I don't think T looks different now from then. The difference is that he puts more emphasis on being a team player. Back then he was an iso player. He still gets plenty of those exciting moves. Why won't someone put together a compilation of all the amazing moves he's had as a Rocket? I have seen all these compilations of his career in Orlando. I bet you'll see as many acrobatic moves and amazing scoring moments(13 in 35 anyone?) if you put together a Rockets compilation.
I still think McGrady is one of the premiere players in the league, except his age and injuries have caught up with him a bit. If he could stay healthy the entire duration of a season, I don't have a reason to believe that he wouldn't be able to perform close to that level in the future. I'd like to see him return to 04-05 numbers (his first year with the Rockets). He was pretty ridiculous then too.
the 2003 playoffs vs the pistons had everyone talking...everyone knew how bad the magic were....for them to have a 3-1 lead was unbelievable, and i remember a lot of the announcers saying he was going to be the next Jordan. I didn't know a lot about T-MAC until i saw that series apart from in the slam dunk contest. watch this video.... this was on game to game basis for T-MAC back then: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6mq4tveJxI0&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6mq4tveJxI0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> And for the people that say he wasn't good in houston you are dead wrong...the only thing was he didn't dunk as much heres the 05-06 mix the best i've seen before the injury... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PNDt_D5f-RM&hl=en"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PNDt_D5f-RM&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Come on. The main difference between TMac in playoffs 08 and TMac in Orlando, is that in the recent playoffs, whenever he touches the ball and get even slightly close to the basket, he gets doubled. When Yao comes back and if we get a reliable third scorer. TMac won't get doubled as much.
Yeah, I agree with what many of you have already said about T-Mac. He can still come close to at least the first-year Houston tmac, it just all depends on health. I still remember the outstanding early season tmac and that game against Utah. He was scoring off of screens/curls, isos, drives, and stand-still jumpshots. I believe if he can stay healthy for majority of next season, he will be a sure-fire mvp candidate.
I feel great to see how great of a player Tracy was. I could never get tired of watching Tracy old videos I love them to death. But sometimes I feel sad because he can't do any of those things he use to do because his body won't let him.
Did you guys realize McGrady bends his back alot during his orlando days and his early houston days. That includes his jumpshots. He loves that fall away jumpshot, and he bends his back a lot whiles doing so. If he does it constantly, could that lead to a bad back? I think Kobe and Lebron are beginning to feel it too. But anyways, the young McGrady = Better shots, Better athletism. The current McGrady = Not as accurate shots. Well since the young Mcgrady is on fire every game. The McGrady we have now is not always on fire. The game 6 against Jazz showed how accurate his jumpshots can be. But the Mcgrady we have now is probably one of the best or if not the best passing swingman in NBA. We just need good finishers. His dribble penetration and passing is incredible. After watching series with Lebron and Kobe. This is something Mcgrady exploits a lot. His incredible height for a SG, with great athletism time and time again allows him to shoot over defenders or make great passes. Basically, the young McGrady isn't as "smart" a player as the current McGrady. The current McGrady is about making the best decision for a play, whiles the young McGrady is just pure scoring.
t-mac has declined drastically from his orlando days, but it's not his fault since injuries obvious played a role. like many other houston fans, i'm dissapointed we only got one year of the "Orlando T-Mac", which was the year we played Dallas. here's a tip. don't watch any orlando t-mac vids and you won't feel depressed that t-mac can't do those things anymore.
Sure he drove and dunk more but the majority of his shots were always jumpshots. The same ones he takes now. Injuries have slowed him down. Nothing much you can do about that.
He looked fantastic in his Orlando days. He still has it in him, but the difference is he can't do it as consistently. Some of his drives and finishes in his Orlando days were downright devastating.
