What you say is true, Tracy McGrady doesn't have any playoff series wins. He should get SOME of the blame for that, because he was a leader on those teams (except Toronto) BUT NOT ALL of the blame. 1 or 2 players can only do so much. Same goes for Yao. Before this year, they showed up to play every playoff game. Yao again showed up this year, but he had a deeper team around him, so he honestly didn't have to carry too much of the load like in years past, which benefited him and the Rockets and got us to the 2nd round. I didn't say we couldn't argue this thread without 18 years of head coaching, I said his opinion is MUCH more significant than any of ours, because the man works with him. I'm a 20 year old student, I don't know any Rockets or Rocketss "insiders". Why would I of all people claim that we can't argue that? I just simply stated that RA said TMac would only make them better, and I'm inclined to believe the coach who works with him. I probably shouldn't have used the word "cancels out" though, my bad on that. But, RA's opinion is based on much more interaction and what he sees in practice and games than any of us could say. Thats what I meant by it. If I worded that wrongly, I apologize. We are all on here to prove a point about the topic at hand. I've said what I thought and backed it up with #'s and stats. You have done the same. I shouldn't have to apologize for getting a little out of hand, but I think you started it with the "nasty" language, but I'll go ahead and apologize anyways for continuing to bring nasty language on here. There's no need for that here, and I should've known better and not continued down that road... Ohh yaa, I am curious as to what my "Flawed Theory of Posting/Arguing/Debating" is, because I was never aware of it...
I'm going to be optimistic and say based on what this team just did in the playoffs there is no way in hell Les or Morey (hell maybe even Rick has grown some balls just being around this team) let McGrady come back and play at all. I think his value is almost entirely his expiring contract and not his production. Anyone who has been alive for the last 10 years and followed basketball knows who/what McGrady is. I don't think any team believes McGrady can get their team over the hump not matter how healthy he claims to be. I just cannot see any scenario where the Rockets allow him to wreck chemistry on this team when we all know he is on his way out by next summer at the absolute latest.
So, why is he a disruption if he comes back to play? Because of his poor performance this season and him realizing that and finally pulling himself b/c he was sucking so bad? He has never been a disruption before (as far as I can tell), so why would they be overly worried about that? The only legit complaint outside of his ability to be effect would be if you dislike his play style (dominating the ball). Valid complaint. Many of us share the same complaint about Mr. Artest. But putting so much worry that Tracy will be a disruption is I think is an unlikely situation that will occur. I think many other things will occur before that. I really do think the biggest concern about his return outside of his athletic ability is whether or not he'll feel like he has to do everything again and look good for his contract year. If he can come back and put up...13-15 points and some assists and rebounds, I say it's a start to something. I would expect him to be able to improve those numbers over the course of the season as he gains confidence in his knee. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.
McGrady already bought his ticket out of town for the antics he was pulling around the trade dealine.
No he didn't and you've been a known Tmac basher around here for awhile so basically what you just posted is what you HOPE happened, and not really the reality. Tmac will be a Rocket next year in my opinion.
I wonder if we can trade TMac with Memphis for Ricky Rubio, Miles and Chris Mihm. Memphis already has Mayo, Conley and Gay, they probably don't need another PG. TMac and Rudy Gay and both play 2 and 3. That kid is going to be a perfect fit for Yao and the Rockets, and Yao gets a backup centre.
Plus they were playing freaking Portland! The Rockets are geared up to stop any team with star wing players. Brandon Roy, Kobe Bryant, And Lebron. Why do you think Portland and Lakers had such hard times with us.
Plain and simple! The Rockets had chemistry last year obvious , because you don't pull off twenty two in a row without chemistry. Everyone has to realize playoffs are all about match ups or do any of ya'll watch basketball? dallas beats any other team in the 06'-07' playoffs except for golden state. By the way I had called that series that year. San antonio beats everyone else except the Dallas Mavericks. We probably have a different western conference finals. If San Antonio does not meet Dallas these playoffs. Orlando has mismatches all over the court in that series. Thus the reason Clevland is down one game. I am pulling for denver but, they have no one to match Kobe Bryant unlike the Rockets so the laker guards are getting shots. Derek fisher scored 12 points in game 1. I think that was a three game total in our series. They have no one to play kobe one on one. We have two people. So just base your playoff series wins somewhere else because they do not matter in my opinion plus Yao has one more year on Tmac as a rocket of an unsuccessful post season you guys are not bashing him. Please give the Tmac thing a rest I am not defending him because I think his off season work ethic sucks but. But give it a break so is half of nba superstars.
