My problem with T-Mac is that he doesn't bring it every night during the regular season. But occasionally he'll have a good game, and then the apologists will come out and defend him. A team is only as good as their best players. Yao and Tracy are a decent duo and thus the Rockets are a decent team. Shaq and Kobe were a dominant duo and thus the Lakers were a dominant team for 7 years 97 to 2004. I heard Bill Worrell say last week, "T-Mac just isn't in it tonight." You never heard Bill say that about Hakeem. Even when Hakeem didn't have a supporting cast from 1988 to 1992, he still played his ass off. Now, T-Mac has a great supporting cast and he chooses to take nights off. I'd rather see T-Mac sit out a month or 2 then see this listless 70% version of him struggle all season.
Seriously, when is the last time that you see Tmac play great consecutively??? Seriously consecutively that makes significant contribution?? Hardly ever...
Ok, let's buy the argument that McGrady is physically deteriorating. The problem is that he is not a player that can play without his athleticism (if this ever happens to LeBron I would be worried with him too). He was never a fantastic jumpshooter. His form has not improved. The scissor kick fadeaway only allows for lucky shots to fall. He was also never a good FT shooter. Again, his form is poor. So if he can't shoot the ball with consistency, nor be a spot up shooter, he really can't do anything at al if he can't jump high enough to dunk it. When he gets the ball he does only a couple things. First, palm the ball and hold it away from the defender, wait for a pick, lower his head and go around very slowly then realize he didn't make it past the defender fast enough then helplessly pass the ball, chuck a shot, or turn it over. The second play is to trot down the court, and shoot a heat check three pointer which now won't go in. He has no offensive weapons at this point. You can tell that Kobe Bryant will still be a magnificent player even if he can't be as explosive b/c his jumpshot is fundamental and he knows exactly what he is doing everytime he has the ball. He plays smart. Face it. McGrady was actually never THAT good of a player in the first place. It took him a while to get going in the NBA. He was not like James or Bryant as a prep to pro star who immediately made a strong impact. McGrady has been playing by his athleticism his whole career and does not know what to do without it.
No of course not. Ben Gordon can make a spot up jump shot if you give it to him. There are only two types of wing player, the versatile athletic player that can attack the basket without problems (former McGrady, James, Bryant, Wade) and the jump shooter who creates his own shot, sometimes attacks the basketb (Redd, Allen, Gordon) McGrady is neither and I don't think he will be one in the future. He is pretty much a useless swingman right now.
