Tracy Mcgrady is the Key to:

Well I'm thrilled this thread is one that is actually discussing basketball and not people's liking and disliking of whoever.

I would agree with the op for the most part. Ideally we have said for years that if we could just get a good combo guard of good shooting and penetration next to tracy's playmaking ability and talent overall, we'd be set. As said earlier, tracy really hasn't had that for many years. I think the closest he had to that was bobby sura. It helped that Bobby was a tough, fierce player. But plug in brooks ... not only can he shoot and penetrate, but he can do both well. his range is sometimes exceedingly far but he makes quite a few, and his penetration ... you all know that.

point is, brooks' main strengths are his long range and his straight up penetration (not necessarily off the dribble ... though he can create his own shot off of it). If tracy returns to the elite status he says he will be at ... brooks' strengths become much much more evident. Once tracy kicks it to brooks off the double team, every player in the league is at brooks' mercy. I mean once that pass goes out and the nearest closing defender is on brooks, he has little to no chance of blocking the shot (due to the spacing of brooks and tmac's pass to brooks), and if he tries to deny the jumpshot, brooks doesn't have to do anything except use his raw speed ... no need for creating off a dribble move.

and just my two cents, i think brooks would still develop and prosper without tmac, but with tmac he'd flourish a lot more immediately (for the team) but develop his own overall game a lot less.

 

Actually there is a difference between ball stopper and finisher.

It is a line of efficiency.....if you can shoot and finish, you are not a stopper you are a finisher.

It has nothing to do with BBall IQ....to me it is about making the biscuit go into the basket.


DD

 

I was referencing the PGab quote above......

I do think his playmaking MIGHT benefit Brooks....

The question is, will Tmac let Brooks control the ball, and play off of it, or will Tmac need to have the ball in his hands?

Or will Brooks be able to play off the ball?

They might not mesh, one will have to adapt from the role they are used to....only one ball.

DD

 

While I think McGrady can help Aaron, the biggest key to McGrady's success with either us or any team is himself. There were lots of rumors that he and Artest didn't get along, and maybe that's why he played so-so last season, for the most part, none of the guys on the roster currently don't have a huge ego, so maybe with no-one to publicly gripe about how McGrady plays, he'll be more of a more team player this season. When Tracy's good, he is a awesome ball player, and hopefully with his help, this current team can make some noise hopefully play-off time. We made it to 2nd without him, he's going to try and get there this time.

 

Francis was a ball stopper and to a degree Artest was a ball stopper. Brooks is fine for a player with again backup experience and half a year starting. His play in the playoffs from growing is a perfect example of how much he can grow in IQ with time and how good the team can play with him at point with more time this year as finally the full time starter. He doesnt dribble forever then shoot with the clock at 2 seconds. It takes him time to get the post pass yes, but we are talking about Yao Ming here. The single hardest player to to pass it into because he acts like a midget and has no hands what so ever to catch a lob or bounce pass. You cant throw it to him too low or too fast. Yao ming is the ball stopper because you cant get it to him. Brooks when he works without Yao Ming has acceptable IQ in passing and decision making skills.

 

= "needs the ball in his hands"

I've been watching basketball for a long time. I've never come across a player who could put the ball in the basket without using his hands. Is Professor Xavier a free agent? Maybe we could try and sign him...

 

Have you forgotten the multitude of times McG has worked the baselines coming off screens for a catch and shoot? Or the times down the stretch of games where we'd run the same play over end over again: McG coming from baseline, up to the elbow or elbow extended for a catch and shoot? Those have been staples in McG's repertoire. Adelman did increase the number of McG elbow postups to lessen the strain on his knee last year, but those should go back to a normal number this year. Similarly, McG of 07 cut backdoor for the alleyoop at least twice per game. No reason to think you won't see more of these things this coming year.

I've noticed you saying (ad nauseum) how McG doesn't move without the ball and I keep giving you the same response, yet you are undaunted...unwavering...do you have no recollection of McG doing the things I have named? I surely do.

 

Yes and he has been highly effective on the elbow curl and the back door oop.

I am not blind, I just want MORE of that.



DD

 

Then, in fact, he IS used to that role and, I'd guess, you'll see it this year as well. That said, he is still our best perimeter decision maker, so don't expect him to exclusively be off the ball...at least not if you're wanting us to win.

 

It surely doesn't help him with a low pain threshold. Boy, you know he has been practically playing on a leg for two years and had those back spams. Who would not wanna see him dunking on Bradley again. That was a thing of beauty.

 

I want both to create.......and score....I WANT IT ALL BABY !!

DD

 

cxbby,

You don't seem to understand Rick Adelman's offense at all. The TEAM is the playmaker. Sorry Aaron Brooks doesn't fit your definition of what a "good" point guard is, but he's working out pretty well for Rick A.

Speed kills, speed makes plays happen and speed works for my coach. I don't see what your problem is, Tmac or not.

(don't forget that most of Aaron Brook's success has been w/o Tmac)

 

this statement is a bit disingenuous. he's only played a handful of games WITH t-mac during his post rookie career. and his numbers during those games were fairly impressive and not far off (or even better?) from his numbers without mcgrady. maybe someone can look it up.

 

For someone who says he used to be a Tmac fan but doesn't really care anymore, you sure spend an inordinate amount of posts defending the guy.

But I respect you Cabbage.....I really do.

DD