I think the problem is as clear as i can see this team. When you shoot well the game is much easier on the defensive end. When your playing great defense you want to push the tempo for easier baskets. Yet alot of the time, they will pass to McGrady who will slow the game down. When he isnt scoring he isnt helping the team on either side of the court. Not attacking the basket never helps. So i say trade him. I dont think his mind set is right for this team. When your making baskets your able to get back on defense. It all starts with defense and how you attack the basket. Same goes for his team mates when they miss wide open jumpers or even lay ups. This team lacks attackers who have balls who will push the ball for easier baskets and create contact. McGrady is a half court player in a full court system.
2 options in 2 trades. Head+Snyder for James Jones+draft rights to Joel Freeland *Jones is inconsistent offensively, ie very streaky 3P shooter, but is Artest light on D. Brings good height 6-8 to the 2/3 positions. -Loss of Head's rookie contract that has another year to go. James+Hayes+Novak for Troy Murphy +Proven starter with 3P shooting at the 4. Creates spacing for Yao. Also a good rebounder. -Loss of Hayes *Sign Mike Harris to replace Hayes.
On the surface, it looks like firing RA is the easist way to go. Not so, at a second glance. All this crap is a result of power vaccum in regime change. JVG was like a strict father driving his little kids(Yao, T-Mac) hard. Under JVG, there's no room for players to grow a sack of balls and become men on the court, let alone becoming warriors. The last season's record was just a bunch of boys playing hard because of their father driving them. That 50 wins in the regular season never meant much. It was just a result of overabusing child labor. Not surprisingly, when real men fight against each other in the last playoffs, Virgin Yao and Baby Mac and their teammate repeated what they did under JVG in 04-05, played well at first, then gradually succumbing to the will of their opponents. Now that Saddam Hussein is gone, and Uncle Adleman brought the democratic gospel, what happens? A power vaccum. A power vaccum that must be filled by the players, in which true leader emerges, instead of by a coach. A team that centers around a coach, is a fake team that will crash when it matters. A team that has players as its back bone is a real team. With freedom here comes the burden of responsibility, Virgin Yao and Baby Mac must grow fast to fill that power vacuum. Virgin Yao decided to grow a pair of balls, which he never did under JVG. Baby Mac is stuck in disbelief that Vigin Yao is growing a pair of balls, which Maclady never had in her 10 years career. Maybe, Maclady is also bothered by small ailments, like she always is. RA's way is the right way, let players compete and establish a team. Let the real man emerge and babies be exposed. So far, T-Mac is exposed under RA, a fragile,lazy, soft, jump shooting player who lacks self motivation, but isn't comfortable to be second fiddle on a team. It's too early to do anything right now, let the drama play out.
