I love them both but in a game of life or death, I would pick Drexler. Reasons: 1) Drexler had a post game (Drive to the middle for a finger roll, spin move towards the baseline, fade away). During his prime, Jordan and Drexler were two guards who could consistently take their players down low and post them up. This helps in controlling the pace of the game, taking advantage of match ups (smaller players), or drawing fouls in close games. Tracy has a very limited if any post game at all. If Tracy had a post game, Fisher would not have given a hard time last year in Jazz series. Drexler would have abused Fisher in the post. 2) Drexler was more driven. I have seen both in playoffs and Drexler just had more of a killer instinct. Tracy is still trying to find that. 3) Drexler's strongest part of the game was his drives. He was relentless going to the basket. Tracy settles for jump shots far too often, especially late in games. Attacking the basket >>>> jump shots. 4) Drexler was also a better help defender and played the passing lanes very well. He was also one of the best rebounding guards of his era. Their individual defense is close but I think Tracy has the edge. He is longer and when motivated, he can lock down his man. Problem is he can be lazy at times. 5) Drexler did not shy away from contact. He was much better at adapting to physical plays. Those things make Drexler better. The thing is, Tracy can work on all of those things and surpass Drexler. Those are all things he can acquire thru work and practice. I wish he would work on his post up game. A guy of his size, length, dribbling skills, and shooting would be absolutely lethal down in the low block. However, that would require him not to shy away from contact. IF Tracy works on those areas he will be definitely better than Drexler because Tracy has a better jump shot and more range to it. Solely relying on jump shots can come back to bite you in the playoffs. Just ask Dirk.
Agreed. I'd take Drexler in a second. I heard an interview with Drexler a few years ago (when the all star game was in Houston) and he was saying how much he hates to see today's players helping players from the opposite team up etc. He basically said that, as long as the game is going on, the other team is the enemy no if's and's or but's about it. When he was with Portland, he wouldn't even help Hakeem up. Drexler played every game like he had something to prove. Every game. I wish T-Mac had that kind of attitude.
Drexler had a better post game, like Zboy pointed out, and he was sensational in transition. T-Mac has that ability to raise up and shoot jumpers over defenders from pretty much anywhere within 25 feet. I think, in their primes, I'd give Tracy (02-03) an edge. But if I had to rank them historically, I'd put Drexler ahead of him.
TMAC has the spin move jumpshot and can drive for his posts moves. For some reason D. Fisher just had his number. vet tricks and good and getting calls from the refs. Alot of your stuff anti TMAC is because of his back. We are picking prime here, which should not take in account his back problems.
word he's one of the main reasons UH team was named Phi Slamma Jamma. the guy could get up with the best of them. his court vision was phenomenal too. even in their primes, Drexler wins hands down.
I would take Drexler over every SG from say 1985 until now, excluding MJ. Actually, the only wing players that I would pick over Clyde from the 80's on (when I started watching ball) are MJ, Bird and maybe Scottie. I'm only considering SG's and SF's as they are interchangeable.
Drexler, hands down. He was stronger, better on the fastbreak, and a much better defender and rebounder. Plus he led the Blazers twice to the Finals within the first decade of his career. T-Mac has yet to get out of the first round after 10 years.
I voted for TMac, but after seeing the comments, I think I'd have to take Drexler, too. TMac has a lot more unique skills than Drexler did (better passing, ball handling, shooting range, versatility). But Drexler did have a damn nasty competitive edge. It was also amazing how Drexler could create a fastbreak for himself 1v2 and finish with a dunk, even in his 30's. On our current team, I think Drexler would be better than TMac. That's because our current team needs more leadership and fire. But I think a Dream/TMac combo might be even better than a Dream/Drexler combo. The 1/2-court offense would run smoother overall, and you could always pass it in to Dream when you really needed a postup.
Agree with Zboy too. I'd like to point out one thing overlooked thus far. Actually TMac has a superior post-up game due to his better jumping shooting mechanics, but for some reason he didn't use it often (maybe his back is still bothering him?). Jordan mastered his post-up turnaround jumpers and it helped him tremendously in the late 2nd triple-championship years. As much as I love Clyde, his jumper is not something I want to teach kids to learn, although it worked OK for Clyde himself. TMac's game is definitely smoother, but to claim he's a better athlete than Clyde is pretty ignorant. People don't call Clyde the Glide for nothing.
i think the only thing T-mac is better at is ball handling and maybe shooting range. Drexler was that good.
That play at 1:35 mark is just plain nasty. Drexler had a nasty side on the court. I want Tmac to show that nasty side.
I'd give the slight edge to Drexler. He could do whatever his team needed him to do. However, as Zboy alluded to, I think McGrady has more natural talent.