No need to apologize, arguing / criticizing is not bad as long as its constructive .... I just thought you kinda took Rick's statement a little out of proportion. By flaw, I meant that you're defending TMAC with nothing substantial to back you up really. Its wins in playoffs that matter. And the debate that TMACs team has never been favored is kinda BS as well, cause if the team favored always won, then there would be no upsets ever.....and its not like he's only had 1 or 2 chances...He's had 7.... BTW, the Rockets were not favored against Portland this year either.... I'll say this. I like TMAC, and some things that he brought for us. But how can one hold out breath for a 29 year old inefficient jump shooting star with chronic back problems, who lost passion for the game (as he so infamously claimed in Rome show), and now has ultimately had a microfracture (which has claimed so many NBA careers) ?
I could have sworn he said he lost passion for the game only because of the injury. Because he was in and out of the lineup and it was getting crazy. As for the Micro-fracture surgery I thought it was a different type of surgery compared to the ones Amare and Jason Kidd had. I thought it was said that they didn't do to much to the knee.
The difference between artest and mcgrady is that although artest does sometimes hold the ball to long, he hustles and plays great defense (in complement to shane battier). And the biggest concern is whether he is going to be able to be aggressive and attack the basket, or if he is just going to settle for jumpshots. If he comes back and is aggressive (which i seriously doubt he is going to do) he would be great asset to this team. But he is going to be to afraid of getting hurt to be aggressive, and thus become a jump shooter. Mcgrady as a jump shooter really doesn't help this team. But we will see, i hope he proves me wrong (but I am not holding my breath on this).
People perform during contract years. How do you think zach randolph, and the likes of Mikke moore are still in this league. Those people are polished scrubs.
I understand that, it happens in every sport. Players know its a contract year and decide to have a great year (put effort). But unfortunately for tracy, his contract year is coming after a serious injury. And I don't think he is going to risk getting hurt again (cause he is afraid), especially since the injuries just keep coming with him. But again, we will see.
Tmac may have an atrocious FG%, BUT, THAT same 43% would have won us game seven when nobody could but up baskets. It would have made Ron Ron's 30% performances irrelevant.
Clutch you sound like you have a little dislike for T-Mac!! Is it because he was hurt this year, like um uh Yao, again! You are suppose to be a Rocket fan, not an individual player. I thought you were better than that.
Well, I think I should stick to my "flawed" way of thinking, because sometimes there is only so much a player or 2 can do. I mean, look at Lebron last night...the man did everything he possibly could've done and his team still lost. They lost at home, a place where they only had one real loss this year. It happens. I know ultimately its about playoff wins, but what more did you want Yao and Tracy to do with what we had?? They ALWAYS showed up and performed. Unfortunately, basketball is a team sport, and no matter how great individual performances are (such as Lebron last night), sometimes you just come up a little bit short. For example, Game 7 2007 vs. Utah Yao Ming: 29 points, 6 reb, 1 blk, 0 assists, 4 TO, 13 fta, 9/20 fg TMac: 29 points, 5 reb, 3 blk, 13 assists, 2 TO, 9 fta, 12/25 fg I'm as big a Yao fan as you'll find, and I know he wasn't the same coming back from his injury, but I think he could've gotten a few more rebounds and maybe turned the ball over less. But none the less, he got to the line and still shot okay from the field. Tmac, he shouldn't have missed 4 free throws, but I honestly don't know what else he could've done. He had a 13:2 assist to turnover ratio which is excellent. He got 3 blocks, he got to the line 9 times. What more did you want these guys to do?? As for the future, lets see what he has left. If everybody gave up on Wade in Miami, they would've looked like fools. He was just as injury prone as Tmac the last 2 seasons, yet he was able to come back strong. Lets see if Tmac can come back and be productive.
interesting take. first time i've seen this point of view. are you trying to discredit that the team finally got the monkey off their backs this year? just to make sure...
The playoffs are all about matchups. It's not discrediting the team if you say they had a more favorable matchup than years past.
Tell you the truth I saw that the Rockets were going to get out of the first round,when Utah locked up the 8th seed. No discredit. Its like the championship Rocket teams they never made it by Seattle. First ring Seattle lost to Denver. Second i'm not quite sure but I think Seattle lost to Phoenix or Utah. Match up problems with Shawn Kemp against Otis Thorpe. You have to realize matchups.Regular season it somewhat shows, but in the playoffs coaches put in strategies based off of it.
plus a monkey on your back is made up by the media and observers.The rockets never had in their minds that would never get out of the first round till you guys put it there. 3 post seanon first round exits just means you have to improve your team. Carol Dawson did a horrible job bringing in talent. Why do you think Scott Brooks,Matt Maloney, and Kelvin Kato are still getting paid. We passed on Richard Jefferson and Rashard Lewis in two drafts. I think Carol Dawson just could not scout talent anymore except the obvious stars we have.Big up to Daryl Morey! He defends T mac, so I'm riding with him.
