Tmac Benched (UPDATE - his lower back stiffened up on him)

I didnt know Tmac had already advanced to the second round.

Of course he did. It would be pretty pathetic for our two superstars had he won that game singlehandidly wodultn it? The fact that he kept the Lakers in the game all by himself was impressive.

Where did I discount what Tmac did. I have always said Tmac is helluva talent. Hell I even voted for Tmac will be owning everyone in playoffs in the other poll. Talent does not equal heart though. Having heart isnt about passing to scrubs so that they can get a shot. Its about taking the game over when adversity sets in. Are you seriously telling me that Tmac and Yao had more fire in their eyes than Kobe??? You should just look at the last play of the regulation when Kobe shut down tmac and slapped the ball away on the rebound. Tmac just stood there dissapointed and frankly he looked apprehensive.

Likewise, I am not going to excuse Tmac for not winning championships with the leagues's best center playing alongside him. Like I said, no more excuses. Time to produce.

Difference was one was making it. The other was clanking it.

 

ask any decent fan, if u played w/ kobe that night, would u enjoy the game as a teammate of his?

again, odom was 8-11 last night v. the clips and kobe still jacked up 33 shots. even when he's NOT on, he still doesn't find his teammates

 

When has he gotten out of round 1 without Shaq?

Of course its always Tmac's fault alone.

I don't think Anyone wants Tmac going 19-44 ever.

Has nothing to do with his person. He blatantly ignores his teammates, breaks the offense when he feels like it (as stated by Tex Winters last week as well), and he has proved nothing short of points which has been done in the past with the likes of mcgrady, AI, shucks even Gilbert Arenas.


Kobe and Tmac will never be the same. Tmac enjoys passing. He enjoys seeing his teammates succeed. Kobe on the other hand can have a guy like Lamar having an unstoppable game and he'll still jack up 30+ shots.

 

If you are trying to say Tmac is a better teammate, you dont need to. Most NBA fans and myself know that. Tmac has better court vision and is better at setting up his teammates. No doubt.

Kobe is a better player though. He has that killer instinct that is needed in playoffs and at this time is better at taking over a game.

if Tmac ever develops that instict, and you combine that with his overall talent, he would join the elites to ever play the game.

 

Funny how he QUIT on his team in GAME 7 in the playoffs, yet he has a killer instinct after having a 3-1 lead.

Sounds like Orl Mcgrady to me.

Kobe hasn't done jack since Diesel left LA but shoot alot.

 

ppl doubt that instinct b/c he never got out of the first round. the same reason ppl doubt lebron. the same reason ppl doubt shaq b4 he won.

until u win, ppl like u will doubt something that CANNOT be shown. it's all an opinion whether he has it or not.

last yr v. the suns in game 7, ppl said that about kobe lacking a killer instinct. i'm like, how can u see that? maybe tmac has yao going v. the lakers so why jack up shots when he's struggling. u ever think of that? as a result, he got 10 assists to boot w/ 30 pts.

 

I agree-

This is good - save him for the playoffs to give us any kind of chance.

 

I think if Kobe had Yao Ming he would pass more.

Tmac is great, but Kobe is the greatest right now.

DD

 

I agree - we need TMac to play at a higher level to have any chance in the playoffs-save his back and let him rest

 

Only you have no evidence to back that up.

He has lamar odom having stellar games and he wont pass the ball.

He was "tired of being a sidekick" so he wanted Shaq gone.

Kobe doesn't care about winning unless its him doing the winning.

 

For a second there I thought you were talking about 04-05 Mcgrady. You know the one who went up 2-0 against Dallas, stole the home court, and then watched his team get whupped by 40 points while riding the bench and NOT even playing the 4th quarter. If i recall, he had a pretty good center playing with him then too.

...and Houston one too... see the above mentioned reference.

Then what has Tmac done all those years in orlando and past couple seasons in Houston?

As for Diesel, well not everyone can have a chance to ride Wade's coattails for a ring. Shaq in finals run was mighty amusing.

