40% from the field, 67% from the line and a 2:1 assist to turnover ratio is not good at all. He has a long way to go if you think he will ever win an MVP award.
I don't agree with that you say he has the mindset to Pass First. The reason why he's in the playmaker mode is because he's struggling with his shot.
Biggest problem for TMac is not his shooting percentage, instead it is his professional spirits. He could get his shooting touch back by working and practise hard. I hope I am wrong, but I cannot help to think this guy has no motivation. He is not self-fish, or should I say he has no willingness to carry to team? Have you guys heard on ESPN radio? He is happy with what he has right now: kids, wife and gigantic pay check.
TMac for MVP? You must be joking. There are dozens if not hundreds players miles ahead of him. If he plays like this, he is not even going to make to allstar.
My concern isn't that his shots aren't falling, but that he's not attacking the basket and his overall attitude. In principle, you don't fault a superstar for trying to shoot himself out of a rut. It shows that he has confidence in himself that he never gave up in trying to get himself back into the game against the Suns. That said, you can tell that he's thinking to himself "I'm in a big slump right now and I really need to get out of it." But clearly he's trying desperately to avoid another injury, and he's timid out there. Unless you attack the basket on a consistant basis, your defender is going to defend your jumpshot every single time. And you're just not going to have consistantly good night putting up 10-12 18 footers a game. Which is going to shake your confidence, and it just spirals downward. It got so bad against the Suns that they just started giving him the shot from 18 and out because percentage-wise that was just better defensive odds for them. You have to at least throw some different things at the defense to keep them guessing.
He is playing scared, and that is not a good thing. I am wondering if by deferring too much to Yao it is really hurting his game? This reminds me of his first couple of months in Houston where he deferred too much. Tmac needs to go harder for his own......be a bit more selfish....and then we should be ok. DD
What do you think he shot last year? Not charging the lane is more troubling for me than his shot right now. TMac will shake off some of the rust on his shot, but he needs to drive to the basket to have the impact he's had in prior seasons...he needs to keep drawing doubles one way or another...then he'll remain a serious impact player. And he may never shoot 46% again in his career, but now he can do other things (friggin' incredible ball distribution) that he could not do back then.
I'm concerned about the mentality that's keeping him out of the lane. Protecting his back? He can't honestly believe he's too old and decrepit to drive the lane, could he?
T-Mac HAS lost a step. anyone who has seen him play in Orlando recognizes this, where he was so much more explosive and drove to the basket all the time. Nonethless a slow T-Mac can still get to the rim effectively. I don't understand why Matt Bullard keeps saying T-Mac's problem is he's jumping then shooting. T-Mac always jumped then shot so that's not the problem.
You need to take time to look at the S.A. Spurs and observe Duncan, the starting Power Forward. Nobody whines as much as him!
He was saying, "you were fooled....When I ended up NBA scoring cham, twice, it made you believe, it was all about me...while I believe, It takes five, baby...but you are not a fool, are you" And Yao was saying, "come on, bro, what are you burbling about, we are still playing the game, don't fall asleep now"
I see your point of view and I often wonder if he wouldn't go to the practice Gym in the same building and take as many shots as he needs to find his touch, before starting the game of course.Possibly, Tracy might need to accept that he is now a better Point Guard than he is as a Shooter.
I think TMac is bigger and stronger, but this change to his body has affected his shot. He doesnt look ripped as he did in the past. He is carrying a little more and its skrewing with his ability to attack and his jumper. He needs to lose about 10 to 15 pounds. Besides his physical ability, it sometimes seems as though he is just not 100% into the game...like he just doesnt want it. This notion that he is going to be a playmaker rather than simply a scorer is a joke. Until he starts creating waves in the NBA by scoring some points, teams are going to focus more on Yao, and relax on him. I remember when teams would double TMAC when he was 3 feet beyond the arc, now they barely put one on him. He seriously needs to shoot like 500 threes a night to get that shot back. It is killing me to watch him miss so many shots that he would have made other years. Until he gets his jumper back, defenses will be playing for two types of Rocket offenses: Yao in the post, and TMac drive and kick. When defenses know he has the shot they will play tighter, making his driving ability much more effective.
