has never had a player take more than Patrick Ewing's 19.2 in 1995-96. Somethings gotta give. That likely will be McGrady, the youngest player in almost 30 years to average 30-plus points a night. He knew before signing with the Rockets that he would have to defer to Yao; Van Gundy also insists his center get a touch before the first shot. But Yao will help T-Mac's game more than hinder it. An excellent mid-range jump-shooter, T-Mac will benefit from the space Yao will create for him, thanks to pick-and-rolls on the wing. "I wouldnt be surprised if Tracy went out and scored 30 a night," says a rival Western Conference assistant. WIN OR GO HOME Before the trade, Van Gundy asked assistant coach Patrick Ewing for his opinion of T-Mac. Ewing assured him that McGrady had the character and the leadership skills to build around, insight the future Hall of Famer gained from playing alongside McGrady in 2001-02. But despite their sparkling individual resumes, neither McGrady nor Van Gundy has ever led a division-winning team. "As far as showing we're championship material," says Van Gundy, "We both have a lot to prove."
In the Crosshairs: TRACY McGRADY Which comes first, team or T-Mac? The Rockets are about to find out By Chris Palmer The T-Mac File Born May 24, 1979 Size 6'8", 210 Stats 21.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 4.1 apg One lousy 61-loss season is all it took to transform Tracy McGrady from one of the best players in the league to an overrated superstar whose selfish ways were hurting his team. At least according to new Magic GM John Weisbrod. "I think a superstar is defined by wins, by making the players around him better, and by making the team better," Weisbrod said. So he dealt McGrady to Houston, where he'll team with Yao Ming in a frontcourt that transforms the Rockets into a potential Lakers-like title machine. Now it's time for T-Mac to deliver. McGrady's career has been defined by huge numbers, spectacular highlights and the steady green light. But is he willing to be option No. 2 in order to help the Rockets reach No. 1? Order in the Court Upon first meeting McGrady, Jeff Van Gundy talked with him about where he was most comfortable on the court. (T-Mac favors the 17-footer from the left baseline and penetrating down the right side from the top of the key.) "You definately want inpyt on their spots, then you go from there," Van Gundy says. "Going from there" generally translates into playing Van Gundy's trademark style: slow, defensive, half-court basketball. ("We hardly ever worked on our running game," says departed point man Steve Francis.) This will be the first time in a long time that T-Mac's team will play a style dictated by someone other than him. Ming Dynasty John Amaechi. Shawn Kemp. Steven Hunter. Pat Garrity. Just some of the low-post "threats" T-Mac has teamed with in Orlando. Yao is a different story: he required constant double-teaming, which will open driving lanes for McGrady. In his welcome-aboard press conference, T-Mac repeatedly praised Yao as the prime reason Houston was his top choice. "He's going to get me a championship," McGrady said. T-Mac can opt out of his seven-year, $93 million contract after next season. Whether he will depends largely on how well he clicks with Yao. But don't expect a Shaq/Kobe personality clash here. "If I need to sacrifice and give Yao the ball," says McGrady, "then that's what I'll do." Only time will tell. Star Power With the dismantling of the Lakers, Houston is now among the league's marguee attractions, putting T-Mac on center stage. But even with lowly Orlando, McGrady's No. 1 Jersey was the league's third best seller. The week after the deal, sales of Rockets merchandise tripled. Fallout in Orlando, though, was harsh: Weisbrod was soundly criticized by local media, and even recieved two death threats. But T-Mac's not ready to pull up the stakes quite yet. Right now he's overseeing the construction of a 43,000-sqare-foor pad in Central Florida, where he plans to live in the off-season with wife ClaRenda and their 18-month-old daughter, Layla Clarise Wide Open In his four years in Orlando, McGrady averaged 22.7 shots per game (second in the league over that time). Van Gundy has never had a player take more than Patrick Ewing's 19.2 in 1995-96. Something's gotta give. That likely will be McGrady, the youngest player in almost 30 years to average 30-plus points a night. He knew before signing with the Rockets that he would have to defer to Yao; Van Gundy insists his center will get a touch before the first shot. But Yao will help T-Mac's game more than hinder it. An excellent mid-range jump-shooter, T-Mac will benefit from the space Yao will create for him, thanks to pick-and-rolls on the wing. "I would be surprised if Tracy went out and scored 30 a night," says a rival Western Conference assistant. Win or go home Before the trade, Van Gundy asked assistant coach Ewing for his opinion of T-Mac. Ewing assured him that McGrady had the character and leadership skills to build around, insight the future Hall of Famer gained while playing alongside McGrady in 2001-02. But despite their sparkling individual resumes, neither Van Gundy nor McGrady has ever led a division-winning team. "As fas as showing we're championship material," says Van Gundy, "we both have a lot to prove."
Nice job posting the article. I'm not here to start any beef or problems. I was just letting people know so they could check it out...as it was in the magazine. Since it's a huge problem here - I won't compose a thread like this anymore.
Damn, I still can't believe Yao and TMac are on the same team!! I'm glad there's the Olympic and Hockey Championship coming up to keep me occupy or I'd gone insane over the long summer!!
If we were unlazy enough to go read this article after u mention it then we probably would have already known about it. Being as how I am lazy and cheap, I greatly appreciate those who don't "tease".
Thanks for posting the article, but could someone please read it out loud, record it, then post a link to the recording so we don't have to spend time and energy actually reading it? A true Rocket fan would do that for us.
'Kay. Give me a couple of days. I'm trying to get James Earl Jones to do the voiceover. If that falls through, I'll have to go forward with production using the "Movie Trailer Guy". "In a world where Good and Evil battle. Two men from the East must come together to tame the Wild West."
No worries. Just remember to go the extra mile for us Rox (cough, lazy...cough...) fans. Posting a thread that says, "Hey, check out this TMac article from ESPN Mag! I typed it out myself! Enjoy!" (4Shoposite becomes a hero for the day). That will get you a whole lot more ***love*** than... A thread that says, "There's a new article on Tmac that was in this months ESPN Mag. I don't have it, nor have I read it. But you guys should drive to your local 7/11 and pick one up...Enjoy it if you happen to read it."