 

Ahh someone who can be a Rockets fan and still appreciate a great player!!

 

Zboy get out of here with that. Yao until last season wasnt even able to stay on the floor.

Tmac score 30/7/7 and shut Dirk completely down by his lonesome.

You know good and well it wasnt his fault in game 7 alone. Mike James got booted, and the role players laid a major egg.

Tmac and Yao scored over 60 points between them and that was all there was for the team because they ran out of gas and the coach had no other gameplan.


You're here pumping up Kobe as if he is any different and cannot dispute the fact that he hasnt done anything but shoot.

You said he got out of the 1st round without Shaq and Im still waiting for you to show me that.

Im still waiting for you to show me why that fire he has, has his team in danger of a 7th seed again with the talent that they have and a HOF coach.

Give me a break. Shooting 19-44 is hardly other wordly, and the results are minimal sans a couple of individual accolades.

Shaq must be laughing everyday he wakes up.

 

Btw, just to set the record straight, my point is not to diss Mcgrady. I am a Houston Rockets fan so naturally I support tmac and Yao. But that does not mean I will not concede if some other player is better.

I love yao but Duncan is better.

Like wise, I love Tmac but at this point Kobe is better.

Also, that does not mean that it cannot change.

In fact I am HOPING and PRAYING it changes.

Both Tmac and Yao can be better than Kobe and Duncan respectively. But in order for that to happen both have to develop the killer instinct. They need the desire to win at all costs and cut down the opponent's throat when given the opportunity.

This is what seperated Hakeem from David Robinson.

 

No one is denying that Kobe is one of the greatest offensively gifted players of all timie. His name has been brought up with Wilt as of late. Wilt really cared about his numbers and his individual performances. That's why Bill Russell won that rivalry and his legacy is greater. He was more committed to winning and was not all about himself.

Anyway, DaDakota was saying that Kobe would pass more if he had Yao on his team but would you explain how tmac averaged like 6 assists without yao? Keep in mind that our starting lineup consisted of a 41 year old starting center, an offensively deficient pf, a poor shooting point guard and a small forward that is more about intangibles than points. Its about makinig your teammates better....theres no way you can win without doing it. Kobe will not take the lakers to the promise land by himself and thats why I have no faith he will get out of the first round.

 

the Clutchfans Internet squad solves another mystery case!!!


brilliant , you guys! I cant wait to se what you come up with next...

 

Again, great talent. No doubt. But he did not finish the deal after going up against the mavs. He even missed several free throws in game 5 in Dallas.

As I said....lack of killer instinct.

Where did I say it was his fault alone? You brought up the Kobe's game 7 reference so i just countered. Unless of course you were trying to imply it was all Kobe's fault that in that game 7 last year....

I didnt even bring about the shooting part. You keep bringing it up. My main point is about the mental toughness and taking charge of the game.

I said that? And where would that be? Care to point it out?

With the talent that they have?? LOL!! If you thought Rafer Alston was bad...let me introduce Smush Parker to you. I am guessing you consider kwame brown a talent too.

I guess you werent impressed. Myself and lots of other NBA fans respect his recent performance. To each his own.

Shaq should be thankful he had Kobe and Wade to carry his team while he usually sat down on bench in the fourth quarter.

 

I know Duncan is better. He has been able to stay on the floor the entire game his entire career. Won MVP's and titles as the leader of his team, and dominated this generation unmatched maybe only to Shaq

Duncan is an all time great when his career is over.

With that, Kobe is a scoring title champ without Shaq. He doesn't play defense anymore, and he doesn't respect his teammates.

I don't think or will say tmac is a champ either because I see them in the same light.

I will say Tmac would've won rings with Shaq just like Kobe did just like Wade did.

 

I wont argue with this. It's quiet possible.

But we dont know for sure since it never happened. Based on what I have seen so far, Kobe has the killer instict, and is my pick for the better player between the two.

Here's to hoping this playoff run changes that.